Ramsgate Stadium


Ramsgate Stadium was a greyhound racing stadium also known as Dumpton Park Stadium in Ramsgate.

Origins

The Greyhound Racing Association Ltd obtained a plot of land south of Dumpton in the Sir Moses Montefiore Ward and planned to open a greyhound track by 1928. It would be known as Dumpton Park named after the parkland to the north. Part of the Kent Coast Line had recently been replaced by a road called Dumpton Park Drive and the stadium was erected off this road between Muir Road to the south and Montefiore Avenue to the north.
The stadium would be accessed via the Hereson Road and the Tunnel Railway was built around the same time and the narrow gauge railway went directly under the stadium.

Opening

The track opened on Saturday 26 May 1928 and Mrs D Coleman's Southern Surprise won the first ever race at 3pm over 500 yards at odds of 4-1 in a time of 32.25 secs. The six race card attracted a good crowd with the other winners being trained by W Wyles, Archie Whitcher and R Sandy. Race two went to Merman owned by Mrs Lyne Dixson wife of Major Lyne Dixson, one of the founders of the Greyhound Racing Association.
The stadium track was described as a well laid out course, 430 yards in circumference with good long straights and easy turns. It had an 'Inside Sumner' hare system and amenities included the Thanet Racing Club, a glass fronted enclosure in the 4s, 6d ring. The kennel facilities were opposite the track adjoining the Dumpton Park railway station.

Pre war">World War II">war history

A second meeting was held on Monday 28 May before the schedule reverted to every Thursday and Saturday. The Director of Racing was Major Dixson and the Racing Manager was Ernest Ledger. Ledger would remain the Racing Manager for over thirty years.
The town of Ramsgate saw a second track built in 1936 known as Newington Greyhound Stadium; the track was situated on the west of Newington Road, just north of Bush Avenue but unlike Dumpton Park never raced under National Greyhound Racing Club rules.
After war was declared Ramsgate suffered major disruption with racing being suspended during 1940.

Post war history

Two trainers brought great success to the track, Jack Daley and Jack Sherry won regular competitions for Ramsgate. Good Worker won the 1948 Laurels, Silver Salver, Champion Stakes and Wimbledon Produce Stakes. Blossom of Annagura achieved a notable double winning successive Grand National in 1949 and 1950.
In the 1960s the track policy was to close during the winter months of January and February. The principal event was the Cavalier Cup and ownership of the track was in the hands of the Ramsgate Dumpton Thanet Greyhounds Ltd. J J Foster became Racing Manager from the long serving Ledger and the attached trainers were Sherry, W McKenna, T Cracknell & Jim Barry.
In 1975 trainer Peter Rich former head man to John Coleman won all eight races in one meeting producing a 428,793-1 accumulator.

Northern Sports

A huge turning point for the track materialised in 1976, the stadium had been struggling to attract large crowds due to an ageing stadium and poor facilities but a company called Northern Sports led by former Oaks winning trainer Mick Hawkins and his son David purchased the stadium from Dumpton Greyhounds Ltd for £185,000. Mick was also the owner of the independent track Doncaster Greyhound Track.
One year later Jeff Jefcoate left the GRA to join Ramsgate as Racing Manager, J J Foster became Director of Racing and a new race was introduced called the Thanet Gold Cup. Plans were subsequently submitted to the local council for permission to build for a new one million pound grandstand.
Northern Sports purchased Oxford Stadium and Long Eaton Stadium in 1978 and the grandstand was finally completed in 1984. The state of the art facility featured a 200-seater tiered restaurant which became a model for the industry soon afterwards. A sports centre was built within the stadium and included squash, snooker clubs and a gymnasium. Oxford followed suit two years later. Northern Sports and David Hawkins gained many accolades within the industry and both Ramsgate and Oxford profited.
Scurlogue Champ broke the track record in 1985 and the track made two English Greyhound Derby finals with Carrigeen Chimes in 1985 and Sunley Express in 1986. Two other Ramsgate trainers Stan Kennett and Ron Luton also had success but Baggs moved to join Oxford in 1986 before diverting to Walthamstow Stadium.
Ramsgate were awarded a lucrative Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service contract after the success of sister track Oxford. Mick Wheble was given the role of BAGS co-ordinator overseeing new Racing Manager Stuart Netting.
The tracks forecourt car park featured as a market set for the BBC's Only Fools and Horses 1989 episode The Jolly Boys Outing.

Closure

As the 1990s progressed Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow were beginning to suffer from the recession that was affecting their other business interests in construction and garden centres. In 1995 Hawkins of Harrow called in the receivers and Oxford was made a going concern but Ramsgate was sold for redevelopment. Dumpton Park closed its doors in March 1996.
The popular seaside stadium known as the Garden Track of England closed its doors in May 1996.
The site today is the Brindle Grove housing.

Competitions

Thanet Gold Cup

The Thanet Gold Cup was held over 450 metres.
YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSP
1977Lively MarchKilbeg Kuda – Lively SilverTony Dennis 28.31 10-1
1978TimelessTime Up Please – Dolores MaryJohn Coleman 28.42 4-1
1979Noon TimeMillies Express – Best BrewJohn Sherry 28.2410-11f
1980Gurrane PurdoMoonshine Bandit – Ballyhea QueenJohn Sherry 28.09 7-2
1981Heres GayTullig Rambler- Lassie Get LostGordon Hodson 28.74 2-1
1982Westpark CloverLoyal Expert – Ballinderry MothArthur Boyce 28.57 12-1
1983Creamery CrossKnockrour Slave – Creamery AliceAllen Briggs 27.24 4-6f
1984Cawarra LadGlen Rock – Springtime DafJohn Gibbons 27.57 6-1
1985Big MacYellow Band – Social OutcastStan Kennett 27.485-2f
1986Ground SpeedBlue Ring – Miss GiftRon Luton 27.76 11-10f
1987Glencoe BestmanEgmont Spider – Green IdolPeter Rich 27.624-1
1988BallinloughAlleys Blue – Bernadettes GirlDinky Luckhurst 27.63 9-4
1989General WatsonYankee Express – Evening MoonGordon Hodson 28.02 10-11f
1990Saucy PupDipmac – Anything FreshJohn Gibbons 27.56 9-4
1991Apres SoleilRandy – Doras SunshineBill Bookle 27.76 1-1f
1992Poor BrianPoor James – Ashleigh FairyRon Jeffrey 26.955-4f
1993Market MarcherBalalika – Market SkiteDiane Stinchcombe 27.555-2
1994Bunmahon LadDruids Johno – Bunmahon EskePeter Rich 27.11 9-4
1995Witches DeanLyons Dean – Witches BettyPeter Rich

Kent St Leger

Track records

Pre-metric
Distance
yards		GreyhoundTimeDate
440 Ashfield Envoy25.7705.08.1938
440 Glum25.7017.70.1948
460 Tara Beware26.8806.04.1960
460 Stedlyn Ploughright=26.8829.09.1962
500 Four Mile Bridge28.7402.07.1937
500 Good Worker28.7206.09.1948
500 Greenane Midas28.3131.07.1965
600 Maidens Delight35.5118.05.1938
600 Crissie Tanist35.3116.07.1947
700 Darts Luck41.7917.06.1934
700 Fat Licence=41.7920.06.1936
700 Keystone41.4613.08.1947
715 Glostello42.3319.10.1963
500 H Honeymans Last29.8025.05.1930
500 HFinal Selection29.401970

Post-metric
Distance
metres		GreyhoundTimeDate
235 Spartacus14.8912.10.1991
235Oakfront Drive14.6811.10.1993
450Creamery Cross26.9602.07.1983
450Poor Brian26.9526.09.1992
590Hello Blackie37.2828.07.1990
590Coalbrook Susie37.1627.07.1991
590Star Treatment 37.0912.10.1991
590Patriot Sail36.8205.05.1994
640 General Leader40.0126.09.1983
640Trans Mercedes39.7528.07.1990
640Catsrock Dan39.7117.07.1991
840Loch Bo Anchor39.6811.10.1993
855Scurlogue Champ54.2601.07.1985
855Glenowen Queen53.9502.12.1985
1045Belladare68.6019.05.1986
1045Wayzgoose68.1110.05.1992
450 HFor Daniel27.6809.10.1989
450 HDeerpark Jim27.49 01.08.1992
590 HSentimental Sam38.8912.10.1991
590 HBruces Way38.2325.11.1991
590 HGlenrobin37.5916.03.1992
640 HFreewheel Kylo40.8211.10.1993