Doncaster (Sprotbrough) Greyhound Track

Spotbrough west of Doncaster was another site of a colliery and as was the trend at the time greyhound tracks popped up wherever collieries existed.

The track on Newlands Drive, off the York Road at the back of Regent Grove was opened on 14th Apr 1928 by the Mansfield Greyhound Racecourse Co. In the first year as a licenced track they were banned from NGRC racing following the refusal to comply with NGRC stewards.

Throughout the years the track would switch between fully licenced and independent status but would boast a Derby finalist in 1945. The greyhound Lilacs Luck (winner of the Irish Derby) had been put with R Jones at Doncaster and he steered the blue brindle to runner up behind the great Mondays News. A year later he also claimed the Wembley Gold Cup.

In 1947 the tote turnover was a healthy £147,357 when still licenced by the NGRC. The track would become independent again in the fifties and not return to NGRC licenced racing afterwards. It was owned by local bookmaker Charlie Bint for a considerable time and reputed to have had a casino on site that was believed to have been illegal at the time.

Run by Doncaster Sports Promotions Ltd in the sixties racing was held on Tuesday and Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. The circumference was 487 yards and was described as a galloping track because of the size. Distances were set at 300, 410, 550 and 765 yard handicaps and 335, 555 and 800 yards level break. Annual events included the Lincoln Sweepstakes, Leger Sweepstakes, Dennison Trophy and Rose Bowl Sweepstakes. The track had its own well for watering the grass and every summer they would have an intertrack with Stanley Stadium (co Durham).

The track was purchased in 1976 by the Hawkins family (Northern Sports) who would go on to do great things at Oxford and Ramsgate. In 1980 there were still grass straights and the distances were over 301, 275, 480, 507 and 700 metres. Racing was on Tuesday and Friday nights and an inside hare was used.

The site was demolished in 1986 and today is the area covered by ‘Clearwell Croft’ and ‘The Leas’.

More information about this track is available in the downloadable PDF