Work to build the UK’s newest greyhound racing track at Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton has entered its final phase, 85 days after ground was first broken by developers.
The facility, which will be positioned inside the venue’s existing horse racing course, is on track to stage its first fixture in September and will follow the permanent closure of greyhound racing at Perry Barr Stadium in Birmingham.
Kenneling and veterinary facilities have been completed and are awaiting full Greyhound Board of Great Britain approval.
Outside, 1,700 tonnes of sand have been laid and graded to form the track’s shape with concrete paths for parade, kennel hand and track maintenance purposes also completed.
An artificial hare rail is now also in place, as are the mechanisms behind operating the traps which will be used to start all races. A perimeter fence to secure the track is being erected, and work to digitalise the track so races can be streamed globally is underway.
Jason Begg, Managing Director of Albany Track Works, was pleased with the progress his team has made and said greyhound racing fans can expect the whole project to be completed in the coming weeks.
“This has been a huge operation,” said Jason. “To go from a blueprint to physically seeing our plans come to life in just over 10 weeks is a great achievement, and our team on the ground deserve a lot of credit for making it happen.
“Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium has been years in the making, and we’re now only weeks away from cutting the ribbon on the first new greyhound racing facility in the UK for more than a decade.
“It’s an exciting time for the sport, particularly as this facility has been developed from scratch and modelled using the latest technology and data available to us which prioritises greyhound welfare and customer experience.
“We still have essential electrics and fencing to install before final touches such as railing, traps, the photo finish and winning line are put into place. But, overall, we are delighted with the progress made and look forward to announcing the track’s first fixture soon.”
An official date for the launch of Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The track will stage its first major race night on Friday, October 24, with the 94th running of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks – worth £20,000 to the winner. Senior management have launched a free ticket offer to celebrate Dunstall Park’s first Category One final, with racegoers able to pre-book their free spot trackside by clicking here.
