THIS vehicle belonging to the Parkwood Greyhound Stadium is a reminder of the time when Keighley possessed “one of the fastest racing tracks in the North of England”.
Opened despite opposition from local churches, its first greyhound races were run in November, 1947, before 1,500 spectators. In its heyday as many as seven bookies would attend.
On August Bank Holiday Monday in 1965 a track record of 29.05 seconds was set by a black greyhound running under the name of Rusty – thought to be really Hi Joe, Britain’s “wonder greyhound” of the time, later kidnapped and retrieved after anonymous tip-offs.
Plans for the Aire Valley trunk road posed a huge question-mark over the future of the stadium, which closed with a members’ New Year’s Eve party at the end of 1974. “We have had some of the best dogs in the country taking part in our £100 open events”, manager Thomas Higson told the Keighley News.
The photograph has been supplied by Mr Kevin Seaton, of Shann Lane, Keighley.
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