Monmore Green Stadium
LocationWolverhampton, England
Coordinates52°34′37.71″N 2°6′6.73″W / 52.5771417°N 2.1018694°W / 52.5771417; -2.1018694
Operated byEntain (Ladbrokes Coral)
Date opened1928
Race typeGreyhound racing
Official website

Monmore Green Stadium is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium located in Wolverhampton.[1] The stadium has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. The venue is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group.

Speedway

Main article: Wolverhampton Wolves

Motorcycle speedway was raced on Monday nights with the Wolverhampton Wolves competing in the top division of the sport.[2] The speedway track at Monmore Green is 264 metres (289 yards) long.[3]

Greyhound racing

Matinée races take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays with evening race meetings on Thursday and Saturday nights. The track hosts several major races including the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, Ladbrokes Puppy Derby, Ladbrokes Festival 630's, Ladbrokes Summer Cup and from 2015 the prestigious puppy competition the Trafalgar Cup.[4]

The track features prominently in the song "Monmore, Hare's Running" on the 1997 album Voyage to the Bottom of the Road by the band Half Man Half Biscuit.

History

Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton c.1970

20th Century

Monmore opened in 1928 south-east of Wolverhampton and south of the Sutherland Road between the Great Western Railway line and East Park (a large sculptured park and gardens). The official opening night was Wednesday 11 January 1928 organised by a company called the Midland Greyhound Racing Association. A 10,000 strong crowd witnessed the seven races including two hurdle events and the first greyhound to win a race was Arrow Tranby winning one of the 500 yards races in a time of 32.08 secs at odds of 6-1 when winning the Shirley Stakes.[5]

In 1935 the large resident Monmore kennels were split into two sections and also served Willenhall Greyhound Stadium. Unlike many tracks Monmore remained open during the majority of the war and introduced the Midland Puppy Championship in 1943, which would become the Midland Puppy Derby and then the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby (not to be confused with the more prestigious Puppy Derby held at Wimbledon Stadium). The company ran a policy of having joint Racing Managers covering both Monmore and Willenhall. In the fifties Peter Cartwright left his position as Racing Manager to join the National Greyhound Racing Club and was replaced by Bob Harwood. Further competitions were introduced at the track that included the Midland St Leger, Midland Classic Potential, Pride of the Midlands and Staffordshire Knot.[6]

In 1963 a devastating fire swept through the main grandstand resulting in the closure of the track for a considerable period whilst repairs were made. The annual Midland Puppy Championship had to be switched to Willenhall. The fire instigated a major change with the grandstand undergoing significant investment in the mid-sixties to include an ultra-modern glass fronted restaurant with tiered viewing and waitress service. It brought the facilities up to date and attracted outside interest from the Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (TGH). In 1970 TGH purchased Willenhall and Monmore from the Midland Greyhound Racing Co Ltd to add to the existing tracks of Crayford & Bexleyheath, Gosforth, Leeds and Brough Park that they already owned. Four years later in 1974 Ladbrokes bought out TGH and added another racetrack Perry Barr. Arthur Aldridge became Racing Director for Ladbrokes and following the 1981 decimation of horse racing fixtures due to bad weather the track held BAGS (Bookmakers’ Afternoon Greyhound Service) fixtures for the first time.[7]

The tracks resident kennels were demolished in the late eighties making way for the contract trainer system and Jim Woods arrived from Nottingham Greyhound Stadium to take over as Racing Manager with Bob Harwood General Manager. The stadium hosted the Golden Jacket classic race in 1986 before it moved to Crayford Stadium and a pre-war event the Midland Gold Cup returned in 1994.[8] The stadium underwent changes in 1996 including a change of hare system from a Sumner to a Swaffham.[9]

21st Century

2011 was a very successful year for the track when they won the BAGS National Track Championship [10] and trainer Chris Allsopp became champion trainer. In 2013, Jim Woods retired after a 31-year career handing the reigns to Tony Williamson who had served for twenty years as Wood's assistant.[11] The prestigious Trafalgar Cup competition was held for the first time in 2015.[12]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon and every Thursday and Saturday evening.[13] Leading trainer Kevin Hutton joined the track in August 2018.[14]

In 2022, Entain signed a long term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024.[15] In 2023, the stadium owners announced that speedway would cease after the 2023 season.[16]

Major competitions

Track records

Current

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
210 Andlyns Asabat[17] 12.45 8 May 2014
264 Jetharts Here[18] 14.95 8 September 2007
416 Southfield Jock[19] 24.01 4 December 2015
480 Ballymac Eske[20] 27.48 28 June 2012
630 Iceman Brutus [21] 37.07 20 August 2007 Ladbrokes Gold Cup heats
684 Centour Corker[22] 40.60 29 May 2003 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic Final
835 Slick Strauss[23] 51.00 17 August 2017
900 Aayamza Royale[24] 55.00 22 May 2021 TV Trophy final
480 hurdles Brave Ruler[25] 28.88 26 July 1999

Previous (post-metric)

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
210 Cry Havoc 12.64 20 March 1997
264 Parliament Act 15.32 28 August 2001
264 Boher Chief 15.30 27 May 2004
264 La Galga 15.24 11 August 2005
264 La Galga 15.23 26 August 2005
264 Winnies Dancer 15.22 8 October 2005
264 Ningbo Jack 15.09 12 June 2006
264 Paid Boss 15.08 24 August 2007
277 Cross Bar 16.66 19 April 1984
277 Fearless Champ 16.34 9 November 1985
416 Devitos Chance 24.96 10 December 1997
416 Moynies Cash 24.57 3 July 2004
416 Woodcroft Jo 24.51 4 September 2004
416 Belindas Company 24.33 23 September 2006
416 Funtime Chunky 24.33 24 August 2007
416 Last Mohican 24.30 5 July 2008
416 Loughbeag Roopy 24.22 26 June 2010
416 Guinness Sky 24.21 24 June 2013
460 Larkhill Jo 27.15 10 April 1997
462 Hume Silver 28.15 14 April 1984
462 Fearless Champ 28.12 18 January 1986
480 Larkhill Jo 27.95 7 July 1997 Midland Gold Cup semi-final
480 Knocktoosh Queen 27.93 9 August 2003
480 Express Hancho 27.91 23 August 2003 Ladbrokes Gold Cup semi-finals
480 Westmead Eagle 27.85 17 March 2005
480 Ballymac Pires 27.82 17 March 2005 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby final
480 Blonde Dino 27.81 8 September 2007
480 Ballymac Ruso 27.79 6 December 2008
480 Bandicoot Tipoki 27.76 12 March 2009 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats
480 Farloe Lee =27.76 12 March 2009 Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats
480 Target Classic 27.71 7 December 2009
480 Farley Blitz 27.60 13 February 2010
484 Duke of Avon 29.22 5 July 1979
484 Keen Mint 29.55 11 October 1982
484 Fearless Power 29.26 8 November 1986
484 Darragh Commet 29.08 11 February 1989
630 Spring Rose 37.90 10 May 1997
630 Slippy Elite 37.81 28 November 1998
630 Form of Magic 37.56 16 May 2002 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic heats
630 Marmions 37.42 20 May 2004 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic semi
630 Westmead Hawk 37.08 20 May 2005
647 Telecomm Tiger 40.42 18 October 1986
647 Catunda Flame 40.33 8 July 1989
647 Easy Bimbo 40.18 13 July 1991
647 Highmoor Glen 40.10 10 July 1993
684 True Honcho 41.03 14 April 2001
692 Desert Fame 43.41 25 April 1984
692 Miss Bluebird 43.37 29 October 1985
815 Lizzies Girl 52.16 23 April 1975 BBC TV Trophy Final
815 Scurlogue Champ 51.80 15 May 1985 BBC TV Trophy heats
815 Scurlogue Champ 51.64 22 May 1985 BBC TV Trophy final
835 Spenwood Gem 52.09 17 September 1998
835 Knappogue Oak 52.09 28 August 2001
835 Minglers Moth 52.01 15 August 2002
835 Hesley Gale 51.95 27 May 2004
835 Head Iton Tonge 51.60 21 June 2007
835 Flying Winner 51.26 29 August 2009
880 Thornfield Pride 54.79 19 July 1997
900 Make It Not 58.05 5 November 1983
900 Angelas Girl April 1983
900 Lilac Wonder 57.83 5 December 1992
900 Ladys Storm 57.02 9 July 1998
900 Aayamza Royale[26][27] 55.95 27 February 2021
1067 Belladare 70.74 9 May 1987
1067 Coverall 70.34 29 October 1990
1104 Travel Now 72.66 25 March 2000
460 H James Wish 28.19 1998
484 H Distant Echo 30.54 18 July 1987
484 H Nifty Kid 30.32 28 November 1988
484 H Run On King 30.09 10 April 1991
647 H Tebroc Heathen 42.60 20 April 1989

Previous (pre-metric)

Extended content
Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes
300 General Radiance 17.22 27 May 1937
300 Hurry Kitty 17.17 8 November 1945
475 Neidins Bunty 27.53 23 March 1939
475 Coynes Castle 27.14 8 August 1946
500 Rushton Mac 1954
500 Lucky Joan 28.10 October 1962
525 Kilpeacon Bride 30.09 5 February 1944
525 Red Captain 29.34 April 1965
525 Aughrim Glen 29.19 1970
650 Derry Fame 37.04 June 1964
650 Hogans Express 37.04 1970 =equalled
700 Half Term 40.79 14 October 1944
700 Clahane Girl 40.05 September 1962
700 Forward King 39.82 September 1967 Steward's Cup final
880 Chantilly Lace 51.80 April 1960
880 Old Irish 51.10 1970
525 H Baytown Express 30.90 29 October 1944
525 H Coast Raider 30.60 September 1957

References

  1. ^ "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ Wolverhampton Wolves website
  3. ^ Wolverhampton Wolves club and track information
  4. ^ "Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015.
  5. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 106. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  6. ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 57-58. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  7. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 60. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  8. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. pages 225-226. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  9. ^ "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star.
  10. ^ "2011 Bags Intertrack Championship". Greyhound Star.
  11. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013)". Greyhound Star.
  12. ^ "Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015.
  13. ^ "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS.
  14. ^ "More Towcester Trainers Relocate". Greyhound Star.
  15. ^ "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  16. ^ "STATEMENT: WOLVERHAMPTON SPEEDWAY". British Speedway. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  17. ^ "LADBROKES.COM 210". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.}
  18. ^ "M.M.C. WOLVERHAMPTON TROPHY". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  19. ^ "LAWRENCE JONES MEMORIAL FESTIVAL 416 (HEAT 1)". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Monmore (Wolverhampton) 28 JUN 2012 HT 5". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  21. ^ "LADBROKES GOLD CUP 630 (HEAT 2)". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Summer Classic". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  23. ^ "LADBROKES 835". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  24. ^ "LADBROKES TV TROPHY 2021 FINAL". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Monmore track records". Greyhound Data. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  26. ^ "British performances of the week". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  27. ^ "LADBROKES.COM 900". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
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