There will be tears in the North West London area of Walthamstow on Saturday night as the popular local greyhound track closes its gates bringing to an end 75 years of sporting and gambling history.

Twenty licensed dog-racing stadiums have shut in Britain over the past decade, and Walthamstow is one of London's last highlighting the fact that more glitzy forms of gambling are taking over for a new generation.

Tickets for the last night ‘of the dogs’ at the old stadium cannot be purchased in advance and are only available on Saturday evening. The stadium opens at 6.30pm and punters who wish to get a last look at the famous track are asked to turn up early to avoid disappointment.

The demise of Walthamstow’s greyhound stadium has been on the cards for some time due to falling revenues and increased running costs.

There were once 33 greyhound tracks in London, but only Walthamstow, Romford,Wimbeldon, and Crayford remain, after Catford closed in 2003. The directors of Walthamstow Stadium Limited have agreed to the sale of the Company’s freehold property at Walthamstow Stadium to a development consortium led by Yoo Capital and K W Linfoot plc.

Formal contracts have been exchanged and completion is expected on or before the 1st of  September 2008.

An institution in this part of East London the track was opened in 1933 by William Chandler (a local businessman who started out operating as an illegal street bookmaker) and is still owned by the Chandler family. It has a larger attendance and income from gambling than any other dog racing track in the country, with capacity for over 5,000 spectators.

Famous for its pink and red neon sign Walthamstow has hosted everyone from Sir Winston Churchill to Lana Turner and Vinnie Jones to Brad Pitt.

The new housing development consortium owners plan to turn the 8.1 acre site into a mixed tenure residential scheme offering a range of affordable homes.

Tickets for the last night cannot be purchased in advance and are only availTickets for the last night cannot be purchased in advance and are only available on the evening. The stadium will be opening at 6.30pm, so please turn up early to avoid disappointment.

All restaurants are now fully booked up for all the remaining race meetings.ableTickets for the last night cannot be purchased in advance and are only available on the evening. The stadium will be opening at 6.30pm, so please turn up early to avoid disappointment.

All restaurants are now fully booked up for all the remaining race meetings. on the evening. The stadium will be opening at 6.30pm, so please turn up early to avoid disappointment.

All restaurants are now fully booked up for all the remaining race meetings.

Print version