White City Stadium, Cardiff
The White City Stadium was a former greyhound racing track in the Grangetown area of Cardiff.[1]
The Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) introduced greyhound racing to the White City Stadium in Cardiff, also known as Sloper Road or the Welsh White City.
There was a rocky start in 1928 owing to the persistent rain that fell on the opening night (Easter Saturday) only 9,000 spectators turned up. The first hurdle event was declared a no-race, because the dogs were so busy fighting each other that none of them completed the 470 yard trip. Fine weather returned on the Easter Monday and 25,000 people paid either 2s 4d or 5/-to get into the stadium.
The GRA (South Wales) had erected six kennel blocks with accommodation for 180 dogs under the grandstand. Many tracks built the kennel ranges for the greyhounds within the sites of their respective stadiums.
The track held the prestigious Welsh Greyhound Derby which eventually became a classic race in 1971 and formed part of the triple crown along with the English Greyhound Derby and Scottish Greyhound Derby.
Before the outbreak of the second world war in 1939 many stadiums were closed for the duration, most reopened but White City was not amongst them.
References
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