PETERBOROUGH GREYHOUND STADIUM CEASE TRADING....

[BVADMIN]

TAKEN FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR WEBSITE
greyhoundstar.co.uk/peterborough-statement-trainers/

PETERBOROUGH STATEMENT TO TRAINERS....

The Peterborough management have issued the following statement which would seem to rule out
an imminent return to racing:



Dear All



Following the release of the Statement from the GBGB yesterday we have been seeking clarification from them as to when, and if, we are able to commence Trials and, ultimately, racing. We must receive confirmation from Government that we are able to commence Trials before we are able to go ahead. Without this confirmation we would be in breach of UK Government Guidelines and our own business insurance cover amongst other things.



Vets attendance is governed by RCVS guidelines, and they will need confirmation from that body too.



Once confirmation has been received that we can undertake Trials we must then consider the cost implications of a return to racing behind, what would be, closed doors. Without being able to open the Stadium to the general public we would be reliant on the income from the sale of our broadcast rights to GMG/ARC/Arena Racing. As you are aware at this time the Stadium receives broadcast income for the Wednesday evening fixture only, any further race meetings that take place behind closed doors generate no income but involve considerable expense.



Currently we are therefore not planning any Trials sessions at the Stadium until we have received the above clarifications and commitment.



For the avoidance of doubt we would like to take this opportunity to confirm that Contract monies will be paid, as normal, at the end of this month for April.



We would like to thank all of you for your patience, understanding and continued commitment to greyhound racing at the Stadium during what is a difficult time for everyone.



Richard & Rob Perkins

Peterborough Greyhounds

[BVADMIN]

[BVADMIN]

TUESDAY 19-5-20::::

[SALFORD GIRL]

Grim news: Peterborough is casualty of the ongoing emergency

Peterborough closure shock, Pruhs sadly retires......

PETERBOROUGH directors Richard and Rob Perkins have announced the end of greyhound racing at the track.

In a statement published on social media and emailed to trainers, they said: “After much careful thought and consideration, and after 75 years, the Perkins family have decided to cease trading as a greyhound racing stadium with immediate effect.

“We are an evening greyhound racing venue and rely heavily on income from customers attending the venue to eat, drink, and bet on our Tote to survive.

“Without the substantial number of visitors we have experienced in the run up to the current [Covid-19] outbreak, and the prospect of this not being achieved in even the longer term as social distancing measures remain in place, the long-term viability of continuing to trade from the site as a greyhound racing stadium is unsustainable.

“This is a decision that has not been taken lightly and has been taken in conjunction with and on the advice of our accountants.

“Long-term, we are advised that the site cannot make a sufficient return to continue operating profitably as a greyhound racing stadium.

“So, it is with a heavy heart that the Perkins family would like to thank all greyhound owners and trainers, past and present, who have been attached to the stadium over the years for their support.

“We would also like to thank all those patrons who have visited and enjoyed a night's racing with us over the years. The company remains active, and we are looking at other opportunities.”

Commenting on the news that Peterborough will not be reopening, Mark Bird, GBGB managing director, said: “We are extremely saddened to hear the news that Peterborough Greyhound stadium is to close.

“It is a long-established, family-run track run by the Perkins family since 1945 and that has served its community throughout all that time and holds incredible, lasting memories for racing fans throughout the country.

“This news clearly makes it a bittersweet week for our sport, as we have welcomed a safe return to trialling at many of our tracks and turned a corner since the start of this pandemic.

“We have also, of course, had the announcement that greyhound racing will shortly be returning to Towcester which is such a positive signal for the future of our sport.

“Our thoughts and best wishes are obviously with all those associated with the stadium at this immensely difficult time.

“The ongoing situation with coronavirus is taking a significant toll on all sport, hospitality and leisure businesses which rely on spectators for their income.

“At GBGB, we will continue to provide whatever support we can, in particular to those trainers and owners affected. We will shortly be contacting all Peterborough attached trainers to check on their position moving forward.”

Leading Peterborough trainer David Pruhs envisages the news signalling the end of his career. “I'm not going to be heading an extra hour each way up to Nottingham, and nor do I want to rent the kennels out,” he said.

“Obviously it's a shock in some ways but not in others. You look at how packed the place has been at weekends way before this crisis and yet they were still apparently struggling which just didn't make sense.

“But one thing the enforced break has done has made you grateful for what you have. I'll look to find a way to hopefully keep some of the staff employed by maybe getting some retired dogs in as well as my own, and I'll look to help my owners finding new homes for the greyhounds who will stay in training.”

Racing first took place at Peterborough in 1931 with the origins of the modern-day stadium tracing back to 1945 when Reg Perkins and George Ellingworth bought the site.

Perkins' sons Rex and David took over management duties in 1977 with the track switching to NGRC-licensed status in 1982 under the old permit scheme.

A major fire in 1999 led to a six-month closure and rebuild, with a £3 million extension in 2003 dedicated to Rex Perkins by son Richard and nephew Rob after he passed away following a long illness.

[BVADMIN]

[kemik]

Terrible news, hope its just a one off, but the tracks withut a BAGS contract must be at high risk of the same happening