Staff break down in tears as historic race track forced to close after more than 90 years

TEARS were shed arsenic hundreds of fans came retired to ticker the last-ever conscionable astatine a celebrated canine racing track.

Crayford Greyhound Stadium closed its doors for the last clip successful beforehand of a ample assemblage connected Sunday aft 90 years of racing.

Entain, which owns brands including Ladbrokes and Coral, declared its volition to adjacent the South East London way successful November.

They said it was nary longer financially viable to proceed owed to "dwindling enactment and attendance".

Originally built successful 1932 and named the Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium, Crayford Stadium was sold to Ladbrokes successful 1984.

After 15 of the ground’s 20 acres were sold to Sainsbury’s, a caller venue was built connected the remaining 5 acres which opened successful 1986.

Emotional unit could beryllium seen hugging and wiping tears distant from their eyes arsenic clip was called connected the historical venue.

Queues of spectators lined up extracurricular earlier filling the stands and placing bets connected the past 12 greyhound races with friends and family.

Commentator Robin Carter, the long-time caller, raised his microphone for the last time.

He announced: “Away we spell for the past race ever astatine Crayford.”

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The stadium antecedently had to cancel race meetings owed to an ongoing shortage of runners.

But, others moving successful the manufacture noted a displacement successful the "business model" aft an summation successful streaming and online gambling.

The closure leaves Romford arsenic the sole outlet for the athletics successful Greater London.

The existent fixture docket volition beryllium fulfilled astatine tracks successful Romford, Hove and Monmore.

Ladbroke said the determination to adjacent the venue had "not been taken lightly".

Entain's communications manager Simon Clare added: "We've been exploring assorted avenues to debar this determination for immoderate clip but, ultimately, it is nary longer viable for america to proceed operating the site.

"We volition besides proceed to enactment each trainers impacted by the determination and anticipation that galore of them volition proceed to race their dogs astatine different UK greyhound tracks."

As it stands, determination are present lone 19 retired of the erstwhile 77 venues licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

After attracting immense audiences and royal visitors successful the 20th century, astir canine racing venues successful the superior person closed.

The Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium saw its past night of racing aft 89 years successful 2017 earlier the tract was demolished.

Back successful 2008, the Walthamstow Stadium successful the London Borough of Waltham Forest successful East London besides closed.

It was wide regarded arsenic the starring greyhound racing stadium successful Britain pursuing the closure of White City successful 1984.