London’s Historic Crayford Greyhound Track to Close After 90 Years
Crayford Stadium, a staple of London’s greyhound racing, will shut down this month due to declining attendance and trainer shortages
Crayford, London, Greyhound Racing, UK, Ladbrokes
London: Crayford Stadium, a beloved greyhound racing venue, is closing its doors after 90 years. It’s a real bummer for the community.
Since the 1930s, this place has been a go-to for racing fans. But now, the owner, Ladbrokes, says attendance has dropped, and there aren’t enough trainers around.
Originally built in 1932, it was a hotspot for racing. It even had a major competition, the Golden Jacket, which was a big deal back in the day.
But times have changed. With online betting and streaming, fewer people are heading to the tracks. Plus, there’s been a lot of talk about animal welfare, which has put greyhound racing under the spotlight.
Crayford isn’t the only track to close. Catford shut down suddenly in 2003, and Wimbledon followed in 2017. Now, only a few tracks remain in the area.
As for the future, the current races will be moved to other venues. Ladbrokes is also working on finding homes for the greyhounds, so they’ll be taken care of.
Plans are already in motion for new homes to be built around the old track site. It’s a bittersweet end to a long chapter in London’s sports history.