Greyhound racing enjoyed decades of success at Hackney Wick, but with the new Olympic Stadium on the site of the old race track, greyhound enthusiasts say that the days of greyhound racing are well and truly over.
Hackney Wick stadium in more successful days. Photo: Steve Nash
Maurice Newman, a 76-year-old greyhound trainer and a lifelong supporter of the old Hackney track that closed in 1997, said that the sport is now part of the borough’s history.
“There is no chance of it returning. It’s not a sport you would want to entice youngsters into as we don’t know what the future is. It was my generation that enjoyed the best of it,” said Maurice, who is a member of the Greyhound Owners’ Breeders’ and Trainers’ Association (GOBATA).
For the veteran, who has trained greyhounds since 1949, the sport is now unrecognisable.
“It’s completely changed. In the early days you could walk or get a bus to a dog track, but now you have to get a helicopter. After the war they were packed with people and now they’re empty.”
Wimbledon is now the only operational greyhound track in London and GOBATA chairman Martin White says that the sport isn’t likely to enjoy a revival anytime soon.
“There are only 27 tracks in the whole country now as 69 tracks closed in Britain in the last few years,” he said.
Stan Kennett, 65, was a trainer at Hackney Wick from 1984 until its closure. He no longer has the same interest in the sport due to its decline.
“I missed it terribly when the stadium closed. It was one of the finest stadiums around. I rarely go to races anymore as I just don’t have the enthusiasm for it. There are very few people there.”
There is currently a longstanding campaign to return racing to nearby Walthamstow which is backed by Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith and Labour MP Stella Creasy.
There are no plans in Hackney to launch a similar campaign.
Maurice said: “Over the years I must have had thousands of winners. Every win you have is a big win. It’s a great buzz. I got into it through my father, it’s in the blood. It’s a part of your life, you know?”
