The best greyhound stadiums to visit in 2021

Greyhound racing is always a popular night out over the festive period. It still has a dedicated following who cover the length and breathe of the country to get their fix of the biggest races, often placing bets on sites like Betdaq. While there are always races covered online there is nothing like the thrill of a night at the dogs and seeing some of the best greyhounds up close and in the flesh. However, some of the best tracks have closed in recent years, with new ones taking their place for the biggest races like the English Greyhound Derby.

With that in mind, we thought we would run through some of the best greyhound stadiums to visit when you get the chance.

Romford

There was a time when London was the most popular place for greyhound racing, and even though its popularity may have gone down somewhat in recent years, with the majority of tracks sadly closing their doors permanently, racegoers can still visit Romford to get a glimpse of the action. Just outside of central London is a stadium with great history and one which was been preserved despite so many other tracks in the capital closing down.

Towcester

The Midlands has arguably become the new spiritual home of greyhound racing after London cast it aside, with some of its biggest races including hosting this year’s English Greyhound Derby, being held at Towcester.  The small town in Northamptonshire hosted the event for the third time after successive runs in 2017 and 2018.

Recent construction on the ground have prevented it from becoming outdated, with the delayed reopening due to the coronavirus frustrating to the sport’s dedicated following, but inevitably worth waiting for. The feedback from this year’s Derby suggests that the ground will be a staple as a host for the most prestigious races for plenty of big races in the future.

Owlerton – Sheffield

There aren’t many greyhound stadiums in the north that have been kept in as fine fettle as Owlerton, with the Sheffield racetrack hosting a plethora of big races every year, and this winter will be no exception. As it stands, Owlerton is flying the flag for the North in terms of racetrack pedigree, as well as the facilities on offer. With a range of hospitality packages, racegoers can ensure they get a gourmet experience whilst feasting their eyes on some spectacular nights of racing, most notably the Tuesday races they put on around the festive period.

Nottingham

By now, every greyhound racing fan is aware of Nottingham’s popularity. Having been granted a 50-year lease in 2019, the coronavirus pandemic may have prevented any expansion plans for the time being, but ensures that the project has some longevity and can continue to develop into a modern ground worthy of some of the big races on the sport’s calendar.

It is certainly up there with the most prestigious stadia in the country and given how many once popular tracks have had to close their doors, including Manchester’s Belle Vue Greyhound Stadium, knowing that the lease lasts so long will mean the ground can be preserved — provided fans keep coming through in good numbers.