Portsmouth (Copnor) Greyhound Track

The city of Portsmouth first experienced greyhound racing at a track known as Copnor. This is a little misleading because the actual site was between the Walsall and Tamworth Roads which is considerably south of Copnor.

The first meeting was held on Saturday 30th June 1928 and was held under NGRC rules based on the fact that the results appeared in the NGRC calendar. The NGRC were vehemently opposed to independent racing and continued to be so more most of its existence. Furthermore the GRA clearly had an interest in the track as they did many others because they presented the cup to a Brighton greyhound called Bloxham, the winner of the hurdles match race on opening night. The trophy on behalf of the GRA was presented by Mrs Dixon the wife of the wellknown GRA company director Major Dixon.

The Portsmouth Greyhound Racecourse Company were responsible for bringing the racing to the public that night which was reported as having fine weather and a good company assembled to witness the event. The trackless hare seemed to have the public in awe and required an explanation of its workings. The hare attached to a green cord was pulled around the track by a hand powered windlass through specially made clip pulleys. It was aid to have been invented by Captain Nixon.

The six five-dog races that supported the hurdle match went the way of the orange jacket of trap 5 and the first ever winner was Biddy Blue in 33.67 secs at odds of 4-6f.

The racing only lasted two years and the track closed on 29th November 1930 changing to football and playing fields. It is probable that it closed due to the fact that a bigger track as Tipner had opened which seemed to be the trend in many cities at the time. The site today is known as Tamworth Park.

More information about this track is available in the downloadable PDF