crayford to close end of jan 2025

Was told this morning Trainers are being spoken to today…. ?

I  heard that 19th january will be the last meeting

i will be sad to see it close

i was there on sunday and closing a track that is clean well kept and ready to race is just a joke....like everyone i heard a few suggestions that may be off the rumour mill or may have some truth but it did seem sensible for a possible take over if the track did close before reopening as the closure would end the contract with entain and allow sis money to acquire the track and show races on their outlets....of course that does not help trainers or staff in the short term especially as trainers going to another track may well be asked to sign contracts but from a bad situation there may be a future....i also heard that date and it does not look like there will be a gala last card either...

Should gone out with a bang
Had it go on jacket final
Run it on Saturday morn
With 2000 punters there
Nothing new cos get that most Saturday nights anyway ffs

I was at the last meeting @ Harringay, the stadium was packed to the rafters with the faithful paying their last respects, it was a bit like a wake really thinking about it now.

It was September 1987 and had been going for 50 years.
After the last race many of the punters did a lap of honour, it was rather moving I must say.

hope the punters dont do a lap of honour after the last race at crayford , bound to be trouble at the 1st bend

After todays results.. I wouldn’t mind being drawn rails for the lap of honour

They should have put the hurdles out for extra mayhem.

The fellow dinosaurs will remember Topofthetide in trap 6 being a standing dish over hurdles when the cherries were on ITV when horse racing was snowed off.

Ricky got chance in marathon tonight
On last week it held rose ?
Why not tonight ? Ok price based on that run last week
Obviously, it needs a front off

good luck riddler....not sure if she will stay the extra meters but the track is on your side......

That unbelievable run like it ain’t seen the place only got beat **** all
Worse than Tilly getting beat

All over the show

unlucky to tap the rear of maleficent at the fourth....cost her the rails.....winner has won over ten bends so wrong dog in front.....was a good call and stayed OK....

Get what I deserve backing in one of he’s dogs

Unkind words
With ivy in them lol biten me on ass

to be honest his dogs have been running really well......still gets the long odds on beat....but in general massive improvement....

If the last meeting is definitely this Sunday 19th then I'm going to go and say goodbye to the track in person.

So anyone else on here also going then see you there.

apparently the consultation period ends this wednesday when we should expect a further update to their statement......i suppose the closing date will be determined in that publication....

Okay Winja, thanks for that.

I have booked a table in the restaurant anyway for the meeting so will go regardless now. The lady who took my payment couldn't say for certain and, as you correctly said, a definitive final decision has not yet been made.

I used to go to the ‘old’ Crayford with my late Dad every Monday evening for many years right up until it closed.
Went to the very first meeting of the current stadium and attended the first few ‘Golden Jackets’.
Although I much preferred the old Crayford with its’ peat surface (later changed to sand) I still have fond memories of both.
Like many, I no longer visit the tracks but I DID take a nostalgic trip down memory lane a couple of years ago in tribute to my Dad
and went to Crayford for, what I knew would be the last time.
I stood at exactly the same spot where we used to stand together and
the memories flooded back.
I’ll be sad to see it go, as Crayford is one of the only tracks that has tried to maintain some sort of variety on the racing front.
But, if I’m brutally honest, what has been done to the sport in the past few years, lessens that sadness..

Enjoy your evening Slippy - I hope that it brings back lots of happy memories for you..

Official Statement.....Sunday will be the last meeting.....

We are saddened to announce the permanent closure of the Crayford greyhound track, our last racing day will be Sunday 19th January 2025, with the track formally ceasing operations as of Tuesday 21st January 2025.

Booking for the remaining fixture dates up until and including Sunday 19th January, remain open and can be booked via the website or contacting the track office directly on 01322 557836. If you have booked for a meeting after Sunday 19th January, your ticket will be refunded as soon as possible.

We have explored various avenues to avoid this outcome, but ultimately, it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site. Ladbrokes have a long history in greyhound racing, helping to build and open the Crayford venue in 1986 so the decision has not been taken lightly.

All impacted colleagues have gone through a two-stage consultation process informing them of the closure of the track, with a view to relocate colleagues at alternative locations within the business or support them with their onward journeys.

We will also continue to support all trainers impacted by the decision and hope that many of them will continue to race their dogs at other UK greyhound tracks. We remain committed to the highest levels of animal welfare. As such, every affected greyhound will be cared for through an enhanced investment and rehoming strategy.

We will continue to fulfil the current fixture schedule at our remaining tracks at Romford, Hove & Monmore.

Whilst we have taken every opportunity to contact all parties who are impacted by this decision, if you have any queries, please contact our Retail Customer Care Team (open 7 days a week 8:30 to 21:30 Mon to Sat and 10:30 to 21:30 Sundays) on 0800 022 3454.

We would like to thank all those colleagues, trainers and customers who, through their support and dedication to greyhound racing, made Crayford the track it was for the past 30+ years, and we wish them all the best for the future.

I just read that on "X" as well Winja & I'm glad I made the booking now.
It'll be a sad day for the sport.

How can a track that has a media rights deal for 4 meetings a week and not so long ago 5 not be viable?
My only venture into live racing these days is to Swindon for all 4 rounds of the Produce and probably about 4 other meetings a year. There are occasions despite all meetings being free admission / race card that I feel like the only person there who is not an owner, trainer or track / kennel staff. Paying customers have become  bonus not a necessity
Entain want to have their cake and eat it and you cannot help feel that Crayford's current schedule was designed to create a reason for closure. It is surely a case of the land having greater value for other use than not being viable to operate. In addition do Entain's off course betting figures show Crayford to be less profitable than other tracks? We certainly have some good judges of Crayford on here. Finally we are dealing with a business whose profits cannot stretch to replacing the hurdles at Hove!
Moving on it is disappointing the statement contained no reference to relocate the Cat Ones. Surely the GBGB should now ask tracks to tender especially for the hurdles. I don't suppose close followers of any other track have seen Ricky's runners appearing on any trial sheets?

Why does romford appear to have no Issues But crayford is gone

Rehoming Issues at all Tracks

Final card starts and ends with five dog races.....another five runner in race 9.....unbelievable to be honest but good to go out with an A1 and nice to see ballymac bingo get his three in a row trophy race....no problem for me having an A7 on the last night......

i think this is just the start....i think monmore will go next......then romford...then hove
entain want out of greyhound racing and crayford is just the start

Starship, I've read exactly that this week.

Last meeting last bet is same as last week
Have good send off who going

Catford Toteboard is picking me up later & it's not really that far away, only 12 miles or thereabouts. I'm guessing it will be a busy send off.
The 874m marathon @ 20.24 looks interesting at first glance.

Fats nap in 2 in that race I think  slip, already been punted off the board ,have a good night tell Catford i said hello

will be a few Tears shed there tonight part of peoples Lives Gone

I will Case, yes the 2 dog is my pick as well as Fattie.

Anyone taking 1/2 borna Pam ??
No look
Thought five run ok on rank bad ground last week
See how they bet

Sad night then and even less proper distance races to watch now.

Oioioioiiioiiio

Price that 12 after last week ffs

3 dog no look 1/2

Well done with the 5, fattie.

Going miss this place special dog track over years
Suffolk downs was getting into open there fire took it away ffs
Harlow love place when they run opens
Regular that’s stop
Romford piss now rubbish

Male stop nothing last week around 650mark ?
Tilly got done ep run to corner
Didn’t get beat far
Bottom went over

2 over 3 fc here

Small 3 if gets away

Male was on hot coals going rd opener
Move off

feel sick watching cray tonight

Imonlytwink was running on quick sand last week
Better ground tonight

415 too busy with yank racing on final card...sums it up

Wasn’t good enough twink
But that was Guide to last week’s race where it is out the back of the TV 3rd tonight too wide crayford wonder where that end up

ImonlyTwilight
Time to talk be last ever play rd crayford
Such a shame

run in reverse after banging

Kates thing can bang out
Ain’t so sure great out there
Better than last week

Horrible chalky price now two
But not got male carving in front of it

Money for rose
If that slaps out game over early doors but
Not seen it of late

Gone for the 1 here but not over confident.

Puke way that rose been running

4 bang out made all

Well I meant 2 but it made no difference.

Wish it showed like that Boxing Day

Goodbye Crayford and I still fondly remember those 540 handicaps back in the day.

been a staple as long as I've been punting sparrow

dodgy shows back in 2000s a particular highlight lol

Lol

Missed all prices didnt play would have been with 2

Run ok nanny
Rose turned up with her ep tonight

Best trainer rd
There pattsy
That dog of his that run 540 380
Allways framed up

should be void race

thought the Hare stopped

Hare stop
Six hit the front
Time give up
Laters

Jan 19, 2025 -- 2:43PM, the old nanny ;-) wrote:

thought the Hare stopped

defo

green light given lol

fitting end tbh

Same last night back 14 poke
Lead til last corner went lane up home straight
9.02 Oxford last night

Cznt bd green light

Hare stop at corner
Surly not seeing things ??

.
https://greyhounds.attheraces.com/greyhounds-atrplayer-popout/VOD/10423805?showResult=yes

its defo funky hare driving even think winner losing sight home straight, 2 defo does 4th bend as well as 6...wild west

Unbelievable that did it stop move again cos they lost sight of it
Six had race won

they've laid 6 that's why its got green light riddler

total bs but come to expect it

few months ago they voided race for a loose muzzle (or jacket?) on a trap 5...and you couldn't detect anything on the replay

and who can forget the levers non runners on the trap 1 carve up day

Yep monkey business

Times try get this Liz thing win **** 7 14

O’Sullivan or Lockhurst
Fitting end win the last

Devon dolly

yep 146 DH

Lol

Well lads.. here we go. Let’s hope all 6 come off safe. If the council make good on their word.. we may see racing again here as they sure are massively against any change of use being granted on the site.

Not seen tripe since that Romford open over Marathon

If the council make good on their word.. we may see racing again here as they sure are massively against any change of use being granted on the site.

promising if that's the case nwts

Real shame
No jacket

3 sat mornings in feb...class

final at least

465

And another one Bites the Dust

seen too many last races case sick

was a sad night but i was pleased to be there.....the programme was full of memories as was meeting people i had not seen for many years....at the end a large group of people walked the track being led by the last winner in a ladbrokes winners jacket...kilmagnger flash....who recieved a round of applase as he reached the stadium stand...there was a large punt on devon dolly in that race who put up a great performance and mainly that was because it was barrys last runner and the race was dedicated to his father terry who died recently....however it was just as fitting for julie luckhurst to win it as her and her father before her (dink who is still going at 92) have been stalwarts of crayford....took some photos but i dont know how to post them on here.....if someone messages me i will put them up...

applause.....

If your Using a Laptop or Pc Winj , send the Pics to your Email address , then Download them , Then just insert photo and upload on to here

i find it hard to do on a Phone ,lot easier if you hve them on Lappy or Pc

Send from Phone ,there is an attach thing on each photo ,will then give you option to send

I agree with those sentiments Winja, I'm also very glad I went.

A very sad day though and still difficult to believe Crayford has closed forever.