Monmore Green Stadium Explained

Monmore Green Stadium
Location:Wolverhampton, England
Coordinates:52.5771°N -2.1019°W
Operator:Entain (Ladbrokes Coral)
Opened:1928

Monmore Green Stadium is a greyhound racing and former motorcycle speedway stadium located in Wolverhampton.[1] The stadium has private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars. The venue is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group.

Speedway

See main article: Wolverhampton Wolves.

Motorcycle speedway was raced on Monday nights with the Wolverhampton Wolves competing in the top division of the sport.[2] The speedway track at Monmore Green is 264m (866feet) long.[3]

Greyhound racing

Matinée races take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays with evening race meetings on Thursday and Saturday nights. The track hosts several major races including the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, Ladbrokes Puppy Derby, Ladbrokes Festival 630's, Ladbrokes Summer Cup and from 2015 the prestigious puppy competition the Trafalgar Cup.[4]

The track features prominently in the song "Monmore, Hare's Running" on the 1997 album Voyage to the Bottom of the Road by the band Half Man Half Biscuit.

History

20th Century

Monmore opened in 1928 south-east of Wolverhampton and south of the Sutherland Road between the Great Western Railway line and East Park (a large sculptured park and gardens). The official opening night was Wednesday 11 January 1928 organised by a company called the Midland Greyhound Racing Association. A 10,000 strong crowd witnessed the seven races including two hurdle events and the first greyhound to win a race was Arrow Tranby winning one of the 500 yards races in a time of 32.08 secs at odds of 6-1 when winning the Shirley Stakes.[5]

In 1935, the large resident Monmore kennels were split into two sections and also served Willenhall Greyhound Stadium. Unlike many tracks Monmore remained open during the majority of the war and introduced the Midland Puppy Championship in 1943, which would become the Midland Puppy Derby and then the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby (not to be confused with the more prestigious Puppy Derby held at Wimbledon Stadium). The company ran a policy of having joint Racing Managers covering both Monmore and Willenhall. In the fifties Peter Cartwright left his position as Racing Manager to join the National Greyhound Racing Club and was replaced by Bob Harwood. Further competitions were introduced at the track that included the Midland St Leger, Midland Classic Potential, Pride of the Midlands and Staffordshire Knot.[6]

In 1963, a devastating fire swept through the main grandstand resulting in the closure of the track for a considerable period whilst repairs were made. The annual Midland Puppy Championship had to be switched to Willenhall.[7] The fire instigated a major change with the grandstand undergoing significant investment in the mid-sixties to include an ultra-modern glass fronted restaurant with tiered viewing and waitress service. It brought the facilities up to date and attracted outside interest from the Totalisators and Greyhound Holdings (TGH). In 1970 TGH purchased Willenhall and Monmore from the Midland Greyhound Racing Co Ltd to add to the existing tracks of Crayford & Bexleyheath, Gosforth, Leeds and Brough Park that they already owned. Four years later in 1974 Ladbrokes bought out TGH and added another racetrack Perry Barr. Arthur Aldridge became Racing Director for Ladbrokes and following the 1981 decimation of horse racing fixtures due to bad weather the track held BAGS (Bookmakers’ Afternoon Greyhound Service) fixtures for the first time.[8]

The tracks resident kennels were demolished in the late eighties making way for the contract trainer system and Jim Woods arrived from Nottingham Greyhound Stadium to take over as Racing Manager with Bob Harwood General Manager. The stadium hosted the Golden Jacket classic race in 1986 before it moved to Crayford Stadium and a pre-war event the Midland Gold Cup returned in 1994.[9] The stadium underwent changes in 1996 including a change of hare system from a Sumner to a Swaffham.[10]

21st Century

2011 was a very successful year for the track when they won the BAGS National Track Championship [11] and trainer Chris Allsopp became champion trainer. In 2013, Jim Woods retired after a 31-year career handing the reigns to Tony Williamson who had served for twenty years as Wood's assistant.[12] The prestigious Trafalgar Cup competition was held for the first time in 2015.[13]

In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon and every Thursday and Saturday evening.[14] Leading trainer Kevin Hutton joined the track in August 2018.[15]

In 2022, Entain signed a long term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024.[16] In 2023, the stadium owners announced that speedway would cease after the 2023 season.[17]

Major competitions

Track records

[18]

Current

width=100Metreswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=200Datewidth=300Notes
210 Crossfield Larry[19]
||12.34||9 September 2023|||-align=center |264 ||Jetharts Here[20] || 14.95||8 September 2007|||-align=center |416 ||Southfield Jock[21] ||24.01||4 December 2015|||-align=center|480 ||Ballymac Eske[22] ||27.48||28 June 2012|||-align=center|630 ||Iceman Brutus [23] ||37.07||20 August 2007||Ladbrokes Gold Cup heats|-align=center|684 ||Centour Corker[24] ||40.60||29 May 2003||Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic Final|-align=center|835 ||Slick Strauss[25] || 51.00||17 August 2017|||}

Previous (post-metric)

width=100Metreswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=200Datewidth=300Notes
210 Cry Havoc 12.6420 March 1997
210 Andlyns Asabat[26]
||12.45||8 May 2014|||-align=center |264||Parliament Act||15.32 ||28 August 2001|| |-align=center |264 ||Boher Chief ||15.30 ||27 May 2004|| |-align=center |264 ||La Galga ||15.24 ||11 August 2005|| |-align=center |264 ||La Galga||15.23 ||26 August 2005|| |-align=center |264 ||Winnies Dancer||15.22 ||8 October 2005|| |-align=center |264 ||Ningbo Jack ||15.09 ||12 June 2006|| |-align=center |264 ||Paid Boss||15.08 ||24 August 2007|| |-align=center |277 ||Cross Bar||16.66 ||19 April 1984|| |-align=center |277 ||Fearless Champ || 16.34||9 November 1985|||-align=center |416 ||Devitos Chance||24.96|| 10 December 1997|||-align=center |416 ||Moynies Cash||24.57 ||3 July 2004|| |-align=center |416 ||Woodcroft Jo ||24.51 ||4 September 2004 |||-align=center |416 ||Belindas Company||24.33 ||23 September 2006|||-align=center |416 ||Funtime Chunky||24.33 ||24 August 2007|| |-align=center |416 ||Last Mohican ||24.30 ||5 July 2008 |||-align=center |416 ||Loughbeag Roopy||24.22 ||26 June 2010|| |-align=center |416 ||Guinness Sky || 24.21||24 June 2013|||-align=center |460 ||Larkhill Jo ||27.15 ||10 April 1997|||-align=center |462 ||Hume Silver||28.15 ||14 April 1984 |||-align=center ||462 ||Fearless Champ ||28.12 ||18 January 1986|||-align=center|480 ||Larkhill Jo || 27.95 ||7 July 1997 ||Midland Gold Cup semi-final|-align=center |480 ||Knocktoosh Queen||27.93 ||9 August 2003|| |-align=center |480 ||Express Hancho ||27.91 ||23 August 2003|| Ladbrokes Gold Cup semi-finals|-align=center |480 ||Westmead Eagle||27.85 ||17 March 2005|| |-align=center |480 ||Ballymac Pires||27.82 ||17 March 2005|| Ladbrokes Puppy Derby final|-align=center |480 ||Blonde Dino||27.81 ||8 September 2007|| |-align=center |480 ||Ballymac Ruso||27.79 ||6 December 2008|| |-align=center |480 ||Bandicoot Tipoki ||27.76 ||12 March 2009|| Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats|-align=center |480 ||Farloe Lee||=27.76 ||12 March 2009 ||Ladbrokes Puppy Derby heats|-align=center |480 ||Target Classic||27.71||7 December 2009|| |-align=center |480 ||Farley Blitz ||27.60 ||13 February 2010|| |-align=center |484 ||Duke of Avon||29.22 ||5 July 1979|||-align=center|484 ||Keen Mint ||29.55 ||11 October 1982|| |-align=center|484 ||Fearless Power||29.26 ||8 November 1986|| |-align=center|484 ||Darragh Commet ||29.08 ||11 February 1989|||-align=center|630 ||Spring Rose ||37.90 ||10 May 1997|| |-align=center|630 ||Slippy Elite||37.81 ||28 November 1998|| |-align=center|630 ||Form of Magic||37.56 ||16 May 2002 ||Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic heats|-align=center|630 ||Marmions||37.42 ||20 May 2004 ||Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic semi|-align=center|630 || Westmead Hawk ||37.08 ||20 May 2005|| |-align=center|647|| Telecomm Tiger ||40.42 ||18 October 1986|| |-align=center|647|| Catunda Flame ||40.33 ||8 July 1989|| |-align=center|647|| Easy Bimbo ||40.18 ||13 July 1991|| |-align=center|647 ||Highmoor Glen ||40.10 ||10 July 1993|||-align=center|684|| True Honcho ||41.03 ||14 April 2001 |||-align=center|692|| Desert Fame ||43.41 ||25 April 1984|| |-align=center|692 ||Miss Bluebird ||43.37 ||29 October 1985|||-align=center|815|| Lizzies Girl ||52.16 ||23 April 1975|| BBC TV Trophy Final |-align=center|815|| Scurlogue Champ ||51.80 ||15 May 1985|| BBC TV Trophy heats|-align=center|815 || Scurlogue Champ ||51.64 ||22 May 1985|| BBC TV Trophy final|-align=center|835 ||Spenwood Gem||52.09 ||17 September 1998 |||-align=center|835 ||Knappogue Oak||52.09 ||28 August 2001|| |-align=center|835 ||Minglers Moth||52.01 ||15 August 2002|| |-align=center|835 ||Hesley Gale ||51.95 ||27 May 2004|| |-align=center|835 ||Head Iton Tonge||51.60 ||21 June 2007|| |-align=center|835 ||Flying Winner ||51.26 ||29 August 2009|| |-align=center|880 ||Thornfield Pride || 54.79||19 July 1997|||-align=center|900 ||Make It Not ||58.05||5 November 1983|||-align=center|900 ||Angelas Girl|| || April 1983|||-align=center|900 ||Lilac Wonder ||57.83 ||5 December 1992|| |-align=center|900 ||Ladys Storm ||57.02 ||9 July 1998|||-align=center|900 ||Aayamza Royale[27] [28] ||55.95||27 February 2021|||-align=center|900 ||Aayamza Royale[29] ||55.00||22 May 2021||TV Trophy final|-align=center|1067|| Belladare ||70.74||9 May 1987|| |-align=center|1067 ||Coverall ||70.34 ||29 October 1990|||-align=center|1104 ||Travel Now || 72.66||25 March 2000|||-align=center|460 H ||James Wish ||28.19 ||1998|||-align=center|480 H ||Brave Ruler[30] ||28.88 ||26 July 1999|| |-align=center|484 H ||Distant Echo ||30.54 ||18 July 1987|| |-align=center|484 H ||Nifty Kid ||30.32 ||28 November 1988 |||-align=center|484 H ||Run On King ||30.09 ||10 April 1991|| |-align=center|647 H ||Tebroc Heathen ||42.60 ||20 April 1989|| |}

Previous (pre-metric)

width=100Yardswidth=200Greyhoundwidth=50Timewidth=200Datewidth=300Notes
300General Radiance 17.22 27 May 1937
300 Hurry Kitty 17.17 8 November 1945
475 Neidins Bunty 27.53 23 March 1939
475 Coynes Castle 27.14 8 August 1946
500 Rushton Mac1954
500 Lucky Joan28.10 October 1962
525 Kilpeacon Bride 30.09 5 February 1944
525 Red Captain 29.34 April 1965
525 Aughrim Glen 29.19 1970
650 Derry Fame 37.04 June 1964
650 Hogans Express 37.04 1970=equalled
700 Half Term 40.79 14 October 1944
700 Clahane Girl 40.05 September 1962
700 Forward King 39.82 September 1967Steward's Cup final
880 Chantilly Lace 51.80 April 1960
880 Old Irish 51.10 1970
525 H Baytown Express 30.90 29 October 1944
525 H Coast Raider 30.60 September 1957

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Track Search. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 24 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111225034358/http://www.gbgb.org.uk/tracks.aspx. 25 December 2011. dmy-all.
  2. http://www.wolverhamptonwolves.co/homepage Wolverhampton Wolves website
  3. http://www.wolverhamptonwolves.co/page.php?5 Wolverhampton Wolves club and track information
  4. Web site: Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class. Racing Post. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909020416/http://www.racingpost.com/blog/greyhounds/jim-cremin/resurrecting-the-great-trafalgar-cup-was-pure-class/1945578/. 9 September 2015. dmy-all.
  5. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 106. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  6. Book: Genders, Roy. The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, pages 57-58. 1981. Pelham Books Ltd. 07207-1106-1.
  7. News: Piper Apache in Open at Wolverhampton . Birmingham Mail . 10 September 1963 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription . 2 April 2024.
  8. Book: Genders, Roy. NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, page 60. 1990. Pelham Books Ltd. 0-7207-1804-X.
  9. Book: Fry, Paul. The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. pages 225-226. 1995. Ringpress Books. 186054-010-4.
  10. Web site: Remember When - October. Greyhound Star.
  11. Web site: 2011 Bags Intertrack Championship. Greyhound Star.
  12. News: Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 2013). Greyhound Star.
  13. Web site: Resurrecting the great Trafalgar was pure class. Racing Post. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909020416/http://www.racingpost.com/blog/greyhounds/jim-cremin/resurrecting-the-great-trafalgar-cup-was-pure-class/1945578/. 9 September 2015. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: SIS announces schedule for SIS British Greyhound Service for 2018. SIS.
  15. Web site: More Towcester Trainers Relocate. Greyhound Star.
  16. Web site: No Competition - No Progress . Greyhound Star . 23 April 2023.
  17. Web site: STATEMENT: WOLVERHAMPTON SPEEDWAY . British Speedway . 23 April 2023.
  18. Web site: British Track Records as of January 2024 . Greyhound Star . 25 January 2024.
  19. Web site: Lawrence Jones mMemorial Festival 210. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 25 January 2024.
  20. Web site: M.M.C. WOLVERHAMPTON TROPHY. Greyhound Data. 2 March 2021.
  21. Web site: LAWRENCE JONES MEMORIAL FESTIVAL 416 (HEAT 1). Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 2 March 2021.
  22. Web site: Monmore (Wolverhampton) 28 JUN 2012 HT 5. Greyhound Data. 2 March 2021.
  23. Web site: LADBROKES GOLD CUP 630 (HEAT 2). Greyhound Data. 2 March 2021.
  24. Web site: Summer Classic. Greyhound Data. 2 March 2021.
  25. Web site: LADBROKES 835. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 2 March 2021.
  26. Web site: LADBROKES.COM 210. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 2 March 2021.
  27. Web site: British performances of the week. Greyhound Star. 2 March 2021.
  28. Web site: LADBROKES.COM 900. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 2 March 2021.
  29. Web site: LADBROKES TV TROPHY 2021 FINAL. Greyhound Board of Great Britain. 23 May 2021.
  30. Web site: Monmore track records. Greyhound Data. 17 October 2021.

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