Reading Stadium


Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.
It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road that closed in 1974 and was located further to the north of Reading.

Origins

In 1974 the Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road, north-west of the town was closed by the Greyhound Racing Association but the town of Reading soon had a replacement stadium when a company called Allied Presentations opened a new track accessed from the Bennet Road much further to the south of the town. The stadium was constructed on disused sludge beds and south of Island Road and north of Smallmead Road.
The stadium build was assisted by owner trainer Bill Dore who sat on the board of directors with Reg Fearman, F Higley and Len Silver. Martin Haigh would be Racing Manager.

Speedway

Greyhound racing

Opening

The first greyhound meeting was held on 10 June 1975. The first race was won by Mr T Coleman's Journeywork over 433 metres in a time of 27.84 secs.
The circuit was all sand surface with an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. The circumference was 385 metres with usual race distances consisting of 275, 465 and 660 metres.

1980s

The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup. and attracted a good class of trainer including Terry Dartnall and Jerry Fisher, the latter won the Cesarewitch title with Jos Gamble in 1983. Fisher also trained Game Ball who he bought with owner Brian Smith for the sum of £8,000 at the end of 1982. Game Ball was put with Sean Bourke for the English Greyhound Derby and nearly fulfilled his promise being a losing favourite in the 1983 final. game Ball also won the Pall Mall Stakes before becoming a prominent sire.
Daleys Gold won the 1985 Scurry Gold Cup before Mollifrend Lucky trained by Colin Packham won the 1986 Scurry and Laurels in 1986. Martyn Dore was Racing Manager by 1988 as the track became renowned for having a strong class of runner.

1990s

In 1990 the Maldwyn Thomas trained greyhounds with the prefix ‘Trans’ began to win trophies and 1992 proved to be a very successful year starting with the announcement that a competition called the Reading Masters would take place. The race offered substantial prize money with only the English Derby and Scottish Derby able to top the £15,000 winner's prize. Poor Brian won the Oxfordshire Stakes for Ron Jeffrey and Bob Gilling's Skelligs Smurf became Oaks champion with Bixby becoming the Puppy Derby winner.
Champion trainer John 'Ginger' McGee joined the training ranks in 1993 and won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year twice as a Reading trainer in 1993 and 1994. The Keith Howard 'Hedsor' prefix was next to provide the track with more success Walthamstow Stadium greyhound Palace Issue claimed a third consecutive Hunt Cup in 2001. In 1998 John McGee returned for a second spell at the track and Paul Young also arrived as a trainer.

2002-2008

The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations. Terry Dartnall returned to the track as a trainer once again and won two Select Stakes with Cleenas Lady before retiring and handing the licence to son Matt who then won the Juvenile in 2008 with Ballymac Under.

Closure

In 2008 the local council refused to extend the tracks lease citing redevelopment plans. The plans for the company to build a new modern stadium came to nothing with the final meeting being held on 22 October 2008 and the stadium was demolished.

Competitions

Reading Masters

Hunt Cup

YearWinnerTrainerTimeSPNotes
1932Guideless JoeMick Horan 22.00
1933Beef CutletJohn Hegarty
1934Light LuciferArthur Doc Callanan 22.50 6-1
1938ProduskiPaddy Quigley 22.119-4
1939Brave RewardJ P Young 22.51 7-1
1945Look Out PostJack Harvey 22.14 7-2
1946Ferry RobinPaddy McEllistrim 22.333-1
1947RowleyP. O'Shaughnessy 22.326-1
1948Kerry RallyPaddy McEllistrim 22.48 5-2jf
1949Burndennet BrookLeslie Reynolds 22.056-4f
1950DerrycrussanTom Smith 22.00 4-6f
1958Knockarea ChancerJack Harvey 25.744-7f
1963Sir WalterJimmy Jowett 28.05
1964Captain PikePhil Rees Sr. 28.16 7-4jf
1965Silver GloryPaddy McEvoy 28.26
1966Shamrock ClipperPhil Rees Sr. 28.40
1967Lucky MeLen Drewery 28.33
1968Dreaming PrinceReg Webb 27.875-1
1969Beaverwood WindStan Martin 27.897-4jf
1970Spotted RoryPaddy McEllistrim 28.48
1978Westmead ManorNatalie Savva 39.65
1980Mogeely Honour42.64
1981Curragh BridgeJohn Honeysett 42.315-1
1982Wolf CubRay Iremonger 41.243-1
1983Astrosyn DollRay Peacock 41.42
1984Hot Candy42.08
1985Spill the Beans41.28
1986Milltown GeniusKenny Linzell 41.7111-4
1987Lowerton Susie41.14
1988Waltham AbbeyAdam Jackson 41.17
1990Coloured PantherJo Burridge 41.55 7-2
1991Snow ShoesJohn McGee Sr. 41.162-1f
1992Airmount FlashJimmy Gibson 41.1911-10f
1997Lydpal Frankie Tony Meek 41.49 9-2
1998Palace Issue Linda Mullins 41.104-7f
1999Palace Issue Linda Mullins 41.808-11f
2000Palace Issue Linda Mullins 41.321-6f
2001Southlodge Rage Nick Colton 41.345-2
2002Princess Manor Jo Burridge 41.1516-1
2003Double Take Andy Heyes 40.507-4fTrack record
2004Shelbourne Lyn Nick Colton 41.257-4f
2005Call Girl Paul Foster 41.945-2jf
2006Well Tutored Terry Dartnall 41.31 4-1
2007Spankee MovedHeather Dimmock 41.18 9-4

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Track records

At Closing

The track records at the time of closing were -
Distance
GreyhoundTimeDateNotes
275Greenfield Box16.3223.10.1982
465Blue Murlen27.5628.04.1997
660Double Take40.5014.12.2003Hunt Cup Final
850Greenacre Lin53.2616.09.2004
1045Slaneyside Demon68.8201.10.2006
465 HDruids Mickey Jo28.4022.09.2005
660 HGold Splash41.9524.04.1993

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