Perry Barr bids farewell with its final night of racing

Perry Barr closes its doors for the final time

The curtain came down on Perry Barr as the tracked raced for the final time on Saturday night.

 It marked the end of almost 100 years of greyhound racing in Birmingham after the track’s former venue – the Birchfield Ladbroke Stadium – opened its doors in 1929. 

The present stadium opened in 1990 where greyhound racing has been held since, with prestigious competitions including the St Leger, Birmingham Cup and the Laurels. 

The track is relocating its racing operation to Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton, which will hold its first customer fixture on Friday September 19.  

There were five opens on the card, with local handler Rob Hall landing two of them – including the final open race at the venue with Glenrock Ace.

The 6/4 favourite produced a fast start in the white jacket and the result never looked in any danger thereafter, as he stopped the clock at 28.31 in scoring by a length and three-quarters from Bert Ted.

His kennelmate Moanteen Ruby had earlier sprang a 7/1 surprise when scoring over the same 480m trip by half a length from Kellsboro Cilla in 28.95.

Oakfield Murty (7/4) scored in 28.35 for Chris Gilbert, John Lambe’s Lissan Buzz (7/2) won the sprint open in 16.17 and the Nathan Hunt-trained Droopys Flotilla justified 2/5 favouritism over 660m in 40.27.

The last ever race to be run at the venue was an A5 contest and it went the way of Collier Tom, the 8/11 favourite who made all for Heathcliffe Williams and claimed a piece of history as the last winner at the track.