Former Rye House promoter Eddie Lesley is asking anyone interested in seeing Swaffham re-open for racing to attend the track on Saturday morning so he might gauge numbers.

Lesley, a keen greyhound man who also owns a schooling track in Kerry, is the sole propriotor of the site which is already in use for various activities including motor sport. He has buildings crammed with assorted second hand track equipment including items from Walthamstow and Mildenhall and recently made contact with local enthusiast Sharon Ward who is rallying support.

Lesley said: ” Whilst other tracks are closing I have decided to re-open Swaffham Raceway – assuming that there is a demand,from the greyhound world,to school and to race,at the venue,which has remained dormant for some 20 years (since Tom Smith left and the death of Maurice Kirby – who built the stadium – in 2012). Recently, we have embarked on relaying the surface and have procured starting traps,a running rail and photo finish system. There is work required to reinstate the kennel block and to refurbish the grandstand.

“The circuit was a favourite with the purists: a wonderful shape and distance; and located in the heart of East Anglia,a region famous for its love of dog racing and hare coursing. Whether there are enough “doggy” people out there,today,is the question? This Saturday 29th August,at 10-30am an inaugural meeting will be held,in the tea bar at the stadium, when people interested in knowing more about the venture, are invited to attend.”

Stadium address: DOWNHAM ROAD, SWAFFHAM, PE37 7QE.  Tel.  Eddie Lesley  07762  888888.

List of works required.

  1. Installation of running rail. (0n site)
  2. Installation of hare rail.
  3. Refurbishment and installation of starting traps (4 number).
  4. Erection of new judges box.
  5. Removal of stock car safety fence along home straight.
  6. Empty contents of kennels,clean and store in containers,on site.
  7. Rack out containers.
  8. Removal of kennel doors and replace with a “mesh” type design.
  9. New vet’s room.
  10. New heating and cooling for kennel block.
  11. Review function of stored floodlights and fix to existing posts.Install additional lampposts (on site).
  12. Paint dwarf wall (inside of running circuit).
  13. New “bridge” over track ,for cars to cross,to centre (under way).
  14. Refurbishment of main bar. (designs and specification prepared).
  15. Photo finish camera purchased (from Mildenhall)
  16. Totalisator system stored,but not tested,or been in use for many years.

The following drone video, which is two years old, and taken before any work was carried out on the running circuit, gives an idea of the site.: