New greyhound track set for late autumn opening

Work has started on a greyhound racing facility at Wolverhampton Racecourse, to sit alongside the site's horseracing operation.

The new amenity at Dunstall Park, which will include a track and kennels, was given planning permission in 2023.

The kennels were under construction and set to be finished by mid-May, with work then beginning on the track, site owners said.

They confirmed fixtures currently held at Perry Barr Greyhound stadium would transfer over before the track opened in late autumn, with all staff offered jobs at the new site.

The new track will sit inside the horseracing venue, with up to 25,000 spectators able to watch races from the main grandstand.

David Evans, regional general manager at site owners Arena Racing Company (ARC), said he hoped basing it in an established venue would "promote the sport to new audiences".

"Although we don't have a definitive opening date, it is our intention to be fully operational by late autumn where our present operation at Perry Barr Stadium in Birmingham will be moved," he added.

ARC, which also operates the Perry Barr stadium, said it intended to "offer roles to all members of staff" ahead of the site's closure, although no final fixture date had been set.

"Delivering a seamless transition to our racing operation from Perry Barr to Dunstall Park is a number one priority," Mr Evans added.

The new track is set to host "high-profile competitions" and classic events such as the St Leger and the Oaks, which have been run since the 1920s, operators said.

The facility will meet "stringent standards" set by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), they added.

"At the heart of this development is our commitment to greyhound welfare and homing, by working closely with our homing partners to ensure all greyhounds can enjoy a happy, healthy retirement when their racing careers end," Mr Evans said.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]