Hendon Stadium 1937-1972

One of the last purpose built greyhound stadiums to be constructed in the Borough of London was the one at Hendon. Only two other greyhound stadiums have been built since, both in Crayford, one of which opened in 1937 and has now gone, and the other being the more modern one as we know it today, that opened up in September 1986. The Hendon Stadium lay ten miles north west of Central London, and just three miles north east of Wembley Stadium, running parallel with the A406 North Circular Road and overlooked by a railway viaduct. But the construction of the venue had been something different compared to many, and may have possibly been more challenging than most too, as the site chosen happened to be flooded by a stretch of water that fed the nearby Brent Reservoir. It was during 1934 that draining of the land began, with a purpose built weir, not surprisingly funded by the newly formed greyhound company, constructed to channel the water away to expose the foundations of the stadium. The track itself would lay south of the newly constructed weir, with the railway viaduct overlooking its north west bend. After almost twelve months of preparation and a handful of temporary meetings, the new stadium was ready to open up as an independent venue, staging its official opening meeting on the 5th of March 1935. After three years Hendon did eventually switch to operating under NGRC rules staging its first meeting under rules on the 13th of January 1938. Races consisted of six greyhounds competing over distances of 475 and 675 yards, with the hounds chasing an outside type electric hare. Hendon may have operated in the shadows of many of the larger London tracks, but an opportunity came apparent after the closure of the Park Royal venue in 1969, which saw them accept an offer to stage BAGS meeting, and to continue the contract left behind by Park Royal. The 1000 Guineas event was also switched to Hendon, after that too had played an important part of Park Royals calendar up until its closure. The new lifeline that was happening at Hendon, had seen further investment in the stadium during 1970, with its crowd capacity now increased to accommodate over 5,000 patrons. But the downturn for the Hendon stadium happened to be its graphical position, as it was situated very close to Staples Corner, a very busy junction indeed, with the venue lying in the way of a huge development scheme which would undertake the extension of the M1 motorway. Even with all the stadium improvements during 1970, the venue was sold the following year to developers, no doubt for a sum that could not be refused. Hendon Greyhound Stadium staged its final meeting on the 30th of June 1972, and within months of its closure the bulldozers moved in to clear the site ready for the construction of a huge shopping complex. The new complex opened in 1976 and became known as The Brent Cross Shopping Mall, becoming the first American Style Indoor Shopping Centre in the UK. Today, nothing remains as a reminder of the Greyhound Stadium, as only the banks of the River Brent could possibly identify its once location, its waters still being channelled by a weir that was constructed with the cash of a Greyhound Company. But further pinpointing of the venue would see the West side of the greyhound track lying beneath access roads which ran from the extended M1, while the eastern side of it disappearing beneath an overflow car park, belonging to the shopping mall.