# Reading Stadium

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.
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. Martin Haigh would be Racing Manager.

## Greyhound racing
### 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. 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.

### 1980s

The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup. 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.
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.

### 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.
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. 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.

### 2002-2008

The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations. 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.

## 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.

## Track records
### At closing

Extended content :
| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
| 275 | Greenfield Box | 16.32 | 23 October 1982 | |
| 465 | Blue Murlen | 27.56 | 28 April 1997 | |
| 660 | Double Take | 40.50 | 14 December 2003 | Hunt Cup Final |
| 850 | Greenacre Lin | 53.26 | 16 September 2004 | |
| 1045 | Slaneyside Demon | 68.82 | 1 October 2006 | |
| 465 H | Druids Mickey Jo | 28.40 | 22 September 2005 | |
| 660 H | Gold Splash | 41.95 | 24 April 1993 | |

### Previous

Extended content :
| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
| 465 | Shiloh Jenny | 28.77 | September 1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Kilmagoura Mist | 28.74 | September 1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Saucy Buck | 28.63 | September 1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Fevata Spec | 28.12 | 31 January 1987 | |
| 465 | Fearless Mustang | 28.10 | 9 April 1991 | Trainer's Championship |
| 465 | Murlens Abbey | 27.89 | 21 April 1992 | |
| 465 | Coomlogane Euro | 27.87 | 24 November 1994 | |
| 465 | Frisco Sir | 27.81 | 28 April 1997 | |
| 635 | Ballybeg Story | | 1975 | |
| 635 | Ballybeg Gem | | Jan 1976 | |
| 660 | Racewell Royale | 41.02 | 17 November 1987 | |
| 660 | Waltham Abbey | 41.00 | 22 October 1988 | |
| 660 | Airmount Flash | 41.00 | 1 December 1992 | |
| 660 | Hedsor Kurt | 40.90 | 21 August 1997 | |
| 660 | Lydpal Frankie | 40.71 | 16 May 1999 | |
| 850 | Jos Gamble | 54.50 | 19 November 1983 | |
| 850 | Cloverhill June | 54.28 | 1989 | |
| 850 | Ivory Lamb | 54.19 | 11 September 1990 | |
| 850 | Hedsor Erika | 54.03 | 21 August 1997 | |
| 850 | Lady Flyaway | 53.56 | 3 May 1998 | |
| 1045 | Home Yer Go | 68.60 | 1 November 1986 | |
| 1045 | Coverall | 68.09 | 30 November 1990 | |
| 1045 | Sandollar Sophie | 67.90 | 30 April 1994 | |
| 1045 | Souda Bay | 67.58 | 3 May 1998 | |
| 465 H | The Dingle Man | 28.93 | 8 January 1983 | |
| 465 H | Harbour Knight | 28.92 | 8 April 1991 | |
| 465 H | Gis A Smile | 28.58 | 30 April 1994 | |
| 465 H | Wisley Wonder | 28.45 | 22 May 1997 | |
| 660 H | Trixies Snipe | 42.51 | 19 November 1983 | |
| 660 H | Run On Tar | 41.96 | 30 November 1990 | |