Reading Stadium (Oxford Road)
| Location | Reading |
|---|---|
| Operator | Clapton Stadium Ltd (1934-1965) Greyhound Racing Association (1966-1973) |
| Opened | 1931 |
| Closed | 1974 |
| Tenants | |
| Greyhound racing | |
Reading Stadium (Oxford Road) was a greyhound racing stadium in Reading.
It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium in Bennet Road that opened one year after Oxford Road closed and is located further to the south of Reading.
Reading Stadium was situated north-west of the town and was built adjacent to the Great Western Railway and north of Wigmore Lane off the Oxford Road. It opened on Saturday 14 November 1931.
The stadium attracted a crowd estimated to be between four and five thousand who came to watch a seven race card produced by Racing Manager Mr J Compton with the first race starting at 7.30pm. The first race was won by 'Symbol' but the feature events of the evening were the Berkshire Stakes heats and Tilehurst hurdles stakes heats.
The success of the first nights racing resulted in two more meetings on the Monday and Wednesday and track alterations took place in time for the finals of the events mentioned that were held the following Saturday. The reason for alterations was because the public required a better view of the greyhounds from the run up to the winning post. The rails were moved back five yards and the track was lowered slightly.
In 1932 Guideless Joe set a track & national record of 22.00 secs for the 400 yards trip, the brindle dog would go on to win the very first official Irish National Derby at Shelbourne Park.
Clapton Stadium Ltd acquired the track in 1934 with the Managing Director being Mr H Garland Wells, the Director of Racing was Major C E R Moss and the Racing Manager was Mr H Craven. The track was running under National Greyhound Racing Club rules and the trainers included G F Spencer & George McKay. Race distances were 400, 525 & 600 yards, the 400 yard distance was unique because it was the only race of that length that could be held over just two bends due to the extremely large nature of the track. Some of the fastest track times set in Britain were at Reading on the 526 yard circumference circuit.
The main grandstand was next to the racing kennels on the home straight and was accessed from the car park on Wigmore Lane and Oxford Road. The Popular Grandstand on the north side was opposite the main stand next to the railway line. The resident kennels were in a rural setting in nearby Tilehurst.
John Snowball the trainer of the first ever Scottish Greyhound Derby winner was appointed Racing Manager in 1944 after spending some time in Egypt with the Egyptian Greyhound Racing Association.
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