Lost Tracks: West Ham
Lost Tracks 
/ Darrell Williams / 08 January 2008 / 10 Comments
Darrell Williams recalls another greyhound track gone from the East End...
Whichever way you look at it, West Ham Stadium was huge. Capacity wise, it was capable of holding 100,000 people - nearly half of them housed in a main two tier stand with a second stand also accommodating another 20,000 spectators, while the track itself was the largest in Britain with a circumference of 562 yards (513 metres) and boasting 123 yard straights. It was so big that greyhounds running over the standard trip of 550 yards didn't even have to run a complete lap!
West Ham Stadium, nothing to do with the Premier League football team, was based in Prince Regent Lane in Custom House East London, close to where the present day Prince Regent DLR Station now stands, and was officially opened on 28th July 1928. Soon to be recognised as one of the finest sporting grounds in the country, the stadium had been designed by Archibald Leitch, responsible for most of the major football stadia at the time including Anfield and Highbury.
The stadium also staged speedway (West Ham Bombers) and was the home of the newly formed, but short lived Thames AFC, but as Chairman of the Directors Sir Louis Dane observed at its official opening: "We are a Greyhound Racing Company and the dogs are the most important and our first interest."
And the greyhounds were certainly well catered for; over 200 were kennelled at the stadium in four blocks, while the huge track was lit by 70 x 750 watt lamps and used a special kind of Monorail train weighing only 500lbs to carry the hare.
Given its huge circumference, West Ham was also one of the fastest tracks in the country and at one stage held eight world records. It was also virtually guaranteed to race whatever the weather due to its unique distinction of having its turf track laid on wood raised twelve inches above ground level.
Punters - and as many as 30,000 per meeting attended at its peak - loved West Ham as its galloping circuit ensured its racing was almost trouble free, making it easier to predict results, although as was often remarked, its fairness denied the local runners any edge in Open races.
On the track, the Cesarewitch was West Ham's highlight, with the Classic, originally run over 600 yards, won by some of the greats in its early years.
Legendary Mick The Miller, who set a world record time in the heats, won the race in 1930 - he had earlier made his 600 yard debut at the track - while in 1931/2, Future Cutlet became the race's only dual winner. Later, in the fifties, both Pigalle Wonder (dead heat) and Mile Bush Pride were also successful.
As to its trainers, Stanley Biss, probably the greatest handler of bitches in the game first started out at West Ham in the 1930s, while Classic winning handler Tommy Johnston was also based there in the sixties.
West Ham Stadium closed in May 1972, and was demolished the same year, with housing now built on the site. Some of the streets are named after the former speedway stars who rode there. Sadly, there was no such recognition for the greyhounds.
Comments (10)
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The Glimmer Man | 05 February 2008
I used to go to West Ham in the 1970s, and remember the place well. I was a big fan of West Hams hurdler, Sherrys Prince, who won three Grand Nationals at Londons White City, and was, as far as I recall, unbeaten at West Ham. Other good hurdlers of the era were West Hams Adamstown Valley and Catfords Derry Palm. I was also there for the last Cesarewitch when Dolores Rocket, the 10/11 favourite, missed the break, and the first two home, who I think were Whisper Billy and Sir Joe, were returned 50/1 and 33/1. It was a great track to bet at, and when it closed along with Hackney, Clapton and Harringay, as a non-fan of The Stow, I had no idea what to do with myself on weekday evenings.
Harry Ward | 12 March 2008
Speedway was far more popular than the Greyhounds hence the streetnames
The speedway Team were known as The Hammers from 1928 until 1971 and as the Bombers only for the last few meetings
The DLR station is in fact about a half mile away at the junction of Victoria Dock Road
Rita | 25 April 2008
I used to go to West Ham dog racing when i was a young girl with my parents.
I have some WEST HAM race cards for the CESAREWITCH in 1955. 1956. 1957. & 1958..all in pretty good condition.. can anyone tell me, is their any value to them.. thanks Rita.
norman vaines | 28 June 2008
HI
I USE TO BE A KENNEL BOY FOR TOMMY JOHNSON BACK IN 1967 I USE TO HAVE A PHOTO OF THE DOG AND MY SELF AFTER WINNING A OPEN RACE AT CATFORD IN1967 I WOUNDER IF YOU NO OF ANY WHERE I MITE BE ABLE TO GET A NEWS PAPER FROM THAT TIME, I THINK THAT WAS THE WAY HER NAME WAS ANY IDEA WOULD BE GREAT . THANKS NORMAN
PS, I STILL HAVE MY DOG LICENCE FROM THEN,IT WAS RED WITH YOUR PHOTO IN IT.
Cliff | 24 July 2008
Hi Rita,
In answer to your question re old racecards - they are worth a few pounds, but it depends on the dogs, that is, well known dog on the card will be worth more than one with some not so well known ones. That said though, you should realise about £5-£10 per card, perhaps a bit more is someone really wants them. Try e-bay, there a lots on there.
Regards
Cliff
sandra | 12 October 2008
My father, now aged 82, was chief electrician at West Ham stadium, for 26 years until it closed down. I still have one of the hares, I use it as a doorstop now! Dad was the hare controller and my brother, for several years, was the race starter. I have so many happy memories of the place...it dominated my childhood .... and still love to hear Dad talk about his memories of the place and the 'greats' like Dolores Rocket and Mick the Miller. Happy days?
Rita | 13 October 2008
Thanks for the reply, Cliff. i did sell the cards on ebay.. I used to live in Prince Regent Lane, close to West Ham Stadium, it used to be a wonderful area, I used to go to the track with my Mum & Dad many times, my Dad, had a greyhound called " Bewitching Rita ".. not sure if he ran her at West Ham, but i know she ran a few races at Romford,just loved going there, to a young girl it was so exciting. Also loved the speedway evenings...The area has changed so much now,it's a long story but i now live in South Yorkshire, quite & peacefull, but i still think of all the good times at West Ham. Regards Rita
john p smith | 09 February 2009
west ham was my favourite track although catford run it close my most memorable night at west ham was when i backed a 66/1 winner (northern squire)it was a west ham dog in a big open race although i just used to enjoy going to any track in the the 70s onwards to present day
j p smith
bow
london
Caroline Pickering | 13 May 2009
Glimmer Man
Sorry to say ADAMSTOWN VALLEY was trained at White City London by Joe Pickering.
Keith | 16 May 2009
My late father owned some dogs that run at West Ham and one that sticks in my mind was Son of Border or Sunaborder, I never knew the dog nor how its name was spelt but can anyone throw any light on this dog. I believe it was in the Mick the Miller era.
Thanks for any reply.
Keith