Belle Vue GM Mick Hardy has announced that the track is to re-introduce a monthly Friday fixture starting on Friday March 27th which will include open races and kennel sweepstakes.
Although there will be no April meeting, there will be four in the following three months. Owners will get a 50% deduction in the track restaurant.
There will also be a series of tribute nights starting on Saturday March 21 (Buble), followed by April 18 (Elvis). The entertainment will start as racing finishes – 10.15pm and continue until Midnight.
Hardy said: “Chris Gold, from the Bapp Group, who sponsors the Scurry and Northern Flat is keen to be involved in Friday night sponsorship though we are still to work out exact packages.”
Hardy, who recently met with trainers representatives Nigel Saunders and Bev Heaton is hoping to be in a position to make an announcement regarding prize money later in the month.
He said: “I absolutely understand their position. Prize money was reduced in July and the trainers are feeling the pinch.
“We need to remember though that ARC will have only taken over four months ago at the end of February and have been learning about the set-up of Belle Vue and Perry Barr during that period.
“I have already submitted my ideas and have a meeting scheduled with them for the end of the month, which is only a couple of weeks away, so I am asking trainers to remain patient just a little longer.”
There is still no news on the future of the stadium following the granting of planning permission for housing before Christmas.
However local bookmaker Simon Walmsley continues to head the fight to save the stadium and has issued the following statement:
The Friends of Belle Vue Stadium (FOBVS) who registered an Asset of Community Value Order (ACV) on the property in 2018 are looking to enact their legal right to bid for the freehold. Manchester City Council Planning Committee were minded to approve planning permission back in December 2019 and the Group are looking to best protect the track’s future by looking for an investor to back their bid to purchase the freehold.
In the first instance, interested parties should contact us by email via the GBGB at [email protected] This last remaining track in Manchester and the northwest is almost 12 acres, has a great catchment area of Manchester and Liverpool and also stages 11 motor racing events too and would easily lend itself to other events. Help preserve greyhound racing for the future in this area, contact [email protected]
There will be an extra incentive for the winner of the 2020 Laurels (still to be scheduled) – the trophy.
Laurels Trophy. Pic Steve Nash
he former Wimbledon classic which was relinquished by Belle Vue during the GRA era, boasts a famous trophy that has spent recent years in the Belle Vue vaults. But it is soon to be heading to Newcastle.
Mick Hardy said: “We have a number of great old trophies here and when I was chatting to Ian Walton, suggested that it would be great for the owners of the Laurels winner to be presented with the original trophy.
“In my view, we should celebrate the history and importance of these old events.”
