Crayford Stadium

Crayford Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium located in the London Borough of Bexley in England. The stadium, which featured races from 1986 to 2025, had private suites, a restaurant and a number of bars.

Evening meetings took place every Tuesday and Sunday, with matinée race meetings taking place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Crayford was owned by Ladbrokes Coral, a subsidiary of Entain. The stadium ceased racing after the 19 January 2025 meeting.

History

1980s

In 1984 Ladbrokes announced that racing would cease at the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium following the sale of part of the site to Sainsbury's. The sale also included plans for rebuilding the entire stadium on the west side of the closing stadium. Five acres of the twenty-acre site would be converted into a new greyhound track and sports stadium. Racing ended on 18 May 1985 and work began on the new stadium. Following sixteen months of development and construction, it was ready for action. The press falsely claimed it was the first greyhound track to be built for 30 years because several had been constructed within the previous decade including Nottingham and Reading.

The grand opening took place on 1 September 1986, and the new stadium would be called Crayford after the decision was made to drop the Bexleyheath part; the stadium was situated in a different five-acre part of the original twenty acres. The stadium was opened by the mayor of Bexley and Ladbrokes Chairman Cyril Stein.

In 1987 the track took possession of a major competition called the Golden Jacket which had struggled to find a new home since the demise of Harringay. The event had been temporarily held at Hall Green and Monmore and was a popular afternoon competition with television exposure. Crayford also provided a new matinee meeting for their Ladbrokes betting shops and another new competition called the Crayford Rosebowl was inaugurated. In 1988 Dinky Luckhurst trained Breeks Rocket to Grand National success.

The dimensions of the all-sand circuit were a small 334 m circumference with distances of 380, 540, 714 and 874 metres with an outside Sumner hare. Facilities included a restaurant for 138 covers, two bars and a twin-tier glass-fronted covered stand. Also within the stadium was a sports hall complex, a fitness area and a swimming pool. The racing manager was Roy Dwight and general manager Roger Lakey, soon to be replaced by Paul Lawrence and Barry Stanton respectively.

1990s

In 1996 Dynamic Display repeated the Grand National achievement for trainer Barry O'Sullivan. The Guys and Dolls competition arrived at the track in 1997. Pure Patches won the 1998 Gold Collar and also made the 1999 English Greyhound Derby final and Bubbly Prince won the 1999 Cesarewitch.

2000s

Lady Jean won the 2000 Cesarewitch, and Haughty Ted won the 2001 Gold Collar for Dinky Luckhurst. Racing manager Paul Lawrence parted company with the track in 2000, replaced by Harry Bull, with Danny Rayment promoted to deputy. Rayment went on to replace Bull as racing manager in 2006. Trainer Lorraine Sams introduced a greyhound to the industry in 2006 called Spiridon Louis. The black-and-white dog would become the 2007 Greyhound of the Year after winning the St Leger, TV Trophy and Regency.

2010s

A third Grand National win by the Gemma Davidson-trained Plane Daddy, in 2010, continued Crayford's success with hurdle racing.

In 2015 the track resurrected the original classic Gold Collar competition and the Guys and Dolls. In 2017 Ladbrokes merged with Gala Coral to form Ladbrokes Coral.

In 2018, the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday afternoon, Friday morning and Saturday morning.

2020s

In 2022, Entain signed a long-term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024. In 2023, the stadium held the Champion Hurdle for the first time. In 2024, Crayford trainer Ricky Holloway won the Golden Jacket with Dazl Rolex, the first home victory since 2007.

Closure

In November 2024 Entain announced their intention to close the stadium, stating that "it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site". The stadium closed down after the final meeting, which was held on 19 January 2025.

Competitions

Golden Jacket

Gold Collar

Kent St Leger

Guys And Dolls

Champion Hurdle

Crayford/Kent Vase

(1967–1984 held at Crayford & Bexleyheath over 490 yards/462 metres), (1987–2010 held at Crayford over 540 metres)

Crayford/Kent Rosebowl

(held over 380 metres)

Track records

Current

Former