imported>Bcp67: /* Origins & Opening */ sentence case

2025-05-17T21:00:49Z

Origins & Opening: sentence case

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{{for|the old Perry Barr Stadium|Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium}}
{{Short description|British greyhound racing stadium}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox stadium
| name = Perry Barr Stadium
| nickname =
| image = Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium Bloye stag 94.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| fullname = Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium
| location = Aldridge Road, [[Perry Barr]], [[Birmingham]], England
| coordinates = {{coord|52.5196|-1.8988|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|1929|07|27|df=y}}
| renovated =
| expanded = 2007
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = National Asset Management Agency
| operator = [[Arena Racing Company]]
| surface =
| construction_cost =
| former_names =
| tenants = {{Unbulleted list| [[Birmingham Brummies]] (2007–) | Greyhound racing (1984–2025) | [[Birchfield Harriers]] (1929–1977)}}
| capacity =
|website = [https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/ Official website]
}}

[[File:Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium.jpg|thumb|Stadium from Aldridge Road. There are extensions to either side of the original block.]]

'''Perry Barr Stadium''' (also known as '''Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium''' and previously as '''Alexander Sports Ground(s)'''<ref name="BH1988" />) is a [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] and [[motorcycle speedway]] stadium on Aldridge Road in [[Perry Barr]], [[Birmingham]], England. It is not to be confused with the [[Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium]] that is also known as the old Perry Barr Stadium which closed in 1984. The track is operated by the [[Arena Racing Company]] (ARC), who lease it from owners the National Asset Management Agency. Racing takes place every Saturday evening, in addition to their four ARC fixtures.

Opened in 1929, it was built for [[Birchfield Harriers]], who left in 1977. It is now used for [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] and [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]]. In 2025, the greyhound racing will cease as the 2026 lease expiry approaches.<ref name=dates25>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/english-greyhound-derby-st-leger-and-oaks-dates-for-2025-announced/ |title=English Greyhound Derby, St Leger and Oaks dates for 2025 announced |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |date=4 October 2024 |access-date=10 December 2024 }}</ref>

== Location ==
[[File:EPW053150 ENGLAND (1937). Perry Barr Stadium and the surrounding residential area, Perry Barr, 1937 (cropped 1).png|thumb|Perry Barr Stadium from the south-east, 1937 ]]

The stadium is opposite the former [[Birmingham City University]] main campus and close to (and served by) [[Perry Barr railway station]]. It sits in the fork of the [[A34 road|A34]] Walsall Road (to its West) and the A453 Aldridge Road. The [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]] flows northwards between the stadium and the A34.

== Birchfield Harriers ==
The stadium was originally constructed for an [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] club, [[Birchfield Harriers]] who held its opening ceremony on 27 July 1929,<ref name="BH1988">{{cite book|last1=Alexander|first1=William O|last2=Morgan|first2=Wilfred|title=The History of Birchfield Harriers 1877-1988|year=1988|publisher=Birchfield Harriers|isbn=0-9514082-0-8}}</ref> having purchased the land on 11 November 1926.<ref name="BH1988" /> The façade still carries their badge, a running [[stag]], rendered in [[Art Deco]] style [[bas relief]], carved in 1929 and attributed to [[William Bloye]].<ref name="Noszlopy">Public Sculpture of Birmingham, George T. Noszlopy, Liverpool University Press, 1998, {{ISBN|0-85323-682-8}}</ref> The site was formerly a rubbish tip, chiefly for [[fly ash]] from a local power station.<ref name="BH1988" />

Birchfield Cycling Club used the venue for cycle races, and, from the mid-1930s, the cycle track outside the running lanes was used by the Sunbac Speedway Club for dirt-track racing ([[Speedway in the United Kingdom|speedway]]).<ref name="BH1988" /> In the 1930s and 40s, [[Aston Villa Football Club]]'s second and third teams trained at the stadium.<ref name="BH1988" />

Soon after the start of [[World War II]], the stadium was requisitioned by the government and used by the [[British Home Guard|Home Guard]].<ref name="BH1988" /> Later in the war it was used to accommodate [[Military history of Italy during World War II|Italian]] [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]];<ref name="BH1988" /> the last of these did not leave until January 1946<ref name="BH1988" /> and the club only returned to the stadium the following month.<ref name="BH1988" /> Shortly afterwards, the club hired out the stadium on Saturday evenings, to Birmingham Speedway. [[Floodlight]]ing was installed to facilitate the latter,<ref name="BH1988" /> and this allowed for the first floodlit athletics meeting ever held in the United Kingdom, in September 1948,<ref name="BH1988" /> after the lights had been turned on near the end of an earlier meeting, which had overrun into dusk.<ref name="BH1988" /> Floodlit horse jumping competitions were also held.<ref name="BH1988" />

On 29 May 1954 [[Diane Leather]] became the first woman to run a mile in less than 5 minutes, during the Midlands Women's [[AAA Championships]] at the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=9168 |title=Athletics photographic encyclopedia |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=29 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-50-years-ago-roger-bannister-became-a-sporting-legend-with-his-four-minute-mile-why-is-his-56699.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-50-years-ago-roger-bannister-became-a-sporting-legend-with-his-four-minute-mile-why-is-his-56699.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Athletics: 50 years ago, Roger Bannister became a sporting legend with his four-minute mile. Why is his female equivalent just seen as an also-ran? |first=Julia |last=Stuart |date=19 April 2004 | work=The Independent |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>

In 1977, their centenary year,<ref name="BH1988" /> Birchfield Harriers moved to the newly built [[Alexander Stadium]], nearby,<ref name="BH1988" /> and the old venue was renamed "Perry Barr Stadium".

== Speedway ==
{{main|Birmingham Brummies}}
The stadium is also the home of the Birmingham Brummies speedway team. The stadium was expanded in 2007 to facilitate a speedway track.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/speedway-track-work-gets-underway-36378|title=Speedway track work gets underway|date=9 January 2007 |publisher=Birmingham Mail}}</ref> The [[shale]] track is {{convert|292|m|yd|abbr=off}} in length.

== Greyhound Racing ==
[[File:Perry Barr Aldridge Road c.1980.png|thumb|Perry Barr Aldridge Road c.2007]]
===Origins & opening===
Perry Barr had been without greyhound racing since 1984 following the surprise sale by [[Ladbrokes]] and subsequent demolition of the old Perry Barr stadium on Walsall Road, and known latterly as the [[Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium]]. However during 1990 negotiations started with the aim to re-introduce the sport at the Alexander Sports Ground across the other side of the A34. The stadium was no longer used for athletics because the new [[Alexander Stadium]] Stadium in Perry Park was serving this purpose. Maurice Buckland a former trainer and head of a consortium called the Perry Barr Greyhound Racing Club suggested the idea of greyhound racing at the venue it was given planning permission.<ref>{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, pages 68-69|year=1990|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=0-7207-1804-X}}</ref>

The new build was completed quickly and the new stadium opened on 16 October attracting trainers the calibre of Geoff DeMulder who guided Fearless Mustang to the 1991 [[English Greyhound Derby]] final as a Perry Barr trainer during the first Derby tilt for the new track.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes/Sellers|first=Julia/John|title=Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File, page 142|year=1992|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-22-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) October edition|year=2012|newspaper=Greyhound Star}}</ref>

The circumference of the track was 435 metres with wide straights and bends and race distances of 275, 460, 500, 660, 710 and 895 metres. An 'Outside Sumner' hare was used on Tuesday and Thursday race nights overseen by Racing Manager Gary Woodward. There were kennels for 82 hounds on site.
A former trainer from the previous Perry Barr called Frank Baldwin took over as Racing Manager in 1991.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 79|year=1991|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-61-9}}</ref>

===Recent history & GRA takeover===
A major race called the [[Birmingham Cup]] was held at Perry Barr until 2009 and it also hosted the original classic race the [[Scurry Gold Cup]] from 2005 to 2008. Another Perry Barr hound called Heres Seanie (trained by Pat Ryan) reached the [[1995 English Greyhound Derby]] final and Racing Managers included Ian Hillis and Tim Hales.

The [[Greyhound Racing Association]] (GRA) under their parent company Wembley plc planned to build a track in Liverpool and acquire Perry Barr. The former did not materialise but in May 2005 a £4.2 million takeover was agreed with the Perry Barr Greyhound Racing Club. Stephen Rea and Gary Woodward were brought in as the General and Racing Manager. After initial investment into the stadium the GRA brought the former classic race the [[Scurry Gold Cup]] to the track following the closure of [[Catford Stadium]]. The stadium hosted two [[Trainers Championship (greyhounds)|trainers championships]] in 2005 and 2012 and inbetween the Scurry was moved to sister track [[Belle Vue Stadium]] but the rekindled Birmingham Cup was discontinued in 2009 leaving Perry Barr with no major event of note.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008, page 197|year=2007|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-53-4}}</ref>

The track today uses an 'Outside Swaffham' hare and is a regular on the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) overseen by Racing Manager Martin Seal.

In recent years the GRA, under new parent company Risk Capital, ran into financial difficulties and unpaid loans resulted in NAMA (Ireland's National Asset Management Agency) taking control of the GRA. In 2013 an agreement was brokered securing the use of the stadium by the GRA until at least 2026 from parent company NAMA; and as Perry Barr has since become the only remaining GRA stadium not to be sold to other commercial investors by NAMA it remains the most secure stadium still operating under the GRA banner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/greyhounds/new-lease-deal-will...gra.../latest/|work=[[Racing Post]]|title=New lease deal will keep the GRA tracks racing}}{{dead link|date=October 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2017 the stadium was awarded the prestigious [[St Leger (greyhounds)|St Leger]] after it switched from sister track Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/wimbledon-close-march-25/|title=Wimbledon to close|date=16 October 2016 |publisher=Greyhound Star}}</ref> One year later in 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race on Monday, Thursday and Saturday lunchtimes and Sunday afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greyhoundstar.co.uk/arc-announce-2018-bags-fixtures/|title=Arc Schedule Released|date=21 December 2017 |publisher=Greyhound Star}}</ref>

=== ARC takeover ===
In October 2019 GRA Acquisition sold the lease to the [[Arena Racing Company]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/arc-buy-belle-vue-perry-barr-feltham/|title=ARC SECURE BELLE VUE AND PERRY BARR FROM FELTHAM|website=Greyhound Star|date=17 October 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/belle-vue-perry-barr-acquisition-gbgb-statement/|title=BELLE VUE/PERRY BARR ACQUISITION – GBGB STATEMENT|website=Greyhound Star|date=17 October 2019 }}</ref>

In 2021 the stadium was given the prestigious [[Laurels (greyhounds)|Laurels]] and [[Oaks (greyhounds)|Oaks]], resulting in the track holding four of the original classic races, the St Leger, Laurels, Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup.<ref>{{cite web |title= ARC takes Oaks to Perry Barr |date= 8 September 2021 |url= https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/arc-take-oaks-perry-barr-press-release/ |publisher=Greyhound Star |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the stadium owners ARC signed a long term deal with [[Entain]] for media rights, starting in January 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/no-competition-no-progress/ |title=No Competition - No Progress |website=Greyhound Star |date=31 January 2023 |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref>

With the lease due to expire in 2026, plans were submitted by the Corbally Group, a West Midlands developer to build more than 400 homes on the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/08/400-homes-plan-for-perry-barr-dog-racing-track/ |title=400 homes plan for Perry Barr dog racing track |website=Construction Enquirer |date=8 August 2023 |access-date=10 December 2024 }}</ref> Plans to move the greyhound operation to Wolverhampton will start in September 2025 but already, the St Leger was moved to Nottingham and the Oaks to the proposed new track at [[Wolverhampton Racecourse]].<ref name=dates25/>

== Competitions ==
=== St Leger ===
{{main article|St Leger (greyhounds)}}

=== Laurels ===
{{main article|Laurels (greyhounds)}}

=== Oaks ===
{{main article|Oaks (greyhounds)}}

=== Scurry Gold Cup ===
{{main article|Scurry Gold Cup}}

=== Birmingham Cup ===
{{main article|Birmingham Cup}}

=== Guineas ===
{{main article|Guineas (greyhounds)}}

== Track records ==
=== Current ===
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greyhoundstar.co.uk/british-track-records-2/ |title=British Track Records as of January 2024 |website=Greyhound Star |date=11 January 2024 |access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
|-
!width=100| Metres
!width=200| Greyhound
!width=50| Time (sec)
!width=200| Date
!width=250| Notes/ref
|-align=center
|275 ||Rioja Oisin||15.71||19 October 2024|| [[Scurry Gold Cup]] semi final<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=418921&raceId=1077980 |title=ARC Scurry Gold Cup 3rd semi final |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref>
|-align=center
|480 ||Coolavanny Shado||27.77||27 October 2022||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390395&raceId=884112 |title=Premier Greyhound Racing Standard |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
|-align=center
|660 ||Newinn This Way||39.55||31 July 2015||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=302628&raceId=132745|title=The Love the Dogs Maiden Stayers|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|710 ||Droopys Clue||42.33||23 September 2023|| [[St Leger (greyhounds)|St Leger final]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=401614&raceId=973656 |title=Perry Barr meeting 23 Sep |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>
|-align=center
|915||Aayamza Royale||56.42||30 September 2021||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=377834&raceId=778176|title=Arena Racing Company Marathon |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
|}

=== Former ===
{{collapse top}}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
|-
!width=100| Metres
!width=200| Greyhound
!width=50| Time (sec)
!width=200| Date
!width=250| Notes/ref
|-align=center
|275|| Carrigeen Zig ||16.66 ||30 April 1991||=equalled
|-align=center
|275|| Blissful Piper ||16.61 ||4 June 1991 ||
|-align=center
|275|| Motown Way ||16.61 ||29 June 1991||=equalled
|-align=center
|275|| Ancient Heart ||16.40 ||2002||
|-align=center
|275|| Meadowbank Paolo ||16.34 ||5 October 2003||
|-align=center
|275|| Pennys Saga ||16.29 ||1 July 2004||
|-align=center
|275|| Giglis Roanokee ||16.24 ||22 July 2004||
|-align=center
|275|| Giglis Roanokee ||16.22 ||5 August 2004 ||
|-align=center
|275|| Ningbo Jack ||16.05 ||9 August 2005||
|-align=center
|275|| Laser Beam ||16.06 ||2 August 2005|| [[Scurry Gold Cup]] Final
|-align=center
|275|| Roxholme Freddie ||16.04 ||18 August 2006||
|-align=center
|275 ||Horseshoe Ping ||15.81||17 May 2007|| Scurry Gold Cup final<ref name=GD>{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?page=stadia&st=13043&land=uk&stadiummode=1|title=Track records|publisher=Greyhound Data|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|275 ||Gougane Jet||15.80||27 October 2022|| Scurry Gold Cup final<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390395&raceId=884107 |title=Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup final |website=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref>
|-align=center
|460|| Torbal Ash ||27.97 ||13 November 1990||
|-align=center
|460|| Velvet Spark ||27.67 ||1 August 1994||
|-align=center
|480|| Derbay Flyer ||28.80 ||25 September 1999||
|-align=center
|480|| Burberry Boy || 28.45 ||2 April 2003|| [[Birmingham Cup]] semi-finals
|-align=center
|480|| Westview Lad ||28.31 ||17 July 2004||
|-align=center
|480|| Bat On ||28.18 ||13 April 2006||
|-align=center
|480|| Raging Jack ||28.13 ||28 December 2006 ||
|-align=center
|480|| Zigzag Dutchman ||28.13|| 23 January 2007||
|-align=center
|480|| Blonde Dino ||28.07 ||19 June 2008 ||
|-align=center
|480|| Sawpit Sensation ||28.07 ||15 December 2011||
|-align=center
|480|| [[Taylors Sky]] ||28.07 ||21 March 2012||
|-align=center
|480|| Judicial Review ||27.96 ||31 July 2015||
|-align=center
|480||Drumkeen Oyster||27.93 ||25 September 2015||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=304686&raceId=149584|title=2015 track record result|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|480 ||Slick Sakina||27.85||27 October 2022||Oaks final<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=390395&raceId=884111 |title=Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks final |publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref>
|-align=center
|500|| Westmead Spirit ||30.03 ||10 September 1991||
|-align=center
|500||Toms Lodge ||29.94 ||25 September 1993||
|-align=center
|660|| Crown Lodge ||41.17 ||14 November 1991||
|-align=center
|660|| Lavally Pete ||40.90 ||1 February 1999||
|-align=center
|660|| Cuba ||40.88||27 October 2001||
|-align=center
|660|| Drumskea Beauty || 40.69 ||5 October 2003||
|-align=center
|660|| Drum Shane Boy ||40.54 ||10 June 2004||
|-align=center
|660|| Skipping Lady ||40.44 ||1 July 2004||
|-align=center
|660|| Dark Charm ||40.16 ||22 July 2004||
|-align=center
|660|| Jack Spark ||39.98 ||9 April 2005||
|-align=center
|660|| Head Iton Paddy ||39.93 ||31 July 2008||
|-align=center
|660|| Ballymac Sandra ||39.88||3 August 2012||
|-align=center
|660|| Droopys Lucinda ||39.84 ||22 May 2015||
|-align=center
|710|| Dark Luke ||44.48 ||14 May 1991 ||
|-align=center
|710|| Head For Glory ||44.13 ||14 October 1999||
|-align=center
|710|| Double Take ||43.21 ||05 October 2003||
|-align=center
|710|| Swift Jade ||43.01 ||23 January 2007||
|-align=center
|710|| Swift Ninja || 42.97 ||24 January 2008||
|-align=center
|710|| Chaotic Dotty ||42.94 ||1 May 2015 ||
|-align=center
|710 ||Rubys Rascal||42.69 ||14 October 2017||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=331291&raceId=376405|title=THE RACING POST STAKES|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|710 ||Space Jet||42.59 ||30 September 2021|| [[St Leger (greyhounds)|St Leger final]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=377834&raceId=778171|title=ARENA RACING COMPANY ST LEGER FINAL|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|895|| Shropshire Lass ||57.19||6 July 1991||
|-align=center
|895||Spenwood Wizard ||56.97 ||4 September 2000||
|-align=center
|915||Head Iton Jordan ||56.75 ||9 August 2007||
|-align=center
|915||Savana Volcano||56.50||22 April 2021||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=372746&raceId=732537|title=SKY SPORTS RACING VIRGIN 535 MARATHON|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain|access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref>
|-align=center
|480 H|| Trojan Flight ||28.91 ||24 March 2005||
|-align=center
|480 H|| Druids Mickey Jo ||28.88||2 August 2005||
|-align=center
|480 H ||Taipan ||28.75 ||23 January 2007||<ref name=GD/>
|-align=center
|660 H|| Olives Champ ||41.22 ||26 March 1991||
|-align=center
|660 H||Selby Ben ||41.73 || 18 January 2005||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbgb.org.uk/resultsRace.aspx?id=342443|title=2005 track record hurdle result|publisher=Greyhound Board of Great Britain}}</ref>
|}
{{collapse bottom}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* "[http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=31891 Almost the 5 Minute Mile]" Pathe newsreel filmed at the ground, 31 May 1954

{{Commons category|Perry Barr Stadium}}

{{Greyhound stadiums in the United Kingdom}}
{{English greyhound tracks}}
{{Motorcycle speedway tracks}}

[[Category:Sports venues in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:History of Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Birchfield Harriers]]
[[Category:Greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Perry Barr]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1929]]
[[Category:Sport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Speedway venues in England]]

Perry Barr Stadium - Revision history

imported>Bcp67: /* Origins & Opening */ sentence case