'End of an era' as Birmingham's Perry Barr greyhound racing track prepares to close for good
It will be the "end of an era" when greyhound racing fans bid farewell to Birmingham's Perry Barr track on Saturday night when the gates close for the last time.
The track operators will be relocating to Dunstall Park Racecourse in Wolverhampton which will hold its first event on September 19.
The hare will run for one final time at the stadium, in Aldridge Road, Perry Barr at 10.11pm on Saturday (23) for the End of an Era track competition which will feature 12 live races, a memorabilia display featuring photos and a fans' party suitable for families and groups of friends.
It will mark the end of almost 100 years of greyhound racing in Birmingham after the original track at Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium opened in 1929. More than 15,000 people attended opening night when Town Square was declared the winner of the first race.
The current stadium opened in 1990 where greyhound racing has been held since, with prestigious competitions including the St Leger – an event originally held at Wembley Stadium – and the Laurels.
A bumper crowd is expected to attend on Saturday.
General manager Chris Black said: “It will be an emotional evening I’m sure. 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.
“This stadium holds many great memories for the hundreds of thousands of people who have passed through our turnstiles over the years.
“This is our final opportunity to celebrate this ahead of our exciting move to Dunstall Park next month which will mark the beginning of a new era for our operation, and the sport generally as we engage new faces and bring greyhound racing to a wider audience.”
“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.”
Tickets to Perry Barr’s End of an Era race night are priced from from £8 and can be purchased via perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk
