January 15, 2025 3 min read

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Crayford Racing Track Confirms Upcoming Closure, Sets Date

In an official statement, Crayford Racing confirmed that its final races will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025

In November, Entain confirmed its intention to put an end to the Crayford Greyhound Stadium greyhound track. Now, the track has confirmed the date of its last race as its closure draws near.

Crayford Track to Close Before the End of the Month

In an official statement, Crayford Racing confirmed that its final races will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Two days later, the track will formally cease operation.

Crayford Racing noted that booking for the remaining races remains open, allowing fans to watch greyhound racing in Crayford one last time. Fans can book tickets for the remaining fixtures online or by contacting the track office directly.

Customers who have booked tickets for races after January 19 will receive full refunds as soon as possible, the racetrack promised.

In the meantime, fixtures at the tracks in Romford, Hove and Monmore will continue as usual.

Entain Had Hoped to Find an Alternative

As mentioned, Entain confirmed the closure of the beloved racetrack two months ago, saying that it is no longer profitable. The Crayford Greyhound Stadium, which has operated since 1986, used to be a major highlight in Crayford but, unfortunately, saw a significant drop in popularity the past few years.

Entain had explored various alternatives for the track but settled on the closure. In its latest statement, the track reiterated that operating the site is “no longer viable.” Officials added that Entain’s Ladbrokes brand has a long history in greyhound racing, meaning that the decision “had not been taken lightly.”

Entain Will Provide Support to Impacted Parties

In the meantime, Entain reiterated its commitment to supporting the impacted employees. The company noted that each of them has gone through a two-stage consultation process, informing them of the closure. The company did its best to relocate as many workers as possible and provide support to the rest.

Trainers, on the other hand, will be welcome to continue to race their dogs at other greyhound tracks in the UK. The hounds themselves will likewise receive the needed care and every affected dog will be “cared for through an enhanced investment and rehoming strategy.”

We would like to thank all those colleagues, trainers and customers who, through their support and dedication to greyhound racing, made Crayford the track it was for the past 30+ years, and we wish them all the best for the future.

Crayford Racing statement

Officials said that they have tried to contact everyone who would be impacted by the closure. They advised affected parties to direct any questions toward the Retail Customer Care Team.

Entain, BetMGM Reaffirm Guidance

In other news, Entain and BetMGM just reaffirmed their guidance for 2024. While the parent company did fairly well in 2024, BetMGM’s betting business experienced certain struggles. As a result, officials said that the BetMGM brand is expected to post H2 EBITDA loss similar to the metrics reported in H1.

Entain, on the other hand, indicated that group EBITDA will reach the upper end of its previously announced $1.27 billion to $1.33 billion guidance range.

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