Betfair Official Blog

For sale signs indicate testing times ahead, yet racing continues at Wimbledon

Wimbledon commentator Darrell Williams looks back on a tumultous for the sport's most important track

It's hard to know where to start in one of the most dramatic weeks Wimbledon Stadium has known in recent years, resulting in the track being put up for sale, an announcement that the general manager is leaving and the loss of two long standing bookmakers.

Rumours circulating around the track last Friday night that the GRA, the group of which Wimbledon is one of six member tracks, was being offered for sale was quickly confirmed by a story in the Racing Post the following morning. Risk Capital Partners decision to sell just two-and-a-half years after investing £50million in the group was always likely to be on the cards, it was just a matter of when.

Staff, of course, were reassured about their future, but sceptics will have you believe that this signals the start of the end of greyhound racing at Wimbledon given developers awareness of the value of the land. Of course, it's not as straightforward as that, with various issues not least of all the local council's opposition to any redevelopment.

The decision by the GRA to switch GM Mick Hardy to Belle Vue is, we're told, unrelated to the above story and an advertisement for his successor has already appeared in the trade press. Nevertheless, with the move coming just two months after the resignation of former Racing Manager Derek Hope, it will again have done little to help silence the critics.

The loss of long-standing layers Del Nash and Graeme Donaldson from the betting ring is also a bitter blow, with both bookmakers hanging up their satchels as a result of the new Gambling Commission guidelines introduced last week. The reduced line of four layers, including one who bets without the favourite, is a sad reflection of current state of affairs in betting rings around the country.

On a positive note, the Wimbledon Greyhound Owners Association (WGOA) staged it's monthly memento night last Friday with connections of Pine Classic, winner of the H2, pocketing an extra £150 as part of an ongoing initiative.

On the track, Lilywhite Paddy continued his good run with a solid victory in the A1 and can follow up in the feature this Friday (20:30). Providing he clears Safa Blue on his inside, it's hard not to see Phil Rees' class act dominating again. I'd take Next Goal, courtesy of a first-class draw as the only wide seed to win the other A1 on the card (22:15) for Norah McEllistrim, whose kennels have been in grand form recently. He holds main danger Lavally Scholes on a meeting back on August 18th.

On Saturday, Steady Master can continue his resurgence by taking a weak A1 at 22:00, while Jo Shuffle is this column's considered best bet, in the S1 at 22:15. Phil Rees' runner is flying at the moment and ran well behind Lilywhite Paddy over four bends last weekend.