# Oxford Stadium

Oxford Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Oxford, located in Sandy Lane, Cowley.
As of 2024, Greyhound races are held on Monday, Friday and Saturday with Speedway meetings held Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Races were historically held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening with afternoon BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) racing on Friday and Sunday. Race evenings also included Friday evenings at various times throughout the history of the stadium.

## Stadium facilities

The stadium has a 350-seater grandstand restaurant overlooking the track, with three executive suites and several large general public areas. Conference and business facilities were also available.

## Origins

The stadium was constructed in 1938 on the site of a 'flapping' (unregulated) track where owners could turn up and run their greyhounds around an oval on the days selected for racing. The rear wheel of a jacked up motor car was used to drive the lure around the track. The location on Sandy Lane, in Cowley, Oxfordshire is a short walk from the famous Oxford motor factories built by Morris Motors.
The back straight was adjacent to the Great Western Railway Thame Branch line (now the BMW freight line). A main grandstand building was erected and the stadium joined the regulatory governing body of the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC). The owner of the land at the time was a Mr Johnson, and he agreed a 99-year lease with Mr Leslie Vernon Calcutt.

## Speedway

Oxford Stadium is home to Oxford Speedway and its three teams (Oxford Spires, Oxford Cheetahs and Oxford Chargers).
Speedway has been an integral part of the stadium and was run every year from 1939 up to 2008 and again from 2022 until present. The team known as the Oxford Cheetahs won the United Kingdom's premier competition five times. They were champions in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. Speedway returned to Oxford Stadium in 2022 with the Cheetahs competing in the SGB Championship 2022.

## Greyhound racing
### Opening

The inaugural race night was on 31 March 1939 and the stadium was officially opened by Lord Denham with races over 310, 525 and 735 yards. The track trainers were Bill Davies, Bill Higgins, Paddy Mullins and Mr Preston. The first race was won by Hunting Snipe, the 2-1 favourite.

### 1940s

During World War II the track closed and reopened on several occasions, but generally raced on Saturday afternoons. In 1941 Leslie Calcutt purchased Irish Grand National winner 'The Gunner' for £400 and the Jack Young trained hurdler won 11 successive open races, drawing in large crowds. In 1943 Dark Tiger won the Trafalgar Cup.
In 1944 a fire destroyed the main stand: it was reported that a newspaper had blown onto a heater. Also in 1944 Winnie of Berrow won the Eclipse Stakes.
The track was described as a good size course with a good run-up to the first bend. The hare system was an 'Inside McWhirter track-less' and race distances were now 290, 455, 500 and 715 yards. There were kennel facilities on site for 132 greyhounds; fees were charged at one guinea per week, i.e. three shillings per day. Amenities included the Oxford Stadium club five shilling enclosure, Oxford Stadium racing club 2s 3d enclosure.
In 1947 Calcutt was appointed as Director of Bristol Greyhound Racing Association Ltd and one year later Narrogar Ann won the Western Two-Year Old Produce Stakes.

### 1950s

In the summer of 1952 Calcutt fell ill and had to go to hospital for a major operation. Whilst recuperating at Acland nursing home he suffered a relapse and died on 3 August aged just 49. The Bristol Greyhound Racing Association was soon to change their name to Bristol Stadium Ltd and they took control of Oxford following the death of Calcutt. Kensington Perfection won the 1952 British Breeders Produce Stakes Finals at Catford Stadium and Stamford Bridge and the 1953 Eastville Stadium Produce Stakes and Regency.
Owner-trainers were allowed to race their greyhounds at the track; these included Paddy Sweeney, a respected veterinary surgeon. In 1957 Racing Manager John Hare introduced the Two Year Old Produce Stakes. Bill Higgins (10) and Jack Young (9) won the first 19 Oxford trainer championship titles between them from 1939 to 1957. Higgins died in 1958 and was replaced by Joe Farrand for a second spell at Oxford.

### 1960s

Drum Major II recorded a fiftieth track win in 1961 and in 1964 the Oxfordshire Stakes was introduced. In 1967 Oxford was one of the first four tracks to be awarded an inaugural BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) contract along with Hackney, Kings Heath and Park Royal. The decade ended with new investment which saw a new supporters club building constructed, it would be used for functions.

### 1970s

Perth Pat trained by Jim Morgan brought the first ever classic race success to Oxford following her win in the 1970 Oaks. In the same year Henry Kibble secured a tenth track trainers title. In 1974 a new 'Outside Sumner' hare system was introduced but the following year Bristol Stadium Ltd agreed a deal worth £235,000 with the Oxford City Council housing committee. A group formed SOS (Save Our Stadium) and a petition with 27,000 names was lodged with the council. Local MP Michael Heseltine called for a public meeting which gave SOS the chance to find a buyer. The stadium closed on 31 December 1975 until further notice but reopened during March 1976 and eventually found a buyer in 1977 when Northern Sports purchased the track for £250,000. The threat of permanent closure had been prevented by David Hawkins the managing director of Northern Sports.

### 1980s

The resident kennels were demolished in 1980 because the contract trainers were now employed and one of the trainers called Jack Coker reached the final of the 1980 English Greyhound Derby with Young Breeze. In 1981 Careless Dragon trained by Jim Morgan won the Trafalgar Cup one year before Northern Sports announced plans to invest heavily into Oxford and sister track Ramsgate Stadium. Mick Wheble arrived as Racing Manager in 1984, Joe Farrand retired after 45 years as a trainer and Arthur Hitch won the 1984 BBC TV Trophy with Weston Prelude.
The investment promised came to fruition in 1986 when Northern Sports spent £1.5 million on a new three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre including squash courts, a snooker club, gymnasium, sauna and various other facilities. The stadium underwent considerable success with significant increases in attendances and totalisator turnover. Charity events featured appearances from Desert Orchid, Bob Champion, Henry Cooper, Jenny Pitman and many others. The sports leading trainer Geoff De Mulder joined the track and the speedway team became the leading team in the United Kingdom with four times World Champion Hans Nielsen as their captain.
In 1987 Sandwinder trained by Vicky Holloway became the track champion and in 1988 the Pall Mall Stakes was switched from the closing Harringay Stadium to Oxford. The first running was won by Fearless Ace and the winning trophy was presented by George Best. As the 1980s ended Maurice Massey won a fifth trainers track title.

### 1990s

The recent success had made Oxford one of the leading tracks in the UK outside its major conurbations and the first ever Derby success came in 1994 when Ringa Hustle trained by Tony Meek won the 1994 English Greyhound Derby. Kind of Magic won the 1993 Scurry Gold Cup for Litzi Miller who herself would win eight trainers titles.
However, as the 90s progressed Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow were beginning to suffer from the recession that was affecting their other business interests in construction and garden centres and in 1995 Hawkins of Harrow called in the receivers and Oxford was made a going concern. The stadium attracted a list of potential buyers but it was Donald Joyce a former member of SOS who purchased the stadium in 1996 and then sold it on for a considerable profit to the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) in 1999.

### 2000–2012

The GRA made immediate changes with a new multimillion-pound extension completed during 2000. The old supporters club had been demolished making way for an extension to the grandstand restaurant and addition of three large executive suites. In addition there was a new racing surface and Swaffham hare system costing a further £130,000. The circumference of the track remained at 395 metres, with race distances of 250, 450, 595, 645 and 845 metres.
A classic race called the Cesarewitch switched to Oxford from Catford in 2001 and the major competitions were screened live on SKY television. Angie Kibble won six trainers titles and traditional boxing day meetings continued to draw in a capacity attendance from the local population. The stadium continued to be frequented by the famous which included Ant & Dec, Zara Phillips and Vinnie Jones.

### Closure 2012–2020

The closure of the stadium was sealed when GRA's parent company Wembley plc was broken apart and GRA were subject to a takeover by Risk Capital Partners with development partner Galliard Homes in 2005 for £52.4m. Plans for 150 houses and 75 flats were mooted but the council publicly stated they were in favour of keeping the site for leisure use. The racing continued for seven years until the GRA closed the stadium; the last greyhound meeting was held on 29 December 2012 in front of a capacity crowd, with the last winner being Moorstown Mystiq, trained by Richard Baker.

### 2022–present

The stadium reopened (on a 10-year lease, under Kevin Boothby) on Wednesday 13 April 2022 with a speedway meeting. Greyhound racing recommenced on Friday 2 September 2022. The stadium took on the Hunt Cup competition in 2023.

### Competitions

Current
* The prestigious Pall Mall Stakes (450m)
* The Hunt Cup (650m)
Former
* The original classic race The Cesarewitch (645m, 2001–2012)
* The Trafalgar Cup for puppies (450m, 1999–2012)
* The Oxfordshire Stakes (Greyhounds) (450m, 1964–2012)
* The Oxfordshire Gold Cup (450m, 1985–2012)
* The Two Year Old Produce Stakes (450m, 1957–1975)

## Track details
### Current track records

| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date |
| 253 | Coolavanny Finn | 14.78 | 22 April 2023 |
| 450 | Coolavanny Shado | 26.49 | 4 August 2023 |
| 650 | Havana Top Note | 39.29 | 8 December 2023 |
| 847 | Bubbly Inferno | 52.37 | 23 March 2024 |

### Previous track records pre-metric

Extended content :
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Trainer | Date |
| 290 | Golden Monarch II | 16.26 | Mrs.V.Bevis | 17 July 948 |
| 290 | Gortnagory | 16.16 | P.J.Power | 18 September 1948 |
| 310 | Hunting Castle | 17.86 | Bill Higgins | 10 April 1939 |
| 310 | Oldcastletown Hope | 17.52 | Jimmy Rimmer | 13 April 1939 |
| 310 | Manhattan Mercury | 17.48 | Bill Savage | 19 May 1939 |
| 310 | Hot Knight | 17.44 | Philip Dooley | 27 June 1939 |
| 310 | John Reaper | 17.36 | Jack Young | 20 September 1940 |
| 310 | Galtee Ham | 17.36 | Bill Davies | 9 November 1940 |
| 310 | Galtee Ham | 17.28 | Bill Davies | 23 November 1940 |
| 310 | Black Invasion | 17.26 | Bill Higgins | 24 May 1947 |
| 455 | Earl of Kilally | 26.22 | Reg Holland | 24 July 1948 |
| 455 | Lucky Stoker | 26.15 | Bill Gigg | 24 August 1948 |
| 455 | Knocker's Latest | 26.00 | J.P.H.Bott | 7 September 1948 |
| 475 | Lord Peter | 27.88 | Jack Young | 24 March 1945 |
| 475 | Sound Touch | 27.59 | Jack Young | 7 April 1945 |
| 475 | Anglesey Angel | 27.45 | Paddy Boyle | 14 June 1945 |
| 475 | Special Display | 27.40 | Unknown | 1945 |
| 475 | Please Peter | 27.39 | G Scadgell | 5 August 1946 |
| 475 | Please Peter | 27.22 | G Scadgell | 5 August 1946 |
| 475 | Rushbrooke Bob | 27.04 | Stan Raymond | 23 August 1946 |
| 500 | Colin Ranger | 28.60 | Norman Merchant | 3 July 1948 |
| 500 | Pembroke Fair | 28.32 | Jack Young | 6 July 1948 |
| 500 | Patsys Record | 28.24 | Fred Farey | 13 July 1948 |
| 500 | Pembroke Fair | 28.15 | Jack Young | 13 July 1948 |
| 500 | Don Gipsey | 28.04 | Leslie Reynolds | 14 September 1948 |
| 500 | Kensington Perfection | 28.25* | Bill Higgins | 11 May 1954 |
| 500 | Lauradella Champion | 28.19 | Unknown | 1963 |
| 500 | Lindsay Sue | 28.12 | Henry Kibble | 20 August 1965 |
| 500 | Tony's Blaze | 28.10 | Frank White | 20 August 1965 |
| 500 | Orphan Swan | 28.10 | Paddy McEvoy | 27 August 1965 |
| 500 | That's Airy | 28.01 | Geoff De Mulder | 19 August 1966 |
| 500 | Laughing Flame | 27.94 | Peter Collett | 19 August 1966 |
| 500 | Tell Nobody | 27.88 | Eric Adkins | 19 August 1966 |
| 500 | Lucky Me | 27.87 | Len Drewery | 4 July 1967 |
| 500 | Lucky Me | 27.79 | Len Drewery | 7 July 1967 |
| 500 | Billy The Mink | 27.74 | Cutler | 18 August 1967 |
| 500 | Discretions | 27.70 | David Geggus | 23 August 1968 |
| 525 | Connors Company | 30.05 | Paddy Mullins | 14 April 1939 |
| 525 | Grosvenor Friendship | 30.05 | Jim Syder Sr. | 26 July 1940 |
| 525 | Much Jay | 29.99 | Bill Davies | 13 June 1941 |
| 525 | Whitey Marsh | 29.95 | Jack Young | 10 March 1945 |
| 525 | Garnaman Invader | 29.85 | Bill Higgins | 17 March 1945 |
| 525 | Winnie of Berrow | 29.84 | Joe Farrand | 20 July 1945 |
| 525 | Good West End | 29.84 | Bill Higgins | 28 April 1946 |
| 525 | Ryans Rose | 29.78 | Jack Young | 17 May 1946 |
| 525 | Latest Surprise | 29.55 | Lilah Shennan | 16 August 1947 |
| 715 | Northam Star | 41.18 | Leslie Reynolds | 6 July 1948 |
| 715 | Come Up First | 40.72 | Bob Burls | 13 July 1948 |
| 715 | Carmen Lad | 40.95+ | Unknown | 9 August 1964 |
| 715 | Loyal Blue | 40.89 | George Waterman | 3 May 1963 |
| 735 | Duke McNab | 42.80 | Bill Davies | 10 April 1939 dh |
| 735 | Courtenay Nigger | 42.80 | Paddy Mullins | 10 April 1939 dh |
| 735 | Milton Maggie | 42.25 | Culley | 21 April 1939 |
| 735 | Nazeing Ambitious | 43.39 | Unknown | 1946 |
| 735 | Mischievous Red | 43.20 | C Crowley | 20 August 1946 |
| 735 | Mayfair Mite | 42.92 | Leslie Reynolds | 26 June 1948 |
| 915 | Jesters King | 54.54 | Unknown | 7 April 1964 |
| 500 H | Muncross Dan | 29.95 | Hugh Kennedy | 26 August 1949 |
| 500 H | Outlaw O'Leer | 29.59 | Jack Chadwick | 19 June 1954 |
| 500 H | Outlaw O'Leer | 29.48 | Jack Chadwick | 27 May 1955 |
| 500 H | Drealistown Leader | 29.60+ | Ernie Westcott | 3 May 1963 |
| 525 H | Brindled Beggar | 30.91 | Culley | 30 June 1939 |
| 525 H | Gypsy Win | 30.82 | W Franks | 26 April 1943 |
| 525 H | What A Lad | 30.70 | Jack Young | 25 September 1943 |
| 525 H | Baytown Brougham | 30.60 | Bill Higgins | 21 April 1945 |

### Previous track records post-metric until 2012

Extended content :
| Yards | Greyhound | Time | Trainer | Date |
| 250 | Start Again | 15.61 | Jim Morgan | 25 March 1977 |
| 250 | Tonapandy | 15.31 | Maurice Massey | 3 February 1979 |
| 250 | Ballybeg Sailor | 15.29 | Vicky Holloway | 1984 |
| 250 | Westmead Account | 15.28 | Terry Atkins | 5 October 1985 |
| 250 | Hardy Champ | 15.10 | Geoff De Mulder | 23 November 1985 |
| 250 | Rapid Mover | 15.10 | John Wiseman | 23 June 1987 |
| 250 | Debbys Lad | 14.96 | Tony Meek | 28 October 1988 |
| 250 | Kirks Late Again | 14.95 | Gloria Stringer | 10 May 2005 |
| 250 | Ballymac Gloria | 14.88 | Nick Colton | 14 April 2006 |
| 250 | Blonde Chico | 14.76 | John Mullins | 12 June 2007 |
| 250 | Jacksheaboy | 14.71 | Afzal Ali | 8 April 2008 |
| 250 | Miss Lee | 14.65 | David Pruhs | 24 March 2009 |
| 450 | Clear Reason | 27.50 | Mrs Dorin Clark | 12 July 1974 |
| 450 | By Chance | 27.32 | Henry Kibble | 3 October 1975 |
| 450 | Dale Silver | 27.30 | Jim Morgan | 4 May 1976 |
| 450 | Oulartwick Kybo | 27.19 | Unknown | 1976 |
| 450 | Greenfield Fox | 27.18 | Terry O'Sullivan | 4 October 1977 |
| 450 | Rathduff Spring | 27.13 | Geoff De Mulder | 7 October 1977 |
| 450 | Rathduff Spring | 27.03 | Geoff De Mulder | 14 October 1977 |
| 450 | First General | 26.97 | Tommy Johnston | 5 October 1979 |
| 450 | Nippy Law | 26.90 | Geoff De Mulder | 29 September 1984 |
| 450 | Parkers Sage | 26.89 | Bertie Gaynor | 28 September 1985 |
| 450 | Local Fan | 26.87 | Derek Law | 28 June 1988 |
| 450 | Money Matters | 26.81 | Geoff De Mulder | 27 August 1988 |
| 450 | Fearless Ace | 26.80 | Theo Mentzis | 25 March 1989 |
| 450 | Carmels Prince | 26.72 | Michael Compton | 20 October 1990 |
| 450 | Droopys Eric | 26.64 | Henry Tasker | 14 March 1998 |
| 450 | Seskin Judy | 26.62 | Angie Kibble | 17 March 1998 |
| 450 | Lets Go Ebby | 26.61 | Tony Meek | 17 March 1998 |
| 450 | Farloe Club | 26.57 | Terry Dartnall | 17 March 2000 |
| 450 | Droopys Keegan | 26.57 | Brian Clemenson | 9 December 2003 |
| 450 | Paramount Silver | 26.37 | Paul Liddle | 1 April 2005 |
| 450 | Up For Sam | 26.20 | Carol Weatherall | 11 February 2010 |
| 595 | Black Toto | 37.51 | Gilly Hepden | 24 May 2001 |
| 595 | Graceful Amy | 37.34 | Steve Davis | 29 May 2001 |
| 595 | Magpie Express | 36.91 | Ron Bicknell | 23 June 2001 |
| 595 | El Tara | 36.75 | Angie Kibble | 14 August 2001 |
| 595 | Easy Dilemma | 36.70 | Angie Kibble | 17 August 2002 |
| 595 | Greenacre Lin | 36.36 | Brian Clemenson | 20 May 2004 |
| 595 | Little Honcho | 36.18 | Linda Pruhs | 5 February 2005 |
| 595 | Bower Turbo | 35.87 | Richard Yeates | 25 March 2008 |
| 645 | Black Beetle | 40.93 | Henry Kibble | 11 May 1976 |
| 645 | Hunscote Dan | 40.80 | Brian Price | 31 May 1976 |
| 645 | Black Beetle | 40.21 | Henry Kibble | 8 June 1976 |
| 645 | Hunscote Dan | 40.19 | Brian Price | 7 September 1976 |
| 645 | Ballybeg Delight | 39.92 | Vicky Holloway | 13 October 1979 |
| 645 | Lugwardine Lord | 39.70 | Ann Finch | 7 October 1986 |
| 645 | Run Free | 39.46 | Tony Meek | 11 November 1986 |
| 645 | Aztec Sun | 39.39 | Nick Savva | 22 March 1998 |
| 645 | Black Pear | 39.36 | Wayne Wrighting | 5 August 2004 |
| 645 | Primitive Way | 38.98 | David Pruhs | 25 March 2008 |
| 845 | Donovans Bar | 54.61 | Des Ellington | 1975 |
| 845 | Askinvillar King | 54.29 | J Hammond | 18 March 1977 |
| 845 | Gan On Rita | 54.19 | Ted Dickson | 10 November 1979 |
| 845 | Gan On Rita | 53.90 | Ted Dickson | 25 April 1980 |
| 845 | Crickets Delight | 53.49 | Vicky Holloway | 17 September 1982 |
| 845 | Jaroadel | 52.91 | Bertie Gaynor | 20 August 1986 |
| 845 | Tralee Crazy | 52.16 | Nick Savva | 22 March 1998 |
| 1040 | Honeygar Belle | 67.63 | Peter Billingham | 14 November 1989 |
| 450 H | Right Arkle | 28.42 | Ted Dickson | 10 November 1979 |
| 450 H | Hunday Doss | 28.35 | Unknown | 1980 |
| 450 H | Shyan Trader | 28.19 | Phil Rees | 1980 |
| 450 H | Tom View Yard | 28.19 | Unknown | 1981 |
| 450 H | Cushie Sandy | 28.19 | Paddy McEvoy | 2 April 1982 |
| 450 H | Growing Power | 28.05 | Norah McEllistrim | 1983 |
| 450 H | Burgess Rocket | 27.85 | Jim Morgan | 5 October 1985 |
| 450 H | Trelawney | 27.81 | Vicky Holloway | 18 February 1987 |
| 450 H | Cygnet Man | 27.49 | Tommy Foster | 10 January 1989 |
| 450 H | Faoides Country | 27.47 | Terry Kibble | 24 August 1991 |
| 450 H | Lord Pat | 27.34 | Ron Bicknell | 7 March 2000 |
| 450 H | Enjoy Your Luck | 27.32 | Jason Foster | 18 July 2000 |
| 450 H | Born To Go | 27.25 | Tommy Foster | 14 August 2001 |
| 450 H | Druids Mickey Jo | 27.12 | Seamus Cahill | 5 April 2005 |
| 645 H | Keen Fowler | 41.89 | Andy Agnew | 14 May 1982 |
| 645 H | Monarch Tom | 41.63 | Norah McEllistrim | 19 January 1985 |
| 645 H | Trap Flier | 41.45 | Norah McEllistrim | 19 July 1988 |
| 645 H | Mixer Mick | 41.17 | Gordon Hodson | 25 October 1988 |
| 645 H | Cygnet Man | 40.96 | Tommy Foster | 7 February 1989 |
| 645 H | Bozy Blue Blaze | 40.94 | John Mullins | 6 February 2001 |

### Previous track records since 2022

Extended content :
| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date |
| 847 | Space Jet | 53.04 | 1 January 2023 |
| 847 | Ballymac Taylor | 52.90 | 1 March 2024 |
| 847 | Savana Jazz | 52.72 | 16 March 2024 |
| 847 | Ballymac Taylor | 52.54 | 16 March 2024 |

### Track Dimensions

* NE bend 108 metres
* SE straight 81 metres
* SW bend 109 metres
* NW straight 81 metres
* Total 379 metres