GRA boss Clive Feltham has no regrets over restricting the admission for the final meeting at Hall Green on Saturday. The track printed 1,100 tickets and all were snapped up.

He said: “We made sure there were no promotions operating, but we could still have sold many more tickets. At Wimbledon, there was so much demand from people who don’t normally attend, but treated the night like a rites of passage, that a number of regulars, including some who had pre-booked, were unable to get in. We decided the right thing to do was to allow the genuine Hall Green people the chance to say goodbye, though some had done so at recent meetings. We also wanted to keep it for the local dogs and connections, rather than have a bunch of outside open racers here.

Bookmakers and crowd at Hall Green’s final meeting. Hall Green, final meeting, 29th July 2017. Photo: © Steve Nash

“I was keen that the night should be manageable and since many of the staff had already left, we would have to bring in more agency people if the crowd had been any bigger. Overall, the meeting went as well as could be expected, given the circumstances, but I think we handled it in the right way. ”

A wet conclusion to Hall Green’s final meeting as Richard Baker receives the trophy from Malcolm Bridgens after Bobs Black Cab’s win.
Hall Green, final meeting, 29th July 2017. Photo: © Steve Nash

Feltham, who was due to celebrate a 40 year association with the stadium in September, must now clear his office within the stadium before the bulldozers move in.

He said: “I came into work today and I was the only one here, which seems a bit strange. I will work from home from now on. Most of the fixtures and fittings will be sold in an on-line auction. A few items will go to the other tracks.”

Not only will the stadium be demolished but so will The Lodge, the hotel situated on the far side of the stadium.

Feltham said: “I was surprised, I thought they would retain that, but it is going too. The problem is, when you look at the site is residential on three of the four sides. It was always going to work against us eventually.”

Hall Green’s closing meeting held under Birmingham’s dark skies and plenty of rain as the industry says goodbye to another track… Photo: © Steve Nash