Halcrow Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium in Annan Road, Gretna, Scotland[1]
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| Location | Annan Road, Gretna, Scotland DG16 5DQ |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°59′51.6″N 03°04′33.8″W / 54.997667°N 3.076056°W |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Closed | 2017 |
History edit
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[2] as a replacement for the previous track at Raydale Park and the first race meeting took place in June 1986.[3]
The original circumference of the track was 416 metres.[2] Distances included 120, 300, 490 and 685 metres but later distances of 280 and 470 metres were used.[4] The stadium was forced to suspend some racing in the Summer of 1987 due to a shortage of racing greyhounds.[5]
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.[6]
The stadium was also used for occasional concerts.[7]
The track was closed in April 2017[8] and in 2021 was purchased by the Cunninghame Housing Association for the purposes of building new housing.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Find Us". Halcrow Stadium.
- ^ a b "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.