Scottish Independent ‘Flapping’ Greyhound Tracks

Aberdeen (Regent Park)

Opening on the 25th June 1932 the first race meeting featured thirty dogs in six races and attracted a crowd of 2,000.
The horse-shoe shaped circuit was situated in the Seaton Grounds by the former Seaton Racecourse on School Road.
The Aberdeen Greyhound Racing Company held racing on a regular basis at Regent Park over 315 & 360 yards.
Despite two meetings held on Saturdays there was already plans to build a larger track at nearby Holburn.
The track had a betting licence during 1935 and 1936.
Seaton Park remains a recreational park today (2° 5′ 32.828″W 57° 9′ 45.917″N).
Active 1932-1936

Allanton

Allanton is a village in North Lanarkshire not far from Motherwell and close to Shotts, the site of other greyhound tracks.
It opened on 25th June 1949 and closed 15th September 1951.
Active 1949-1951

Armadale (Bathgate Road)

Bathgate Road opened just four days after the closure of the track at the Volunteer Grounds.
Two races called the West Lothian Stakes and Armadale Sprint Championships are
the feature races with track distances of 330 and 540 yards.
The site today is also home to the Edinburgh Monarchs speedway (3° 40′ 59.062″W 55° 53′ 53.687″N).
Active 1939-present

Armadale (Volunteer Grounds)

Armadale in West Lothian started racing at the Volunteer Grounds around the local football ground.
The venture only lasted from 3rd October 1936 until the 16th February 1939.
The operation moved to Bathgate Road, Midlothian four days later.
The site remains a local football pitch (3° 42′ 0.600″W 55° 54′ 0.230″N).
Active 1936-1939

Ayr (Auchinleck)

Located just East of Ayr this was a popular independent track for over 70 years.
The track had a 365y circumference and 100y run to the first bend and the main distances were 264y, 4120y and 610y.
The major race was the Autumn Auchinleck Derby.The track is located south of Mauchline Road and north of Barony Road.
It was closed in 2003 and was sold for development in 2006 (4° 18′ 8.231″W 55° 28′ 17.225″N).
Active 1930-2003

Ayr (Tams Brig)

The Tams Brig track was between Limekiln Road and Elmbank Street and was overlooked by houses that literally
ran alongside the home straight.The house owners could look out of their bedroom windows and
watch the greyhounds run passed below.
The first race was on the 16th December 1933 and racing took place on Monday and Saturday evenings at 7pm.
Amenities included a large licenced club and there were sixteen bookmakers at one stage.
The circumference was a tight 300 yards with race distances of 250, 400 & 550 yards.
The circuit was changed to all sand in the late sixties and the starting traps & photo finish was built in house.
Tams Brig was active for 39 years until 30th December 1972, it was replaced by a curling rink.
Site today (4° 37′ 38.409″W 55° 28′ 23.298″N).
Active 1933-1972

Ayr (Voluntary Park)

Ayr opened on August 6th 1983 and the first race was won by Dingle and had a track circumference of 410y.
Sometimes known as Whittlets due to the fact that the track was located in Glenmuir Place off the Whitletts Road.
Distances were 300y, 500y and 700y and the principal race was the valuable Gold Cup in September.
Sadly the track closed in 2011 due to the South Ayrshire council closing the site due to health and safety concerns.
Site today (4° 36′ 14.166″W 55° 28′ 27.778″N).
Active 1983-2011

Barrhead

Barrhead is a town south west of Glasgow in East Renfrewshire. The track was located off the Aurs Road.
The racing started on 7th July 1934 over 300 and 325 yards.
Active 1934-1934

Berwick

Described as a good galloping circuit Shielfield Park opened to greyhounds on 29 May 1992 after securing a lease.
The site home to Berwick Rangers Football Club had a 390m circumference (2° 0′ 56.57″W 55° 45′ 36.14″N).
The venture only lasted four years because the football club fans bought out the lease.
Active 1991-1995

Blantyre

On the East side of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, the Craighead track was opened on 6th Oct 1933 serving the miners from the pit well.
The track was owned by Frank Doonin and it also hosted the Glasgow Tigers from 1977-1981 but closed down on 22nd April 1982.
The area was redeveloped to incorporate the new A725-(M74), (4° 4′ 44.132″W 55° 47′ 28.281″N).
Active 1933-1982

Carfin

Tom Heffernan opened Glenburn Grounds in 1919 for whippet racing and greyhounds started in 1927, the year it all started.
Set on Byresknowe Lane in Carfin near Motherwell it remained a top indepedent track for 72 years.
Competitions included the Jubilee Stakes, Easter Cup, Champions Trophy and Glenburn Challenge.
The 440 yard circumference raced over 140, 300, 350, 510, 580, 740 & 790m yards.
Pat Heffernan ran the track for many years before it was sold for housing (3° 57′ 53.847″W 55° 48′ 13.843″N).
1927-1999

Corbiewood

Corbiewood in Bannockburn, Stirling was situated around the trotting stadium built by haulage contractor brothers James and Daniel Taylor. Races included 120,300,330,500 & 550 yards using an inside sumner hare on Tues and Fri nights.
The greyhounds stopped at the trotting track in 2010 although the harness racing remains.
The track is located at (3° 54′ 48.821″W 56° 4′ 57.533″N).
Active 1969-2010

Cowdenbeath

Cowdenbeath was initially a miners town and there was some form of greyhound racing in 1908 at North End Park,
the old home of the Cowdenbeath football team.
Greyhound racing moved to the oval form around Central Park on 7th July 1928, the new home of Cowdenbeath FC.
A 400 yard circimference track had an inside hare and both handicap and level start racing took place.
It was an all grass track, had an inside hare and raced over 289 & 489 yards. Speedwat started in 1965.
Greyhound racing ceased around 1965 (3° 20′ 49.640″W 56° 6′ 31.406″N).
Active 1928-1968?

Crossgates

Crossgates was a track that was constructed around the outside of Humbug Park on the Inverkeithing Road.
Owned by the Crossgates Primrose Juniors FC, the pitch was built on the disused pit of the former Cuttlehill Colliery.
Plans for a greyhound track were instigated in 1936 by the secretary of the football club.
The racing circuit was a 275 yards test and took place regularly between 1937 and the mid fifties.
Racing took place on Friday and Saturday nights and had a large mining community following.
The greyhounds came to an end around 1953 (3° 22′ 36.148″W 56° 4′ 54.232″N).
Active 1937-1953?

Denny

Joseph Bryson applied for planning permission in 1938 and it was granted by Stirling County Council.
The track was located just to the West of the M80 and Denny by Hall House Farm and opened on 9th July.
Racing stopped in 1961. The site became part of the M80 in 1974 (3° 55′ 20.008″W 56° 1′ 10.897″N).
Active 1938-1961

Dumbarton

A greyhound track was erected around the pitch at Boghead Park, home to Dumbarton FC.
The first meeting was on 7th October 1932 and was situated where Miller Street is today.
The ground had one little stand called the Postage box (4° 33′ 7.196″W 55° 56′ 51.859″N).
Active 1932-19??

Dumfries

The Dumfries greyhound track was situated at Essex Park in the Brasswell area east of Dumfries.
Racing started on 2nd July 1932 and continued into 1933. Managed by the Wolffe family.
It is not known when the track closed and the exact location.
Active 1932-1933

Dundee (Tannadice Park)

The home of Dundee United FC hosted greyhound racing from 1929 when a track was constructed around the pitch.
The venture was unsuccessful due to the awkward nature of the track design.
Racing moved up the road to Dens Park. (Tannadice Park – 2° 58′ 8.084″W 56° 28′ 28.583″N)
Active 1929-1930

Dunfermline (East End Park)

East End Park owned by Dunfermline Athletic FC was used as a greyhound track from 5th June 1931
soon after the construction of a track around the pitch.
Although the track interferred with the dimensions of the football pitch the income saved the
club from bankruptcy. The track was last used in 1951 (3° 26′ 30.428″W 56° 4′ 32.472″N).
Active 1931-1951

Dunfermline (Milesmark)

Opened by the West Fife Stadium Ltd on 3rd June 1936 was the Western Greyhound Race Track.
The venue was the Old Quarry in the village called Milesmark (3° 29′ 37.007″W 56° 4′ 47.202″N).
There is evidence of racing from 1936-1949 but more information is required.
Active 1936-1949

Edinburgh (Royal Gymnasium)

A most unusual facility was built in 1865 called the Royal Patent Gymnasium in Royal Crescent Park.
The Victorian venue really was a sight to behold and offered some most bizarre attractions.
St Bernards FC became residents and due to financial troubles built a greyhound track around the pitch to improve finances.
The track opened on 2nd September 1930 and racing was on Tues & Thurs evenings and Wed & Sat afternoons.
The turf had to be lifted at the corners of the pitch and the hare was on a wire hawser.
The racing only lasted until 1933 and the site below Eyre Place is now the King George V Park. (3° 11′ 51.420″W 55° 57′ 36.988″N).
Active 1930-1933

Falkirk (Firs Park)

With its entrance at the west end of Firs Street the East Stirling football team played their football at Firs Park Stadium.
Greyhounds entered the fray in on 29th October 1930, just nine years after the stadium was built.
Due to the staggering number of tracks being built at this time it would have to compete with many neighbours.
Racing failed here and closed on 13th May 1933, possible due to the bigger custom built circuit at Diamond Park opening.
The football team left the stadium in 2012 (3° 46′ 43.829″W 56° 0′ 17.604″N).
Active 1930-1933

Galston

Galston is a town in East Ayrshire and there was a track called the Galston Stadium on Barrmill Road.
Situated south of the River Irvine the circuit was 350 yards in circumference.
Starting on the 9th June 1933 distances run were 280 & 450 yards with an inside hare.
Thursday and Saturday night racing came to an end in 1967.
The site today remains as Barrmill Stadium and hosts football (4° 22′ 30.034″W 55° 36′ 7.586″N).
Active 1933-1967

Glasgow (Ashfield)

Ashfield in Hawthorn Street, Glasgow was a premier independent track. Promoter Jimmy Donald opened the track on April 21st 1956. An example of the success was shown in 1979 when they offered a remarkable £4,000 for the winner
of the Ashfield Derby, a huge amount at the time.
A 400y circumference and distances of 270, 450, 640 and 930y made up the track which been laid upon the old speedway track.
Events included the Ashfield St Leger, Scottish Cup and Anniversary Stakes in addition to the Ashfield Derby.
The racing surface was built on to extend the Speedway track in 1999 (4° 14′ 38.112″W 55° 53′ 9.411″N).
Active 1956-1998

Glasgow (Clydeholm)

Clydebank FC folded in 1930 and the site was converted to the Clydeholm Greyhound Stadium.
Located on the North side of the Glasgow Road opposite and East of Dock Street the first meeting was on 15th May.
A temporary mortuary was set up at the stadium during the Second World War but was destroyed in the Clydebank Blitz.
The final meeting at Clydeholm took place on 28th November 1963 before the track was demolished.
The site was redeveloped into a shopping Centre and housing (4° 23′ 17.343″W 55° 53′ 32.384″N).
Active 1930-1963

Glasgow (Coatbridge)

Cliftonhill was first used for racing on 11th December 1931 and was the home ground to Albion Rovers FC.
Song Of Love was the first ever winner over 380 yards. The track closed in the mid fifties before opening again twenty years later.
The circumference was 400 metres and race distances were 300, 500 and 700 yards, the main race was the Coatbridge Derby.
Greyhound racing ceased during 1988. (4° 0′ 40.977″W 55° 51′ 36.519″N).
Active 1931-1955 & 1977-1988

Glasgow (Mount Vernon)

On the Daldowie Colliery site a greyhound track was constructed where Daldowie Road meets Boghall Road, near Baillieston and Broomhouse. The Albion track owner gained planning permission from the Lanarkshire council in early 1927.
The build cost Andrew Beattie of Forest Street, Airdrie over £3,500 and the new track would accommodate 4,000 spectators.
The first race took place on 10th October the same year. Distances raced included 260, 450, 620 and 815 yards.
the track became a major independent track and offered tremendous prize money for the Mount Vernon Derby and St Leger.
The track closed in 1990, was demolished in 2007.
The site remains grassland next door to a waste recycling centre and a dogs trust (4° 7′ 23.900″W 55° 50′ 30.981″N).
Active 1927-1990

Glasgow (Nelson)

William Nelson owned the land behind numbers 15 to 31 Porter Street in Camlachie, Glasgow (Janefield Street today).
In 1923 he built a recreation ground and the first Speedway meeting was held in Scotland during 1928 on a dirt track.
This land was directly northwest of Celtic Park and was called the Nelson Recreation Ground.
William Nelson was a horse dealer and built a flapping and whippet track which opened on 2nd September 1930.
The ground also held boxing bouts and was known as the Olympic Sports Ground for unknown reasons.
The track was demolished in 1937 (4° 12′ 33.877″W 55° 51′ 6.285″N).
Active 1930-1937

Greenock (Cappielow)

Greenock Morton FC may have changed their name several times but have always played at Cappielow Park on the west coast.
Near the docks on East Hamilton Street the racing started around the pitch on 12th Aug 1933 and was known as Cappielow.
Run by the Fork Greyhound Racing Company Limited it is believed the racing stopped sometime around 1937.
Site today – (4° 43′ 37.275″W 55° 56′ 28.581″N).
Active 1933-1937

Gretna (Halcrow)

Halcrow Stadium was planned in 1983 on a 10 acre site, West of Gretna by the Annan Road (3° 4′ 33.784″W 54° 59′ 51.559″N).
The site was built by James Norman and sons as a replacement for the previous track at Raydale Park and opened in June 1986.
Distances included 120, 300, 490 & 685 metres over a circumference of 380m, more recently distances of 280 & 470m are used.
Active 1986-present

Gretna (Raydale Park)

A greyhound track around the pitch of Gretna FC was constructed just after the Second World War.
The site on the corner of the Dominion Road and Loanwath Road soon become a popular venue.
Race day was Wednesday at 7.30pm and the five dog racing was over 300 & 480 yards.
Gretna remained active for many years but in 1982 the football team won the Northern League second division.
Promotion resulted in changes to the football pitch and the greyhounds left in 1985 (3° 4′ 20.493″W 54° 59′ 36.440″N).
1945-1985

Hawick (Albert Park)

Hawick opened along the Mansfield Road on 13 May 1989, called Albert Park it ran alongside two rugby union pitches.
The track was a fairly tight circuit, heavily banked and raced over 270, 450 and 630 yards.
Hawick closed amidst controversy after a track manager was convicted of animal cruelty after using hares as live bait.
It is now the home of Royal Albert FC (2° 45′ 45.183″W 55° 25′ 58.717″N).
Active 1989-1999

Hawick (Target Hill)

Target Hill was found between Mosshills Loch and Braid Road, south east of Hawick.
The track opened in 1939 adjacent to Target Field after some form of greyhound racing existed at nearby Millers Knowes.
The names Target derives from Boozieburn Rifle Range range. It closed in 1967.
Racing still lives on at the site hosting the Target kennels of trainer Craig Dawson (2° 46′ 25.966″W 55° 25′ 14.515″N).
Active 1939-1967

Irvine (Caledonian)

The first meeting at Irvine took place on 21st August 1933.Known as the Caledonian Stadium it was located between Bank Street and Quarry Road. A 400 yard circumference resulted in distances of 120, 325, 525 & 725 yards with an uphill finish.
Main races included the Marymass Handicap and there were two covered stands and kennels for 48 greyhounds.
Racing was held on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon and the hare was an Outside McKee Scott.
Site today – (4° 39′ 45.111″W 55° 37′ 5.260″N).
Active 1933-1993?

Irvine (Townhead)

Despite the fact that the west coast town of Irvine was not that big in the 1930’s there was still room for two tracks.
Not too far from the Caldeonian Stadium was the Townhead track that opened on 30th December 1932.
Handicap and level break racing took place on Thurs & Sat evenings on a small 300 yard circumference circuit.
Distances used were 280 and 460 yards behind a Ball hare. Townhead hosted the racing for 35 years.
Closed in 1967 (4° 39′ 44.304″W 55° 36′ 43.214″N).
Active 1932-1967

Kilmarnock

The Kilmarnock Greyhound Racecourse opened on 18th May 1934 and closed in 1967.
The location was on High Bonnyton Road, now Balmoral Road (55°36’59.6″N 4°30’15.9″W).
Tote turnover in 1947 was a very healthy £91,547.
The land was sold by Diageo (Johnnie Walker whiskey) to the Klin Group in 2012.
Active 1934-1967
Many thanks to Bryan Bird for help with this track.

Kincardine

Not a great deal is known about the Kincardine track except that it opened on 27th August 1938.
It is not known where the track location was in this small town on the north shore of the Firth of Forth.
The track was not trading after the war.
Active 1938-1938?

Kirkcaldy

Greyhound Racing took place on the Kirkcaldy and District Track and Sports Ground off Oriel Road for around 35 years.
The first race meeting was recorded as being on 15th December 1934.
Thurs and Sat night racing could hold 2,300 spectators and there was a licenced bar available.
The cuircumference was 365 yards and the distances held were 235 & 410 yards.
Racing continued until the early seventies (3° 10′ 24.229″W 56° 6′ 45.170″N).
Active 1934-1970?

Larkhall

Sam Park and George Reid opened the Raplock Sports Stadium in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire on 21st December 1938.
The track closed in 1964 and the Racing Manager the entire time was Robert Hamilton (3° 58′ 48.062″W 55° 44′ 21.869″N).
Active 1938-1964

Linlithgow

Linlithgow in West Lothian played host to greyhound racing from 1st April 1940 and racing was still going strong in 1947.
The track called Mains Park was situated off Bathgate Road opposite the Mains Maltings (today Mains Road and the Maltings).
The track was still marked on maps during the fifties but was gone by 1960 (3° 37′ 18.483″W 55° 58′ 23.506″N).
Active 1940-1947?
Many thanks to Bryan Bird for help with this track.

Methil

Bayview Park was the original home of East Fife FC and was located where Kirkland Road meets Wellesley Road in Methil.
The venue known as the Denbeath Star Ground opened on 30 May 1934 and raced over 240, 310, 330 & 510 y inc handicaps.
Closed in 1961, the stadium was demolished in 1998 making way for housing (3° 0′ 48.210″W 56° 11′ 13.983″N).
East Fife FC relocated to Methil docks. The site today is marked by one road aptly called the Turnstiles.
Active 1934-1961

Motherwell (Milton Street)

‘The Stadium’ circuit in North Motherwell was constructed in 1949 and opened on the 15th October.
The track situated west of Milton Street finished racing in 1972 (3° 59′ 29.971″W 55° 47′ 50.913″N).
Active 1949-1972

Motherwell (Clyde Valley)

The Clyde Valley Sports Ground opened to greyhound racing on 22nd July 1932, situated off Airbles Road.
Boxing events and Speedway also took place here at various times.
The final meeting took place in December 1959 (4° 0′ 28.573″W 55° 47′ 4.878″N).
Active 1932-1959

Paisley

The first meeting was on 14th October 1932 and was located on Love Street around the St Mirren Football Club ground.
The SFA banned greyhound racing at football grounds the same year and when the ban was lifted the greyhounds did not return.
The stadium closed in 2009 and underwent redevelopment for houses (4° 25′ 42.775″W 55° 51′ 10.025″N).
Active 1932-1932

Shotts (Gasworks)

Shotts is a rural town located halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow with 22 coal mines and large mining communities.
With mining communities came dog tracks and Shotts was no different with two.
The first track was situated off Station Road just south of Foundry Road and was around the Gasworks Park football pitch,
home to Shotts Battlefield FC. Racing is known to have taken place from 20th August 1934.
A year later in November 1936 there was a petition signed by 1,014 people in support of the dog track because
the General Purposes Committee of Lanark County Council refused to grant Thomas Rae a licence for a track at Dykehead, Shotts.
Shotts is believed to have closed on 11th March 1939 (3° 47′ 49.909″W 55° 49′ 2.515″N) and moved to a new site.
Active 1934-1939
Many thanks to the Shotts History Group for help with this track.

Shotts (Stadium)

A second track opened in Shotts on 17th March 1939 and was owned by Sandy Aitchison throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s.
In September 1963 the owners of the stadium (which had been closed for over a year)
turned down an offer made by the District Council to purchase the site.
There is some confusion as to whether a third track existed or whether the first re-opened because in 1947 there
were two tracks with betting licences, ‘The Greyhound Racing Track’ and the ‘Shotts Stadium Greyhound Racing Track’.
Active 1939-1962
Many thanks to the Shotts History Group for help with this track.

Stevenston

The town in North Ayrshire on the West coast of Scotland had a stadium called the Granview Greyhound Racing Stadium.
The stadium was built around the Stevenston Thistle football ground a former site of the Auchenharvie collieries.
Racing started on 23rd June 1933 and the centre of the track was used for scrambling races by the Stevenston Motorcycle club
It closed in 1967 and is now the site of the Auchenharvie golf driving range (4° 45′ 43.445″W 55° 38′ 12.443″N).
Active 1933-1967

Stirling (Forthbank Park)

Forthbank Park was the home of Kings Park FC and greyhound racing took place around the pitch.
It opened on 11th March 1932 and was the only track in Scotland that also attempted Cheetah racing.
The SFA banned racing at the track stating the track encroached onto the pitch and the greyhounds stopped.
The stadium suffered irreparable damage in 1941 after German bombing and was beyond financial repair.
Site today – (3° 55′ 43.060″W 56° 6′ 54.848″N)
Active 1932-1939?

Thornton

Between Kirkclady and Glenrothes on Orr Mill Road is the greyhound track known as Thornton.
The Thornton greyhound Stadium is located on Orrmill Road between the A92 and Main Street.
The first race was on May 29th 1936 and is described as a good galloping track.
Races are held over 100, 300, 500 & 680 metres, mainly handicaps (3° 8′ 26.235″W 56° 9′ 33.971″N).
Active 1936-present

Tranent

Foresters Park was the venue for greyhound racing in Tranent, East Lothian just south of Lindores Drive.
The opening night for greyhound racing was 7th July 1936.
The two evenings per week were vey popular and the gate money was shared with the landlords, the Tranent Juniors FC.
The track was still active in 1968 but the site today is still a football ground (2° 56′ 55.338″W 55° 56′ 38.970″N).
Active 1936-1968?

Wallyford

The village of Wallyford, Musselburgh had an unusual history, opening and closing and currently half built.
Scarlett Park had distances of 285, 470 & 660 yards, an Inside sumner hare and ran the East Lothian Sprint & Derby.
it is known to have been active in 1938 and possibly earlier.
Troubles in 1986 resulted in closure for a while before re-opening but permission was given for housing re-development in 1989.
The stadium closed down in 1992 and the site today is housing renamed after the track (3° 1′ 4.572″W 55° 56′ 17.947″N).
In 1998 East Lothian businessman Howard Wallace planned to build a new stadium to the tune of over £5 million, the
Victory Lane stadium would have seating for nearly 2000 people and terracing for 3000 in a three-tier main grandstand.
Problems and planning issues mean that a half built, unused stadium on Wallace Crescent can be seen by the railway line.
Active 1938-1992

Wishaw

Wishaw in Scotland opened for business on 26th January 1934. It was located at 121 Netherton Street East of Glasgow.
The circumference was 400 yards and was described as a galloping track with wide bends and easy to run.
Major competitions at the track were the Spring Cup, Pitmans Derby, Gold Cup and St Leger.
Distances covered were a very rounded 300, 500, 700 & 900 yards.
The track closed on 1st September 2001 and the site today is a sports ground (3° 56′ 5.263″W 55° 46′ 9.560″N).
Active 1934-2001