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Crayford has had to say goodbye to its greyhound stadium, the site of which has hosted dog racing events in southeast London for 90 years.
The racetrack, which was once a bustling social hub, has been part of the Dartford community (though it’s in the London borough of Bexley) since the 1930s. But due to fading attendance numbers, a lack of competitive race days, and a general shortage of trainer engagement, stadium owner Ladbrokes announced it would close the site in January 2025.
Originally built in 1932 and named the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Crayford Stadium was sold to betting company Ladbrokes in 1984 and 15 of the ground’s 20 acres were sold to the supermarket Sainsbury’s. A new venue was built on the remaining five acres, opening in 1986.
A spokesperson from Ladbrokes said: ‘We have been exploring various avenues to avoid this decision for some time, but ultimately, it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site.
‘The decision has not been taken lightly.’
The spokesperson also shared that Ladbrokes is in the process of supporting stadium staff with their next steps. Ladbrokes has also expressed its commitment to the welfare of the greyhounds, which will be looked after through a rehoming scheme, and hopes that the affected dogs will be able to keep racing at other UK venues.
Very few greyhound racing stadiums remain in and around London. Following the closure of Wimbledon in 2017, the redevelopment of Walthamstow in the late 2000s and the recent closure of Crayford, only Romford (actually in London), Harlow (in Essex) and Sittingbourne (in Kent) still hold racing events.
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