Reading Stadium
LocationBennet Road, Reading, Berkshire
OperatorAllied Presentations 1975-2001
BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008
Opened1975
Closed2008

Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.

It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road that closed in 1974 and was located further to the north of Reading.

Origins

In 1974 the Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road, north-west of the town was closed by the Greyhound Racing Association but the town of Reading soon had a replacement stadium when a company called Allied Presentations opened a new track accessed from the Bennet Road much further to the south of the town. The stadium was constructed on disused sludge beds and south of Island Road and north of Smallmead Road.[1]

The stadium build was assisted by owner trainer Bill Dore who sat on the board of directors with Reg Fearman, F Higley and Len Silver.[2] Martin Haigh would be Racing Manager.[3]

Speedway

Greyhound racing

Greyhound track at Reading Stadium Smallmead c.1980

Opening

The first greyhound meeting was held on 10 June 1975. The first race was won by Mr T Coleman's Journeywork over 433 metres in a time of 27.84 secs.[4] The circuit was all sand surface with an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. The circumference was 385 metres with usual race distances consisting of 275, 465 and 660 metres.[5]

1980s

The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup.[5] and attracted a good class of trainer including Terry Dartnall and Jerry Fisher, the latter won the Cesarewitch title with Jos Gamble in 1983. Fisher also trained Game Ball who he bought with owner Brian Smith for the sum of £8,000 at the end of 1982. Game Ball was put with Sean Bourke for the English Greyhound Derby and nearly fulfilled his promise being a losing favourite in the 1983 final. game Ball also won the Pall Mall Stakes before becoming a prominent sire.[6]

Daleys Gold won the 1985 Scurry Gold Cup before Mollifrend Lucky trained by Colin Packham won the 1986 Scurry and Laurels in 1986. Martyn Dore (the son of Director and General Manager Bill Dore) was Racing Manager by 1988 as the track became renowned for having a strong class of runner.[5]

1990s

In 1990 the Maldwyn Thomas trained greyhounds with the prefix ‘Trans’ began to win trophies and 1992 proved to be a very successful year starting with the announcement that a competition called the Reading Masters would take place. The race offered substantial prize money with only the English Derby and Scottish Derby able to top the £15,000 winner's prize. Poor Brian won the Oxfordshire Stakes for Ron Jeffrey (a former trainer at the old Reading track) and Bob Gilling's Skelligs Smurf became Oaks champion with Bixby (Bill Black) becoming the Puppy Derby winner.[7]

Champion trainer John 'Ginger' McGee joined the training ranks in 1993 and won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year twice as a Reading trainer in 1993 and 1994.[7] The Keith Howard 'Hedsor' prefix was next to provide the track with more success Walthamstow Stadium greyhound Palace Issue claimed a third consecutive Hunt Cup in 2001. In 1998 John McGee returned for a second spell at the track and Paul Young also arrived as a trainer.[8]

2002-2008

The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations.[9][10] Terry Dartnall returned to the track as a trainer once again and won two Select Stakes with Cleenas Lady before retiring and handing the licence to son Matt who then won the Juvenile in 2008 with Ballymac Under.[11]

Closure

In 2008 the local council refused to extend the tracks lease citing redevelopment plans. The plans for the company to build a new modern stadium came to nothing with the final meeting being held on 22 October 2008 and the stadium was demolished.[12]

Competitions

Reading Masters

Hunt Cup

Track records

At closing

Extended content

The track records at the time of closing[13] were -

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
275Greenfield Box16.3223 October 1982
465Blue Murlen27.5628 April 1997
660Double Take40.5014 December 2003Hunt Cup Final
850Greenacre Lin53.2616 September 2004
1045Slaneyside Demon68.821 October 2006
465 HDruids Mickey Jo28.4022 September 2005
660 HGold Splash41.9524 April 1993

Previous

Extended content
Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes
465Shiloh Jenny[14]28.77September 1978Berkshire Cup heats
465Kilmagoura Mist[14]28.74September 1978Berkshire Cup heats
465Saucy Buck[14]28.63September 1978Berkshire Cup heats
465Fevata Spec28.1231 January 1987
465Fearless Mustang28.109 April 1991Trainer's Championship
465Murlens Abbey[15]27.8921 April 1992
465Coomlogane Euro[15]27.8724 November 1994
465Frisco Sir[15]27.8128 April 1997
635Ballybeg Story1975
635Ballybeg Gem[16]Jan 1976
660Racewell Royale41.0217 November 1987
660Waltham Abbey41.0022 October 1988
660Airmount Flash41.001 December 1992
660Hedsor Kurt40.9021 August 1997
660Lydpal Frankie40.7116 May 1999
850Jos Gamble54.5019 November 1983
850Cloverhill June54.281989
850Ivory Lamb54.1911 September 1990
850Hedsor Erika54.0321 August 1997
850Lady Flyaway53.563 May 1998
1045Home Yer Go68.601 November 1986
1045Coverall68.0930 November 1990
1045Sandollar Sophie67.9030 April 1994
1045Souda Bay67.583 May 1998
465 HThe Dingle Man28.938 January 1983
465 HHarbour Knight28.928 April 1991
465 HGis A Smile28.5830 April 1994
465 HWisley Wonder28.4522 May 1997
660 HTrixies Snipe42.5119 November 1983
660 HRun On Tar41.9630 November 1990

References

  1. ↑ "OS Plan 1976-1995". old-maps.co.uk.
  2. ↑ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  3. ↑ "Greyhound Star (Remember When - June)". Greyhound Star. 2 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  5. 1 2 3 Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  6. ↑ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
  7. 1 2 Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  8. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) November edition". Greyhound Star. 2012.
  9. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) April edition". Greyhound Star. 2002.
  10. ↑ "Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 2002)". Greyhound Star. 20 January 2019.
  11. ↑ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  12. ↑ "Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October". Get Reading. 22 July 2008.
  13. ↑ "Track records". Greyhound Data.
  14. 1 2 3 "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) September edition". Greyhound Star.
  15. 1 2 3 "All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
  16. ↑ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1976) January edition". Greyhound Star.

51°25′42″N 0°58′57″W / 51.42833°N 0.98250°W / 51.42833; -0.98250

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