PLANS FOR NEW GREYHOUND TRACK AT WOLVERHAMPTON

Ian Fortune

The UK could be welcoming a new greyhound track with the news that Arene Racing Company (ARC) yesterday have submitted a planning application to the City of Wolverhampton Council to develop a new greyhound racing track at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

It’s not all good news as it seems it is a possible replacement for Perry Barr which is under growing pressure. Of course, those involved in the project will no doubt be buoyed by the success of Dundalk Stadium and they will no doubt take plenty of inspiration from the Dowdallshill venue.

The statement on the ARC website reads:

Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) today confirm that a planning application has been submitted to City of Wolverhampton Council to develop a new greyhound racing track at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

The largest horse and greyhound racing group in the UK, ARC currently operates sixteen racecourses and five greyhound stadia, alongside a number of golf courses and hotels, including the Holiday Inn at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

In 2023, Wolverhampton Racecourse will host a total of 78 horseracing fixtures on the all-weather Tapeta surface, having been the first racecourse in Britain to host floodlit racing in 1993.

ARC have worked with consultants from Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) on the proposal, which includes a new state of the art racing surface, located within the current oval horseracing circuit at Wolverhampton.

It is proposed that STRI would oversee the development of the track, whilst ancillary facilities, including kennels are also installed alongside the existing horseracing infrastructure. In addition to the on-site Holiday Inn hotel, Wolverhampton Racecourse hosts a wide range of hospitality facilities, including the panoramic Horizons Restaurant, which offers uninterrupted views of the racing action.

Managing Director of ARC’s Racing Division, Mark Spincer said, “We are delighted to submit this planning application to City of Wolverhampton Council, and look forward to working with planners on its development.”

“Our aspiration is that Wolverhampton can become a landmark venue for greyhound racing, not just in the West Midlands, but nationally. Greyhound welfare is a hugely important aspect of our business, and we are grateful to STRI for their significant input into the proposal. We look forward to working with them and GBGB on making sure that any new facilities offer the highest possible welfare standards.

“Wolverhampton is a busy racecourse in terms of horseracing fixtures, but we are used to holding popular racedays, as well as major non racing events. With many of the facilities already in place, we are confident that it would prove a popular venue with greyhound owners, trainers and fans alike.”