Chesterfield Sports Stadium was a

greyhound racing Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around an oval track. The sport originates from Hare coursing, coursing. Track racing uses an artificial lure (usually a form of windsock) that travels ahead of th ...

stadium in Station Road,

Brimington Brimington is a large village and civil parish in the Borough of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England. The population of the parish taken at the 2011 census was 8,788. The town of Staveley is to the east, and Hollingwood is nearby. The pari ...

, Chesterfield,

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...

Origins

The stadium began to take form in 1939, shortly before

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. On 26 March 1939, Albert Mowbray (a farmer by trade) applied for a racing licence and construction of track for 2,000 spectators under the

Betting and Lotteries Act 1934 The Betting and Lotteries Act 1934 ( 24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 58) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, ...

. The site chosen was a rural setting in Brimington north of Chesterfield near an old Brimington Colliery air shaft. Access to the stadium was from Station Road and then down the lane leading to Ryecroft Farm. Directly on the west side of the new track was the

Chesterfield Canal The Chesterfield Canal is a narrow canal in the East Midlands of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was one of the last of the canals designed by James Brindley, who died while it was being constructed. It was opened in 1777 ...

Opening

The stadium also known as Wheeldon Mill opened during late 1939, despite initial refusals from the Chesterfield Town Council to allow the plans to go ahead. Racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the

National Greyhound Racing Club The National Greyhound Racing Club was an organisation that governed Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom Greyhound racing is a sport in the United Kingdom. The industry uses a parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course be ...

). The hare system was an electric Sumner. The capacity was later listed as 8,000 spectators in late 1940s.

History

During the 1960s the track raced on Monday and Friday. The circuit was large with a circumference of 440 yards resulting in race distances of 285, 358, 453, 480, 510 and 700 yards. The hare system was an 'Inside Sumner' and races were both level break races (normal) and handicap races. By 1985 the stadium was owned by Albert Ullyett and J Liles and facilities had improved with veterinary surgeon attendance, a

totalisator A tote board (or totalisator/totalizator) is a numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track (to display the odds or payoffs for each horse) or at a telethon (to display the total amount donated to the char ...

, car parking for 400 vehicles, a new stand and refreshment bar. Race distances had changed to 100, 290, 358, 452, 500, 700 and 880 yards and annual competitions were run over the four distances used for grading racing. Race nights were Monday, Wednesday and Friday and whippet racing also took place occasionally including a whippet Derby in November.

Decline and closure

The stadium was subject of a redevelopment application by the local football team in May 1998 but following a petition the application was refused and stadium owner Joan Ullyett continued the racing. The track eventually closed in November 2000 and became in a state of disrepair. The site was demolished in 2018 and is now home to the Heritage Green housing estate.

References

{{English greyhound tracks Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom 1939 establishments in England 2000 disestablishments in England