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Greyhound racing track in east London

Romford Greyhound Stadium, referred to as Coral Romford Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Romford town centre in the London Borough of Havering in east London which is owned and operated by the Ladbrokes Coral group. The stadium has a capacity for over 1,700 people. The stadium has won several awards including the British Greyhound Racing Board's 'Racecourse of the Year' award in 1998 and again in 2003. Following the closure of Wimbledon Stadium in March 2017, it is one of only two stadiums left in London or Greater London, the other being Crayford Stadium.

The track is 350 metres in circumference, and the distances raced are 225, 400, 575, 750 and 925 metres. There are six race meetings each week, on Friday and Saturday evenings, Wednesday and Saturday mornings and two afternoon meetings on Monday and Thursday. During December racing is also held on Tuesday evenings. Bets for each race can be placed either at the Tote or with the track side bookmakers. A number of major open racing events take place at the stadium each year, these include the Cesarewitch (an original classic), the Champion Stakes, the Essex Vase, Romford Puppy Cup, Golden Sprint and Coronation Cup.

The stadium consists of the Coral grandstand which is situated on the finishing line side of the track and is split over two levels. It contains two public bars, The Champions Bar and La Roc Bar, Trap 7 Snack Bar and Tote betting facilities. It also contains the Paddock Restaurant, which can seat 200 diners. The Coral grandstand opened on 6 September 2019 after a £10 million refurbishment. A separate restaurant called The Pavilion is situated on the third bend and can cater for 100 diners. A purpose built Marquee is situated on the fourth bend and contains a bar, snack bar and Tote betting facilities.

Archer Leggett and his brother in law rented a small piece of land near the Crown Hotel just off the London Road in Romford in 1929. They put down £400 to equip the land ready for greyhound racing and opened for business on 21 June and invited privately owned greyhounds to chase a hare driven by an old Ford car engine. The venture only lasted one year because the landlord increased the rent, doubling it to £4 a week which resulted in the decision to move the greyhound operation. Later £600 was raised which enabled Leggett to build a new track with a stand in a field within Belle Vue Meadow adjacent to the London and North Eastern Railway line. The new site was on the south side of the London Road opposite the original venue north of the London Road. It included a hand operated totalisator and electrically operated hare. The first meeting took place on 20 September 1931 with regular attendances in excess of 1,000 frequenting each meeting. In 1935 four new directors including Fred Leaney and Michael Pohl joined the original directors and an extra £17,000 investment followed which allowed the track to turn to be converted into a stadium. Extra stands and kennels were constructed by the new company called Romford Stadium Ltd who then turned their attention to the recently purchased Dagenham Greyhound Stadium.

The greyhound industry boom allowed companies such as Romford Stadium Ltd to thrive and greyhound racing itself was big business and national news. Before work got underway at Dagenham, Arthur Leggett decided that he was going to bring cheetah racing to the UK. Twelve cheetahs arrived from Kenya in December 1936 courtesy of explorer Kenneth Gandar Dower. After six months of quarantine the cheetahs were given time to acclimatise before Romford, Harringay and Staines were earmarked for the experiment with the cheetahs running for the first time on Saturday 11 December 1937 at Romford. The experiment failed, with just one further race held; the racing stopped because although the cheetahs were able to better the greyhound times they had to be let off first when racing greyhounds and when they raced against each other they lost interest and stopped chasing the lure. With the new Dagenham opening in 1938 Leggett next introduced a new event to Romford in 1939 called the Essex Vase. The stadium consisted of the main grandstand on the home straight that featured the Seniors Club and on the back straight was another stand and the Junior Club within. The paddock was on the third bend with the racing kennels and the Racing Managers office. Between the first two bends sat the totalisator and general office, the press office was on the first bend and there was a very unusual Racing Managers box in the middle of the centre green. The track was 380 yards in circumference with distances of 460 & 650 yards and an 'Inside Sumner' hare. The resident kennels were situated in Heaton Grange, 24 acres of ground off Straight Road to the north east of Romford. Training appointments towards the end of the decade and start of the 1970s included John Coleman and Terry Duggan and in 1975 a second feature event was added to the tracks portfolio when they introduced the Romford Puppy Cup. During 1976 Arthur Leggett, the managing director, on behalf of the company agreed the sale of Romford to Corals. Leading Trainers have included Linda Mullins, Peter Payne, Kenny Linzell, Linda Jones, David Mullins and Peter Rich.

In 2006 the stadium underwent a £400,000 refurbishment of the main grandstand restaurant. Trainer Paul Young (who joined the track in 2000) won the 2014 Trainers Championship. In 2018 the stadium signed a deal with SIS to race every Monday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Thursday afternoon, Friday evening and twice on a Saturday (morning and evening). During 2019 a multimillion pound renovation took place, which included the demolition of the main stand to create more car parking space, a modernisation of the reception area and office buildings, the construction a grand stand and a new track was laid down. The venue remained open throughout with the exception of four day closure in the August. The official re opening was on 6 September 2019. In 2020 the Cesarewitch competition was brought back after an eight year dormant period, the event was sponsored by stadium owners Ladbrokes Coral as a category 1 race. In 2022, Entain signed a long term deal with the Arena Racing Company for media rights, starting in January 2024.

Several Underworld tracks are named after greyhounds that ran at the stadium, including Born Slippy, Sappy's Curry, and Pearl's Girl.

Metres Greyhound Time Date Notes225Chopchop Rainbow 13.1728 October 2022400 Roxholme Nidge 23.26 15 September 2017Romford Puppy Cup heats575Hollow Man34.546 October 2023 Champion Stakes heats750Avit on Bertha 46.37 12 December 2012925 Riverside Honey58.57 6 September 2019TV Trophy heats1100 Cregagh Prince 13.18 9 June 2017400 Just Clear 24.21 10 August 1978 400 Blue Style 24.02 1983 Romford Puppy Cup Final400 Sados Choice 23.87 6 December 1986 400 Right Move 23.78 8 May 1992 400 Sandwichsunshine 23.5827 September 1996 400 Fifis Rocket 23.58 16 April 2010Golden Sprint semi final400 Ardbeg Mentor 23.56 23 April 2010Golden Sprint Final400 Eden Star 23.3416 September 2011 Romford Puppy Cup semi final575 Bermudas Fun 35.15 11 July 1978 Essex Vase Final575 Ballyregan Bob34.62 9 August 2019 575Sparta Master34.59 22 November 2019 Essex Vase heats715 Scurlogue Champ 44.18 16 April 1985750 Scurlogue Champ 46.80 2 March 1985 750 Keem Rocket 46.70 2 March 1985 750 Bubbly Prince 46.687 January 2000750 Killeacle Phoebe 46.6419 June 2001 925 Langford Dacoit 59.56 27 July 1978925 Salina 59.13 7 April 1981 925 Aero Rebel 58.62 12 December 2012400 HBarrymoss Queen 24.50 8 August 1985 400 HEmers Flight 24.49 18 September 1989 400 HPantile 24.494 May 1990 400 HRun With Billy 24.41 18 February 1994 400 HRossa Ranger 24.17 5 July 2002 400 HSizzlers Bossman 24.1518 July 2005 400 HFreedom Man 24.12 8 May 2009 575 HChampagne Glory 36.22 16 October 1984 575 HShanavulin Jacko36.20 10 April 1993

Yards Greyhound Time Date Notes460 Beau Coup 26.54 27.08.1938National Record460 Tan Gent 26.08 1946460 Low Pressure 25.83 September 1959460 Yellow Dew 25.51 11 May 1963 460 Westpark Jupiter=25.511968460 Ace of Trumps 25.47 7 April 1969 460 Houghton Spur 25.47 13 May 1969=equalled 460 Ace of Trumps 25.18 13 May 1969500 Jimmy Pallet 27.69 11 May 1971550 Pastorale Passe partout 32.58 1941650 Pearls Choice 37.66 1947650 Vals Parachute 36.43 7 August 1965650 Shamrock Clipper36.42 1967650 Cullen Era 36.42 1968=equalled650 Tarrys Gay Lady 36.19 1970650 Dolores Rocket 36.06 6 July 1971 Essex Vase Final840 Carmen Star 48.38 20 August 1963 840 Breachs Blizzard48.23 1967840 Hat Band 48.02 1970880 Bedford 50.35 1967880 The Marchioness 50.28 18 March 19721030 Walking Champ 60.85 14 April 1964 1030 Ashley Park Mystery60.8719671030 Castle Satoo 60.42 19701030 Curraheen Lady 60.00 11 May 1971 460 HCheerful Chairman27.609 May 1939National Record460 HVintners Cup 26.19 1958460 HDerry Palm 26.14 2 June 1970 650 HNeds Bay 37.61 1967650 HGipsy Jerry 37.47 19 March 1968