Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium will host its final fixture this weekend as racing operations prepare to move nearby.
The last race at Perry Barr is scheduled for 22:11 BST on Saturday, August 23 as the switch to Dunstall Park at Wolverhampton Racecourse inches closer ahead of its grand opening on September 19.
96 years of greyhound racing in Birmingham will come to an end and the reality of the situation seems to be hitting the stadium’s general manager Chris Black all at once.
“We’ve known our long-term future sits in Wolverhampton for some time, but to be closing in on our final race night suddenly makes it feel real,” he said.
“We want Saturday to be a true celebration of Perry Barr.
“I’m sure there won’t be many dry eyes in the house when the greyhounds cross the line for one final time, but we’re determined to put on a good show and give her the send-off she deserves.”
The End of an Era event will feature a 12-race card, historic photo display and an after-party following the last race. It has hosted some of greyhound racing’s most prestigious competitions including the St Leger and Laurels.
Wolverhampton Greyhound Track Set To Host Classics Such As St Leger, Oaks
UK betting sites enjoy an annual turnover of £800 million every year on greyhound racing despite attendances declining significantly in recent years.
In June it was announced Wolverhampton Racecourse had made the application to vary a premises license under the Gambling Act 2005, adding a greyhound track to the venue.
The facility will sit within the horse racing track with up to 25,000 spectators able to watch races from the main grandstand. All staff were offered jobs at the new location.
Wolverhampton is set to host classic events such as the St Leger and Oaks, two of the biggest races on the calendar that will prove extremely popular with sports betting apps.
It will mark the first new greyhound racing track to be built in more than a decade following a multi-million pound investment by Arena Racing Company.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
