# Cleveland Park Stadium

Cleveland Park Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. It was built in 1928 and demolished in 1996.

## Origins

The idea of constructing a greyhound track in Middlesbrough came from Jack French who formed the National Greyhounds Middlesbrough Ltd. An eleven-acre site of former allotments in the Ayresome Ward, south of the River Tees and directly south of the Tees Marshalling Yard Railways and Stockton Road Tramway was chosen in 1928.
Originally the greyhound track had a circumference of 412 yards (377 m) and used a Mono-Rail type hare system running on a bogie which would later be replaced by an 'Inside Sumner' in 1939.

## Opening

The first greyhound meeting was held on 19 May 1928, watched by an attendance of eight thousand. A greyhound called Just Alone won the first race over 500 yards with the meeting consisting of seven races including two hurdle races and two handicap races. Middlesbrough Speedway followed three months later on 23 August 1928. The first track star was a greyhound called Brilliant Gambler, who set multiple track records throughout 1928 and 1929.

## Pre war history

The stadium facilities included two enclosures both featuring members clubs, one on the home straight and another slightly larger one on the back straight. Between the first and second bends was the hare control and between the third and fourth bends was the tote control which opened later in 1936. The stewards box and offices were situated on the home straight before the first bend.
A greyhound called Cheerful Chinaman won his first race on 20 August 1928 and went on to win 138 races from 452 outings when retiring on 21 November 1934. (A record believed to be still held today). The first track champion was a greyhound called Brilliant Gambler an Irish import that held the track records over 470 and 650 yards.
In 1938 all greyhounds were owned by the company after privately owned greyhounds were phased out, a move designed to foil doping. Distances changed to 288, 500, 518 and 700 yards.

## Post war history

Totalisator turnover during 1946 equated to £656,386 and one year later a new Electro-Mechanical tote was installed.
In 1956 there was a triple dead heat between Law Maker, Red Bay and Spinach Lad in 30.36 over 518 yards, an excellent grading achievement by Racing Manager R W Burns. The feat was repeated three years later when Quarry Tanist, Sandboy & Skip Me crossed the line together on 12 July 1959. In 1961 the track hosted a heat of the BBC Television Trophy shown live on Sportsview.
Throughout the 1960s the raced on Wednesday and Saturday nights and the resident trainers were Harry Gendle and K Nelson. The principal event was the Cleveland Stayers Championship and amenities on offer to the public included four bars and three cafes.
Vic Abbott replaced R W Burns as Racing Manager and the decision was taken in 1967 to sand the bends replacing the grass. The entire track would be converted to sand in 1984. During 1978 Harry Gendle retired after 46 years as a trainer at the track.
The only major race win by a Middlesbrough greyhound came in 1982 when Irish Grand National champion Face The Mutt won the Scottish Grand National for trainer Reece before moving to Norah McEllistrim at Wimbledon Stadium the same year and completed the triple crown of by winning the English Grand National.
In 1985 a serious arson attack destroyed the main stand and Ross Searle took over from Vic Abbott. In 1987 the track hosted auctions for the first time but during 1990 the track suffered an exodus of trainers because a revamped Sunderland had opened.

## Closure

In September 1996 the site was sold and the track was demolished to make way for the Goals soccer centre football pitches and the Macmillan City Technology College extension (part of the Macmillan Academy).

## Track records

Extended content :
Pre-Metric
Yards
Greyhound
Time (sec)
Date
240Fred Thornley14.8214 October 1929
270Hettys Heir15.9217 June 1936
280Stockbroker17.501 June 1938
288Blue Dusty16.6128 September 1957
288Lincolns Inn16.1824 July 1971
306Sandys Peach17.6129 September 1956
470Brilliant Gambler27.591928
470Brilliant Gambler27.2921 August 1929
475Sea Knott28.3018 June 1928
475Brilliant Gambler28.2118 June 1928
475Brilliant Gambler28.1923 June 1928
475Brilliant Gambler28.011 August 1928
480Daegrease28.8029 May 1937
500Shanes Al28.617 June 1965
500Idle Sailor28.4824 September 1966
500Malaria27.966 July 1968
518Boy Mack30 August 1946
518Dusky Guy30.2726 October 1946
518Blue Dusty29.709 July 1956
650Brilliant Gambler39.458 September 1928
650Pennine Jock38.812 July 1930
682Stocky41.7119 July 1933
692Captain Horner43.8813 August 1938
700Maylin Justice41.8330 July 1962
700Claudyne39.7511 July 1965
718Sound Hero42.9623 June 1962
880Student Life52.2326 April 1961
882Kirkleatham Leader57.466 May 1935
470 HCorah Hill28.612 July 1930
475 HBurnebe30.1513 June 1928
650 HCleveland Lass42.5422 February 1930
Post-Metric
Metres
Greyhound
Time (sec)
Date
266Mattie Jo16.281989
266Well Keeper16.2429 July 1991
266Seaview15.971 August 1994
282Kipplings Fox17.551976
450mMove Along Myna27.8420 April 1988
450mBallynaught Five27.821989
462mSwift Linnet28.364 March 1989
462mJubilee Rocco28.1818 June 1993
478mLazy John29.591978
478mLucky Saint29.2511 June 1983
640mGrace Line40.794 October 1989
640mKeiberwood Bob40.2623 September 1994
774mHollands Sand50.9112 November 1993
824mDesert Tan55.1117 February 1988
836mDampit Pride54.9425 July 1990
847mRyehope Dawn55.901987 :