From the Guardian · Australian Associated Press · · 1m 40s
Sydney's greyhound track closes after 94 years
Wentworth Park holds its final race meeting before demolition and return to parkland, ending a century of racing history.
In brief
Wentworth Park holds its final race meeting before demolition and return to parkland, ending a century of racing history. Wentworth Park in Sydney closed for greyhound racing on Friday night after 94 years, with the site to be demolished and returned to parkland by October 2027. Originally reported by the Guardian.
Thousands gather for final race
Wentworth Park in central Sydney held its last greyhound race meeting on Friday night, with thousands packing the inner-city track for the final time before demolition.
Ninety four years of racing ends
Greyhound racing has been held at Wentworth Park since nineteen thirty two. The final race of the night was the Million Dollar Chase, won by Magical Ang.
Heartbreak for racing community
Geoff Rose, chair of the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, said the closure was heartbreaking. The inner-west land is worth a fortune in a growing city.
“It is quite heartbreaking to a lot of people”
Veteran journalist's final goodbye
Jeff Collerson, eighty one, first visited Wentworth Park in December nineteen sixty two as a seventeen year old cadet journalist. He said the closure of Wenty was tragic.
“Wentworth Park's got a special aura about it that the other tracks won't have”
Site returns to parkland by 2027
All buildings at Wentworth Park are slated for demolition after October twenty twenty seven. The site will be returned to parkland under Sydney's council.
Industry relocates with government support
Greyhound Racing NSW chose Richmond, about an hour north west of central Sydney, as the replacement site. The NSW racing minister promised ten million dollars in government funding.
Protesters call for industry shutdown
Animal welfare protesters stood outside the park chanting that the sport kills dogs and calling for an end to taxpayer funding. Some welcomed the closure as a step toward ending racing.
The essence
Wentworth Park in Sydney closed for greyhound racing on Friday night after 94 years, with the site to be demolished and returned to parkland by October 2027.
