The best greyhound tracks to visit this spring
The change of seasons is finally upon us and as we delve into spring, sports fans will look to take advantage of the extra daylight in the evenings and the better weather to indulge in the big events over the next few months. With the end of the Premier League season, the preparation for Wimbledon in the summer and the start of the flats in horse racing, there is plenty to get excited about now the clocks have gone forward.
For all the action happening though, the sport of greyhound racing gets overlooked at times. While certainly not as popular as it used to be, especially in the early 20th century, greyhound racing still has a small, but loyal following that keep up to date with all the big races and often place a greyhound bet. The pandemic was definitely hard for the sport but with the world looking to get back to normal, and some of the big category one races like the English Greyhound Derby approaching, there’s perhaps no better time to indulge in some greyhound racing.
The sport is so accessible, with a variety of tracks around the country, mainly situated in the Midlands, which has become something of a spiritual home for greyhound enthusiasts. Read on, as we take a look at some of the best greyhound tracks you should visit this spring.
Nottingham
The Midlands taking over greyhound racing was really down to the facilities at Nottingham. When work was done to Towcester’s track in 2019 and 2020, it became a temporary host of the English Greyhound Derby, overseeing Deerjet Sydney and Priceless Blake’s victories, albeit without fans in 2020 due to coronavirus restrictions. It also hosts the Breeders Stakes and Nottingham Puppy Classic.
Towcester
As you can tell by now, the English Greyhound Derby is the biggest even on the greyhound racing calendar, and the final always has spectators checking greyhound tips from Betdaq and other bookmakers. The race has moved back to Towcester now it is fully renovated, with the Northamptonshire town boasting some of the best facilities in the sport. Thorn Falcon won the inaugural Towcester race and it will be interesting to see if Patrick Janssens can replicate that success this year in a bid to win the Greyhound Trainer of the Year at next month’s awards.
Perry Barr
Since its development over 15 years ago, the Perry Bar Stadium has been the go-to place for greyhound racing across the West Midlands. Located just a small walk from the centre of Birmingham, the stadium is easy to get to from all corners of the country down to the Perry Barr railway station, and still hosts a plethora of entertaining events. It was finally awarded the prestigious Laurels and Oaks last year meaning the stadium now gets to hold four of the original classic races — the St Leger, Laurels, Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup.
Perry Barr doubles up as a home for Motorcycle Speedway, something racecourses have had to do in modern times to keep money coming through the door, and with the excellent facilities on hand in terms of hospitality, it’s no wonder that the track has held its own even when so many others in Birmingham were forced to shut.
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