Promoter Kevin Boothby is confident that Oxford is on schedule to be speedway racing in March (opened by former Oxford captain and four time world champion Hans Nielsen) and greyhound racing in April as he now turns his thoughts to appointing trainers writes Floyd Amphlett.
A significant amount of refurbishment has taken place in the last six months though things have moved up a gear since the Christmas break. The main grandstand is a hive of activity with miles of cable being replaced by IT hardware firm Logicom, headed by Midlands greyhound enthusiast and rearer David Titterton.
He said: “It is a huge job. Technology and legislation has changed so much since the cabling was first put in all those years ago and it has all had to be stripped out. The wi-fi project alone is massive, there will be over 130 CCTV cameras, but it will be worth it when it is done. There will be nothing else like it in the greyhound industry.”
Looking around the stadium, the exec boxes, complete with new floors, look ready to be furnished. As the picture shows, there is still significant work to do on the main grandstand while the paddock and kennels are virtually untouched.
Promoter Kevin Boothby said: “Oxford is such a different project to Suffolk Downs. Although it is far bigger, so are the resources. Including Dave and his team, there are probably 20 workmen on site today. There will be more next week when the lads who are building the camera gantry at Suffolk Downs start on the kennels. I am expecting them to take around three weeks. It will be the same standard as Suffolk Downs and much better than what was here previously.”
400 tons of new sand arrives next week. There has been a pond dug in the middle of the circuit as a water supply. The plan, prior to official measurement is to return to the 450m and 645m trips. The Astroturf next to the hare rail will be supplied by “the Thorn Falcon lads”‘.
Kevin said: “Things are moving so quickly. We had the timber arrive on Friday for all the sills in the restaurant and they’ve been fitted already. All the new floor tiles are here for the grandstand and the furniture arrives next week. We have some lighting that was unused at Towcester and will be buying some more.
“The traps will be with us next week and we will get the hare and timing operational. We’ve made contact with the council for a premises licence and with the Gambling Commission. Everything is going to plan.”
It is impossible to visit Oxford without being drawn into the fervour that surrounds the place. Without it, by now the site would be another faceless housing estate. Instead, in the Labour heartland, the place engenders a ‘cooperative’ feel about it. The local pubs and community centre have closed and the locals were not prepared to see the stadium go the same way. The new Sports Bar will be open every day.
Although there is still nothing to visit, the two ladies who constitute the marketing team have already sold £200,000 worth of sponsorship. Nathan Corden was telling a similar story on race competitions. ‘The biggest problem might be getting GBGB approval to squeeze the Cat One competitions into the Calendar’
Kevin said: “You’ve never seen anything like it. The work that has been done by volunteers over recent months nobody would believe. People like Colin Perkins and his lads who are working on the grandstand. They work from 8am until 4pm and last week Colin said ‘we’ll work the last hour, until five o’clock for free’ These people are local and proud of the facility. ”
Indeed Kevin is so confident of local support that he has pledged to stage regular Friday and Saturday evening meetings with no bookmaker contract for the rest of the year. By 2023, Oxford has been promised the Central Park betting shop fixtures.
As for trainers, Director of Racing James Chalkley has no concerns about filling cards.
He said: “Contrary to some stories that are circulating, we have not tapped up any trainers from other tracks. Not one. We wouldn’t have to, we’ve been inundated with approaches and we have spoken to a number of trainers. They made the first move.
“We feel that we should formalise arrangements and so we are therefore inviting trainers to contact us is they would like to be considered for contract positions here. We will obviously be loyal to our existing trainers – a small number of Towcester trainers would like to switch – but we will see what sort of response we receive.
“To apply, or for more information, we ask all interested trainers to email [email protected] and we will be more than happy to outline our plans.”
Suffolk Downs completed their third trial session today (Wednesday) and are on schedule to stage their first race meeting on Tuesday February 8.
James Chalkley said: “We lost a session through a frozen track but have around 30-40 dogs already qualified and with next week’s Wednesday and Friday sessions, we should have enough for the first meeting. The Monday fixture will follow very soon afterwards with the Fridays, probably by the end of February.”
“We can’t give a definitive starting date until the new cameras have been tested, but February 8 looks highly likely.”
The final schedule seems unlikely to be determined until there is a conclusion to the on-going legal situation at Henlow.
Harlow sub26.00 runner Paper Straw was once again quickest over the standard distance with a 23.92 (-10) run. Grading time is expected to be around 25.50-25.60. The new six bend traps are likely to be fitted next week to provide a 545m option.
Variety is the Spice of Towcester and prior to the return of six bend graded racing on Saturday, the track was installing its new hurdles on Wednesday.
The plan is to introduce open racing, and eventually graded racing, over the jumps.
The introduction of seven 712m events on the Saturday night card created considerable debate among the greyhound paparazzi much to Kevin Boothby’s amusement.
He said: “I gather Jonathan Kay doesn’t approve because they haven’t been trialed over six bends. Tough! The reason that we can do it is because I am paying for it. Me, not the bookies!”
Head of Racing Chalkley said: “GBGB rules allow us to do it under certain conditions. Basically, the dogs must have raced at least four times over the standard distance including once in the last 28 days. We’ve actually had a very positive response and I can imagine punters rising to the challenge – which ones will stay it well, and which ones might struggle.
“It is only a temporary measure. Once the dogs have been over the trip, they will be eligible to compete on the SIS meetings and this seemed a more interesting way than asking them to trial.
“The trainers have been up for it and going forward I would like to include a regular diet of graded races with fewer sprints.
On Sunday afternoon the track stage the final of the Premarket Pets Blue Riband with a variety of lucrative add-odds provided by sponsor Patrick Janssens, not least a fabulous crystal trophy.
