CARDIFF GREYHOUND STADIUM

This site is not an official website for the track shown here and is neither approved or endorsed by the stadium. I am indebted to Richard English for the scans of badges on this page.

As is customary, Greyhound racing is followed by Speedway racing, and the first recorded greyhound meeting at the White City Stadium in Cardiff on Sloper Road was in 1927. Cardiff has seen greyhound racing at a number of venues, notably at the Arms Park and Cardiff White City. The White City was the first to hold meetings, with the 1927 meeting making it one of the earliest. Shortly afterwards the Arms Park track was opened around the perimeter of the famous Rugby pitch.  However, as Tony Nash kindly informs me, Mick the Miller claimed the Welsh Derby at the White City track in August 1930 in the then World Record time of 29.55. A full list of Welsh Derby winners is shown below.
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The 1928 Welsh Grand National was won by Cormorant, whilst Firework was to claim the runners up spot on two separate occasions in 1929 and 1931. The names of further Welsh Grand National winners for inclusion on this site would be welcomed.

1928 Welsh Grand National Final
In 1928 Cormorant went through the five rounds of the competition unbeaten. He was still 6/4 joint favourite in the Final along with Carpio. The result in the Final was identical to the English Grand National, held at London White City just 2 months earlier. In Cardiff the winning distance was a length and a half, whilst in London it was only a neck.
1st Cormorant 1 ½ lengths 29.86 secs
2nd Carpio 28.95 secs
3rd Douro

1929 Welsh Grand National Final
The winner, Highlander, followed an up and down path through the event. In the First Round he was a well beaten second, recording only 31.20 secs, but he bounced back in the Semi-Final to win in 29.70.
1st Highlander 29.52 secs
2nd Muskey
3rd Mazidore

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The track closed at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Track Records, as of December 1936, are shown below together with an indication of how fast the time is in comparison to other tracks, both for currently open and defunct tracks, in the UK. Ratings are between 0 and 100, where 100 is an extremely fast time and reflects the speed of the track, tightness of the circuit and quality of greyhound visiting the tracks. I am grateful to Tony Nash for providing the data.
SPRINTS (up to 385m) STANDARD (386-549m) DISTANCE (550-699m) EXTENDED (700-999m)
Cardiff White City Track Records at a snapshot in time:-
STANDARD 500 yards Rhyn Joan 28.82 secs Rating 4
STANDARD 525 yards Beef Cutlet 29.52 secs Rating 22
DISTANCE 700 yards More Kute 40.77 secs Rating 12
DISTANCE 725 yards Clandown Sweep 41.86 secs Rating 34

I am grateful to Jon Seddon for the following link to a map showing the whereabouts of the old track
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html?txtXCoord=317054&txtYCoord=174967

This section gives a comprehensive picture of the badges produced by the track throughout the ages, but only provides the briefest of glimpses of its history. For those wishing to undertake further research we can recommend a visit to

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21 where further reading can be undertaken.

If you have rare Cardiff badges and artefacts for sale then email johnslusar@fsmail.net

1928 Cheerful Choice Mutton Cutlet Glorious Still 30.73
1929 Back Isle Spike Island Giddy Fidler 29.64
1930 Mick The Miller Glorious Event Na Boc Lei 29.55
1931 Altamatzin Wily Warrior Looks Likely 29.88
1932 Reel Tom Melksham Tom Rigadoon 29.87
1933 Beef Cutlet Mutton Cutlet Burette 29.56
1934 Valiant Rufus Red Robin Hotel Avro 30.08
1936 Bully Ring Mount Hillary's Boy Brittas Belle 30.28
1937 Genial Radiance Johnny Peters Reymerston 30.15
1945 Shaggy Lass Castledown Lad Shaggy Store 29.75
1946 Negro's Lad Kilrea Lad Negro's Fire 29.54
1947 Trev's Perfection Trev's Despatch Friar Tuck 29.74
1948 Local Interprize Ruby Border Mythical Daisy 29.32
1950 Ballycurreen Garrett Ballycurreen Duke Ballymakeera Keeper 29.22
1951 Ballyanigan Tanist Mad Tanist Fly Dancer 29.95
1952 Endless Gossip Priceless Border Narrogar Ann 29.41
1953 Glittering Look Glittering Smack Knockrour Favourite 29.39
1955 Rushton Mac Rushton News Rushton Panda 29.40
1956 Millie's Valley Pigalle Wonder Racing Millie 29.36
1957 Go Doggie Go Ballymac Ball Marchioness Minnie 29.38
1958 Our Defence Defence Leader Our Violet 30.27
1959 Mile Bush Pride The Grand Champion Witching Dancer 28.80
1960 Fitz's Star Cheerful Chariot Fitz's Flash 29.48
1961 Oregon Prince Knock Hill Chieftan Burleigh's Fancy 28.86
1962 Summerhill Fancy Knockrour Again Brandon Princess 29.07
1963 Fairys Chum Knock Hill Chieftan Fairy Julia 29.49
1964 Davo's Rink Koliga Kansas Time 28.84
1965 Harmony Mile Bush Pride Perfect Queen 29.43
1966 I'm Quickest Skips Choice Gratton Star 29.59
1968 Swift Half Hack Up Chieftan Imperial Astra 29.58
1969 Pallas Joy Movealong Santa Happy Now 29.43
1970 Super Gamble Flash Solar Big Gamble 29.46
1971 Spectre's Dream Spectre II Jockey's Dream 29.22
1972 Patricia's Hope Silver Hope Patsicia 29.75