Halcrow Stadium
History
The plans to build a new greyhound stadium on a ten-acre site, west of Gretna were first instigated in 1983. The name Halcrow derives from Jim Halcrow a well-known Shetland accordionist. The construction was started by James Norman and sons as a replacement for the previous track at Raydale Park and the first race meeting took place in June 1986.
The original circumference of the track was 416 metres. Distances included 120, 300, 490 and 685 metres but later distances of 280 and 470 metres were used. The stadium was forced to suspend some racing in the Summer of 1987 due to a shortage of racing greyhounds.
The racing remained independent and was not controlled by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Amenities included several bars, a hospitality suite and function rooms for parties, weddings and traditional music events.
The stadium was also used for occasional concerts.
The track was closed in April 2017 and in 2021 was purchased by the Cunninghame Housing Association for the purposes of building new housing.
References
- ^ "Find Us". Halcrow Stadium.
- ^ "New greyhound track to open". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 20 April 1986. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Closures and openings over the past 10 years, July 1993, page 18". Greyhound Star. 1993.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. pp. 288–289. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "Mid-week blow for Gretna". Newcastle Journal. 29 July 1987. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Hospitality". Halcrow Stadium.
- ^ "Concert change". Dumfries and Galloway Standard. 20 December 1991. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Gretna dog track closes to make way for homes". DNG. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Dumfries & Galloway Future Development". Cunninghame Housing Association. Retrieved 9 May 2024.