Poole Stadium


Poole Stadium is a greyhound racing venue and speedway track located in the town centre of Poole, Dorset in England. The stadium is owned by the Borough of Poole. It was built in the early 1930s in an attempt to provide a source of entertainment to the residents of Poole during the Great Depression. It is also often referred to as Wimborne Road, which is a road that runs adjacent to the stadium. During weekdays, the stadium's large car park is used to provide parking for Poole Hospital's park and ride scheme.

Football

In 1933 local semi-professional football team Poole Town F.C. moved to Poole Stadium where they began to play their home games in the Western Football League. In the 1946/47 season they had a run in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup which took them through to a first round match against Queens Park Rangers. Poole Town drew 2–2 at Loftus Road, but lost 6–0 in the replay in front of a then record breaking Poole Stadium crowd of 10,224. They again reached the first round in the 1962/63 season and held Watford F.C. to a 2–2 draw at Vicarage Road, but lost the replay at Poole Stadium in front of an 11,155 crowd.
Poole Town were based at the stadium for 61 years until Poole Council forced them to leave in 1994, blaming low attendances. During their stay at the stadium, the club had financed improvements to the stadium such as a 1,100 seater grandstand on the east side of the football pitch built in 1960, and covered terracing on the west side.

Speedway

The stadium has been home to speedway team the Poole Pirates since the club was created in 1948 and speedway has taken place at the stadium every year since. Prior to 1948, a cycle track had surrounded the football pitch until it was replaced with the larger speedway track. Poole Stadium was chosen to host the 2004 Speedway World Cup final by organiser Benfield Sports International. Poole hosted the qualifying race-off and the final which took place on 7 August with Sweden becoming the 2004 World Champions. Temporary stands were erected around the corners of the track to provide 2,200 extra seats. The official attendance figure at the stadium for the final was 7,131.
Poole Speedway is officially 299.1m long and the track record is 56.91 set by Sweden's Antonio Lindback on 14 June 2006.

Greyhound racing

Facilities include a modern glass fronted grandstand which incorporates a 312-seat restaurant, two bars, full Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens. Race nights take place on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

History

Greyhound racing was introduced to the stadium in 1960 after the Southampton Greyhound Stadium owners Charlie Knott Sr. & Charlie Knott Jr. initiated plans to construct a track around the football pitch and speedway track. Charlie Jr. The venue underwent considerable change with a grandstand and terracing being introduced on both sides of the stadium.
On 8 May 1961 the opening meeting took place with the Mayor of Poole Alderman Bill Cole conducting the opening ceremony. There was an eight race card featuring five dogs in each race set up around a 380-yard circuit. The first ever winner was 'Count on Chippelgaun' a 5-1 shot in a time of 29.7 secs. The Racing Manager was aptly named D.J Poole before T.H.Pickett took over the hot seat.
The Knott’s remained involved in Poole until 1980 when they sold their interest in the stadium. The leading trainers were Rita Randall and Pat Clarke and Ernie Walsh became the new Racing Manager. Following the sale the greyhound operation ran into difficulties and on 1 January 1985 closed down before the racing was brought back by TGV Ltd headed by Terry Bentham on April 5 of the same year. Simon Cross took over as Racing Manager from Ernie Walsh and TGV Ltd took the opportunity to conduct some renovations. Cross was soon to be replaced by Geoff Lee. Scurlogue Champ appeared on 12 July 1986 and broke the track record.
Facilities included a restaurant for 100 covers, a car park for 800 vehicles and two bars with all-sand circuit and an 'Outside Sumner' hare. Racing continued on Thursday and Saturday nights until the ownership changed again to a company called Playbell Ltd who then removed the greyhound track to accommodate a larger football pitch on 30 June 1990.
In February 1992 hopes were revived that greyhound racing could return to Poole after plans were announced by the Derek Block owned Poole Stadium Development Corporation that they were looking to emulate a track such as Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium and Romford Greyhound Stadium. This sparked interest from the BS Group and they had discussions with the local authorities regarding the re-opening of Wimborne Road. Even the Greyhound Racing Association made it clear that they were monitoring the situation. The BS Group won the race and secured a long time lease from the Poole Borough Council in 1994 and racing finally returned with the football ceasing. The owners constructed a modern glass fronted grandstand on the east side of the stadium in 1997 which incorporated a 312-seat restaurant, two bars, full Tote betting facilities and multiple viewing screens.
The Golden Crest which had been hosted by the track since 2000 had become the principal event surpassing the significance of the tracks previous main feature competition 'The Wessex Vase'. A major boost for arrived in 2012 when the track was awarded a BAGS contract for the first time.
In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with ARC to race every Tuesday and Sunday evening.

Competitions

Current
Distance
metres		GreyhoundTimeDateNotes
250Only One Leemac14.7422.04.2017
450Daddy Knowsbest26.2013.07.2013Golden Crest final
640Clares Kyletaun38.5614.04.2018
840Blonde Pearl52.0616.02.2007

Former
DistanceGreyhoundTimeDateNotes
230mOffice Whisper14.391989
230mAnnekas Gold14.381989
232mSeamans Hope14.4125.04.1985
250m Official Figure14.9810.04.1998
250m Louisville14.9607.02.2004
250m Kews Noble14.8831.07.2007
250mMarinas Malouda14.7806.05.2011
445mRailroad Tracker27.431989
450m August Twenty26.7001.11.1997
450m Rosmon Major26.4510.02.2007 Golden Crest Semi-finals
450m Glynnscross Mal26.4517.03.2009
450m Miss Crispys26.4408.06.2010
450m Buzz Doc26.3726.04.2011 Golden Crest heats
450m Fifis Rocket26.3030.04.2011 Golden Crest Semi-finals
450m Lode Henry26.2502.07.2013
455mGolden Sand27.3430.08.1983
630mChiltern Sarah39.921989
632mWestmead Call1986
632mFarm Hill Jill40.0025.09.1986
640m El Onda38.9609.05.1998
640m Manners Slaney38.74 13.10.2007
640mWise Totty38.6826.04.2011
840 Musical Treat52.4515.11.1997
840 Gift of Gold52.2109.05.2000
845mCarker Coal55.481989
855mScurlogue Champ54.8612.07.1986
445m HGrove Whistler28.901989