Cleveland Park Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. It was built in 1928 and demolished in 1996.
Origins The idea of constructing a greyhound track in Middlesbrough came from Jack French who formed the National Greyhounds Middlesbrough Ltd. An eleven-acre site of former allotments in the Ayresome Ward, south of the River Tees and directly south of the Tees Marshalling Yard Railways and Stockton Road Tramway was chosen in 1928.
Originally the greyhound track had a circumference of and used a Mono-Rail type hare system running on a bogie which would later be replaced by an 'Inside Sumner' in 1939.
Opening The first greyhound meeting was held on 19 May 1928, watched by an attendance of eight thousand. A greyhound called Just Alone won the first race over 500 yards with the meeting consisting of seven races including two hurdle races and two handicap races. Middlesbrough Speedway followed three months later on 23 August 1928. The first track star was a greyhound called Brilliant Gambler, who set multiple track records throughout 1928 and 1929.
Pre war history The stadium facilities included two enclosures both featuring members clubs, one on the home straight and another slightly larger one on the back straight. Between the first and second bends was the hare control and between the third and fourth bends was the tote control which opened later in 1936. The stewards box and offices were situated on the home straight before the first bend.
A greyhound called Cheerful Chinaman won his first race on 20 August 1928 and went on to win 138 races from 452 outings when retiring on 21 November 1934. (A record believed to be still held today). The first track champion was a greyhound called Brilliant Gambler an Irish import that held the track records over 470 and 650 yards.
In 1938 all greyhounds were owned by the company after privately owned greyhounds were phased out, a move designed to foil doping. Distances changed to 288, 500, 518 and 700 yards.
Post war history Totalisator turnover during 1946 equated to £656,386 and one year later a new Electro-Mechanical tote was installed.
In 1956 there was a triple dead heat between Law Maker, Red Bay and Spinach Lad in 30.36 over 518 yards, an excellent grading achievement by Racing Manager R W Burns. The feat was repeated three years later when Quarry Tanist, Sandboy & Skip Me crossed the line together on 12 July 1959. In 1961 the track hosted a heat of the BBC Television Trophy shown live on Sportsview.
Throughout the 1960s the raced on Wednesday and Saturday nights and the resident trainers were Harry Gendle and K Nelson. The principal event was the Cleveland Stayers Championship and amenities on offer to the public included four bars and three cafes.
Vic Abbott replaced R W Burns as Racing Manager and the decision was taken in 1967 to sand the bends replacing the grass. The entire track would be converted to sand in 1984. During 1978 Harry Gendle retired after 46 years as a trainer at the track.
The only major race win by a Middlesbrough greyhound came in 1982 when Irish Grand National champion Face The Mutt won the Scottish Grand National for trainer Reece before moving to Norah McEllistrim at Wimbledon Stadium the same year and completed the triple crown of by winning the English Grand National.
In 1985 a serious arson attack destroyed the main stand and Ross Searle took over from Vic Abbott. In 1987 the track hosted auctions for the first time but during 1990 the track suffered an exodus of trainers because a revamped Sunderland had opened.
Speedway
Closure In September 1996 the site was sold and the track was demolished to make way for the Goals soccer centre football pitches and the Macmillan City Technology College extension (part of the Macmillan Academy).
Track records
Pre-Metric Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date240 Fred Thornley 14.8214 October 1929270 Hettys Heir 15.92 17 June 1936 280 Stockbroker 17.501 June 1938 288 Blue Dusty 16.6128 September 1957 288 Lincolns Inn 16.18 24 July 1971 306 Sandys Peach 17.6129 September 1956 470 Brilliant Gambler 27.59 1928 470 Brilliant Gambler 27.29 21 August 1929 475 Sea Knott 28.30 18 June 1928 475 Brilliant Gambler 28.21 18 June 1928 475 Brilliant Gambler 28.19 23 June 1928 475 Brilliant Gambler 28.01 1 August 1928 480 Daegrease 28.80 29 May 1937 500 Shanes Al 28.61 7 June 1965 500 Idle Sailor 28.48 24 September 1966 500 Malaria 27.966 July 1968 518 Boy Mack 30 August 1946 518 Dusky Guy 30.27 26 October 1946 518 Blue Dusty 29.709 July 1956 650 Brilliant Gambler 39.45 8 September 1928 650 Pennine Jock 38.81 2 July 1930 682 Stocky 41.71 19 July 1933 692 Captain Horner 43.88 13 August 1938 700 Maylin Justice 41.83 30 July 1962 700 Claudyne 39.7511 July 1965 718 Sound Hero 42.96 23 June 1962 880 Student Life 52.23 26 April 1961 882 Kirkleatham Leader 57.466 May 1935 470 H Corah Hill 28.61 2 July 1930 475 H Burnebe 30.1513 June 1928 650 H Cleveland Lass 42.54 22 February 1930
Post-Metric Metres Greyhound Time (sec) Date266 Mattie Jo 16.28 1989266 Well Keeper 16.24 29 July 1991266 Seaview 15.97 1 August 1994282 Kipplings Fox 17.55 1976 450m Move Along Myna 27.84 20 April 1988450m Ballynaught Five27.821989 462m Swift Linnet 28.36 4 March 1989 462m Jubilee Rocco 28.18 18 June 1993 478m Lazy John 29.59 1978 478m Lucky Saint 29.25 11 June 1983 640m Grace Line 40.79 4 October 1989 640m Keiberwood Bob 40.26 23 September 1994 774m Hollands Sand 50.91 12 November 1993 824m Desert Tan 55.11 17 February 1988 836m Dampit Pride 54.94 25 July 1990 847m Ryehope Dawn 55.90 1987
References