Central Park
The stadium during construction
Full nameCentral Park Stadium
LocationSittingbourne, Kent
OperatorArena Racing Company
Capacity6000 (2000 seats)
SurfaceGrass with greyhound track
Construction
Built1990
Opened1990
Tenants
Greyhound racing
Website
Official website

Central Park Stadium formerly Sittingbourne Stadium is a greyhound racing track, and former speedway track and football stadium located in Murston, Sittingbourne, Kent, England.[1] Greyhound racing takes place every Friday evening in addition to their four SIS morning meetings.

Facilities

The stadium was built to a capacity of approximately 6000, with 2000 seats available in the Main Stand, two end terraces and a large covered terrace opposite the Main Stand. There are also four private suites, a trackside restaurant, three bars and a fast food cafeteria.

History

The entrance to the stadium in 2005

Sittingbourne FC played at the Bull Ground in the town centre until 1990 when they sold the site for £4.5 million and built a new state of the art stadium on the outskirts of the town named Central Park Stadium. However, overspending on the new ground caused the club financial difficulties and they were forced to sell the ground to the local council and lease it back. The ground was eventually leased to a company that ran greyhound racing events, who allowed the football club to sign a seven-year lease (a requirement of the Southern League). The club found it hard to guarantee the availability of the stadium due to the racing, however, and agreed to start playing their games on part of the complex where they used to train. This was built in 2002 and named Bourne Park.

Speedway

In May 2013, National League speedway returned to the county of Kent, with the newly formed Kent Kings racing at the stadium.[2]

Greyhound Racing

Competitions

Opening

The track was supposed to have opened during 1994 but following several trial sessions was put on hold due to problems surrounding the football club. These included debts of £1.1 million and a £680,000 repair to a structural design fault with the roof of the stadium.[3]

Sittingbourne opened on Tuesday 3 October 1995, with a crowd 2,125; the new facilities included a track side restaurant, fast food outlets, three licensed bars and three private executive suites. The first ever race over 475 metres was won by Try My House for trainer Wayne Wilson. Wilson would also claim the first major win for the track when he won the 1995 Puppy Derby at Wimbledon Stadium with Corpo Election. The other trainers supplying runners on the opening night were Sonia Spiers, Derek Millen, Alison Ingram, Peter Galloway, Martin White, Ken Tester, Mick Mew & Tony Palmer.[4] The General Manager was John Aitken and the Racing Manager was Paul Nevett.[3][5]

History

Financial troubles surfaced again in 1996 and the track was forced to close and with no promoter available to run the stadium the future of the new venue was put into question.[6] However, during 1996 Roger Cearns re-opened the stadium;[7] Cearns was the grandson of W.J. 'Bill' Cearns the founder of Wimbledon Stadium way back in 1928. Cearns transformed the operation into a successful business and in the process negotiated a deal that brought the Trainers Championship to the track in 1998.[8]

Cearns then introduced the Kent Derby as the tracks principal event and managed to secure a second Trainers Championship in 2000. Cheryl Miller & Maxine Locke joined the training ranks soon after and Jess Packer was brought in as Racing Manager. Cheryl Miller reached the 2002 English Greyhound Derby final with Windgap Java, a first for Sittingbourne; the fawn dog had won the Pall Mall Stakes earlier in the year. Another major event was introduced at the track called the Kent Silver Salver, revived after being shelved following the closure of Canterbury. In 2003 Sittingbourne staged a third Trainers Championship within a six-year period and the track took over the running of the WJ Cearns Memorial) from Wimbledon.[9] In 2006 the track agreed a deal with Betfair to stage 10 Sunday meetings that were screened on Eurosport.[10]

Lenson Joker won the 2008 Greyhound of the Year and John Mullins won the 2011 TV Trophy on his home track with Knockies Hannah,[11] the first time the event had been held at Sittingbourne. In 2012 the track was granted permission to host the original classic race for hurdlers the Grand National which moved from Wimbledon. It was a major coup for the track.[12]

In 2017 following the closure of Wimbledon Stadium the track received two more high-profile competitions called the Springbok and Juvenile.[13] The Springbok was inaugurated in 1937 [14] and is the leading competition for novice hurdlers.[15] The Juvenile was inaugurated in 1957 and is an invitation competition for the best six greyhounds who still have a puppy status.[16]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning and every Friday evening.[17] Following the closure of Towcester in 2018, trainer Patrick Janssens joined the track[18] and later won the 2020 Trainer of the Year title.[19]

In April 2021, promoter Roger Cearns announced that the stadium had been sold to the Arena Racing Company.[20] In 2022, the stadium owners ARC signed a long term deal with Entain for media rights, starting in January 2024.[21] In June 2023, the stadium underwent major track renovation costing £500,000, which resulted in new race distances.[22][23]

Track records

Current

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
277tba
461tba
491tba
664tba
731tba
277 hurdlestba
491 hurdlestba

Previous

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
265Fast Ranger16.2024 November 1999
265Westmead Shaw [24]16.1320 May 2012
265Murlens Crash [25]16.0016 March 2014
265Troy Bella[26]15.9924 March 2019Silver Salver Semi-final
450Parking Flash27.464 June 2006
450Jims Havana27.3517 June 2007
450Citizen Skipper27.2624 May 2009
450Jacks Back27.108 July 2010
450Farley Champ27.0025 March 2015
450Lenson Jed [27]26.9326 January 2016
450My Mate Max[28]26.924 October 2016
473Rebel Leader28.73
473Droopys Vieri28.5326 March 2000Trainers championship meeting
480Reagrove Roe29.094 June 2006
480Lenson Joker28.9212 August 2007Kent Derby heats
480Lenson Bolt28.9116 August 2009Kent Derby heats
480Eye On the Flash28.904 March 2010
480Blonde Fletch28.8020 June 2010
480Jazz Apollo28.7224 July 2011
480Coolavanny Bert [29]28.5020 November 2011
500Official Rebel30.7028 May 2006
500Emporio Spitfire30.604 June 2006
500Macintosh Wonder30.5316 July 2006
500Lenson Express30.318 April 2007WJ & JE Cearns Invitation
500Lenson Earl30.269 December 2007
500Lenson Express30.2328 September 2008
500Grayslands Tiger30.1424 May 2009
500Lemon Maldini29.9724 July 2011
500Toolatetosell [30]29.7510 August 2014
500Jet Stream Duke [31]29.8416 March 2014
500King Eden[32]29.463 October 2017
642Gormanstown Star40.60
642Domingo Dancer40.3317 April 1998Trainers Championship meeting
642Lobo39.967 October 1999
642Droopys Zach39.649 August 2009
642Boomtown Polly39.6030 March 2014
642Droopys Posh39.5811 May 2014
642Touch Tackle [33]39.4419 October 2014
642Affleck Bolt[34]39.3324 March 2019
708Sumi Girl44.3227 November 1998
708Brimardon Star44.003 May 2009
708Brimardon Star[35]43.702 August 2009
893Redec Pride59.6222 October 2006
893Slaneyside Demon58.4229 October 2006
893Slaneyside Demon57.645 November 2006
893Omega Wink57.4429 July 2007
893Gas Hawk57.202 August 2009
893Seamies Gambler57.199 August 2009
893Matching Amy56.9120 June 2010
893Droopys Djokovic56.8231 July 2011
893Buglys Billie56.8221 August 2011
893Aayamzabella [36]56.4917 October 2013
893Slick Strauss[37]56.243 October 2017
916Jodie With Flex58.2914 February 1999
916Ericas Equity58.0917 August 2003
943Baliff Perry62.1415 October 2006
943Omega Wink61.9626 December 2006
943Gaytime Beauty60.7412 August 2007
943Omega Wink60.6915 August 2007
943Blonde Blitz[38]60.1818 July 2010
265 HMystical Mick[39]16.6616 March 2014
265 HBarricane Jack [40]16.6115 February 2019
265 HBockos Tiger[41]16.5413 September 2019
473 HBallmac Keano29.411 July 2001
480 HBorodale Hawk31.0226 November 2006
480 HSkippers Crew30.583 December 2006
480 HNickel Trader30.539 March 2007
480 HNickel Trader30.4018 March 2007
480 HCarnaree Honcho30.067 April 2007
480 HWestmead Vieri29.9019 May 2007
480 HCastledale Lad29.7119 August 2007
480 HPlatinumlancelot29.4530 July 2009
480 HSizzlers Spirit29.4415 July 2010
480 HMash Mad Snowy [42]29.201 June 2014
480 HRazldazl Raidio [43]29.1811 September 2016
480 HBallymac Manix [44]29.1718 September 2016
480 HRazldazl Raidio [45]28.9925 September 2016
480 HSober Call[46]28.9722 February 2017

References

  1. ↑ "Track Search". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Kent Speedway". Kent Kings. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Remember When - October 1994". Greyhound Star.
  4. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2003). Greyhound Annual 2004, page 174. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-21-9.
  5. ↑ "Sittingbourne lift-off, Tuesday 3 October". Sporting Life. 1995.
  6. ↑ "Remember When - July". Greyhound Star.
  7. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1997) March edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  8. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2002). Greyhound Annual 2003, page 62. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-07-3.
  9. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. page 206. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  10. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2006)". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  11. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Special Feature: Greyhounds getting back on track". Kent News. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "The family legacy spanning right back to when it all began". Racing Post.
  14. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  15. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 158. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  16. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 148-149. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  17. ↑ "SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018". SIS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "In-form Janssens switches to the Central Park ranks". Central Park Stadium. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Trainer's of the Year standings". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "ARC AGREES TO ACQUIRE CEARNSPORT LTD – PRESS RELEASE". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "No Competition - No Progress". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "New Distances, Fabulous new surface at Cemtral Park". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Major Investment For Central Park Greyhound Stadium". Arena Racing Company. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "2012 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "2014 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "KENT SILVER SALVER SEMI FINAL 1". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "2016 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "2016 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  29. ↑ "2011 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  30. ↑ "2014 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "2014 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  32. ↑ "2017 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  33. ↑ "2014 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  34. ↑ "CENTRAL PARK STAYERS". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  35. ↑ "2009 result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  36. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  37. ↑ "2017 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  38. ↑ "2010 track record". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  39. ↑ "2018 track record result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  40. ↑ "FASTEST OF THE YEAR". Greyhound Star.
  41. ↑ "FASTEST OF THE YEAR". Greyhound Star.
  42. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  43. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  45. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  46. ↑ "Result". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.

51°20′54″N 0°45′33″E / 51.34827°N 0.75930°E / 51.34827; 0.75930

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