The UK’s newest greyhound racing venue due to open in Wolverhampton this autumn will drive fresh interest to the sport and safeguard its future, according to one of its trainers.
Kate Harrison has worked with greyhounds all her life and took the leap of faith when her application to become a trainer was approved by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain in September 2023.
She now employs four full-time staff who are responsible for a kennel of 58 greyhounds and share key responsibilities including walking, nutrition, maintaining optimal health and wellbeing and racing.
The 44-year-old Lichfield handler is one of more than a dozen trainers who will be attached to Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium when it opens under the management of Arena Racing Company.
In addition to its horse racing fixtures, the track will operate four weekly greyhound meetings and be the new home of the prestigious Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks – one of the sport’s original classic competitions.
Already, the venue’s kennel block has been built and is expected to be ready for inspection at the end of the month with a 750,000 litre water attenuation tank now also installed.
Kate, who guided Different Speed to the Scurry Gold Cup final just days after securing her license, is excited to be part of greyhound racing’s newest venue.
“It’s a really exciting time for our sport,” said Kate. “The facilities from a trainer and racegoer point of view are second to none, and there’s scope to attract new people to greyhound racing.
“I’ve already had people on the phone to me wanting to know if we have space to train greyhounds to run on their behalf at Dunstall Park. That’s really encouraging, and the interest surrounding the track’s launch is building week by week.
“The investment by Arena Racing Company to this project underlines its commitment to the future of greyhound racing in the UK.
“There are mixed emotions leaving Perry Barr, but this is a fresh start and the whole sport can be proud of what’s being developed by the team behind the scenes.”
The launch of Dunstall Park will signal the end of greyhound racing’s 97-year history at Perry Barr.
The Birmingham venue has been home to some of the sport’s most iconic moments, including on June 1, 2020, when I’m Sophie won the first recognised sporting event to take place after the COVID-19 pandemic at 10.20am.
Kate has been a regular racegoer at Perry Barr since the 1990s, and reflected on the venue with fond memories.
“I’ve been going to Perry Barr since I was a teenager,” said Kate. “There are almost three decades of memories for me at the track.
“When I started as a kennel hand with Stuart (Buckland), greyhound racing was completely alien to me and my family. Now it’s seven days a week – it’s our lives.
“We have an exciting bunch of puppies coming through which will form part of our team when Dunstall Park opens, which everyone at the kennel is looking forward to.”
Further information about Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium is available via www.wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk.
