One of UK’s oldest greyhound race tracks closes after nearly 100 years to make way for new homes

ONE of the UK's oldest greyhound race tracks has shut its doors after nearly 100 years in business.

The Henlow Stadium in Bedfordshire held its final race on Sunday before closing for good.

Local animal rights groups had been protesting at the site for several years and have now confirmed the closure on social media.

The 1,000-capacity stadium will have to be dismantled by April 5.

The track opened up back in 1927 and has seen thousands of visitors over that time.

But in December 2023, a court ruled against the owners renewing their lease of the site.

Instead, plans have been approved to build 75 new homes in the space.

Over the next few months, the stadium will be dismantled before construction can begin.

The site includes a huge restaurant, bistro and several bars.

Racing formerly took place every Monday and Thursday morning, on Tuesday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

All trainers will reportedly be given the opportunity to transfer over to the tracks in Northamptonshire, Oxford, or Suffolk.

Henlow first opened back in 1927 at a time when the sport was very popular and sites were popping up all over the country.

It has seen several owners over the past 97 years but most recently it was taken over by Kevin Boothby in 2008.

It's not the only greyhound racing stadium to have been forced to shut its doors in recent years.

Peterborough Greyhound Stadium closed its doors for the final time in May 2020 after 75 years.

It had been forced to shut down for several months before due to the lockdown restrictions.

After 89 years, the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium saw its last night of racing in 2017 before the site was demolished.

The tracks had hosted the sport’s biggest race, the English Greyhound Derby, for the past 32 years.

In that same year, the Hall Green stadium in Birmingham also shut.

It had been running for 90 years but the decision was made after plans for a new hotel and houses were approved.

Back in 2008, the Walthamstow Stadium in the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London also closed.

It was widely regarded as the leading greyhound racing stadium in Britain following the closure of White City in 1984.

Elsewhere, the Shawfield Stadium based in Rutherglen near Glasgow, has been earmarked for redevelopment as well.

Perry Barr’s 94-year-old stadium in Birmingham is also at risk.

It comes after a significant decline in the popularity of the sport, largely due to welfare concerns.

It comes after a difficult time in the leisure and hospitality industry.

Energy costs have risen and more punters are cutting back on days out.

This has left some venues grappling with inflationary costs and left with no choice but to close sites to cut costs.

Both big brand chains and independent businesses have been closing locations across the country.

Britain's oldest casino closed for the last time after 195 years in business.