NEWS FROM CENTRAL PARK...

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Great to see much needed improvements down at Sittingborne.

Who knows they may even get the Greyhound Derby one day.

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Central Park Stadium
11/06/2023

Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final

Race: 7 Grade: OR1

🥇 T5 Flashing Willow
🥈 T3 Gougane Jet
🥉 T2 Ballyard Shawny

Winning time: 16.00
Owner: Mr K. Glen
Trainer: Pat Buckley {Ireland}

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CENTRAL PARK – GREAT PROGRESS IN WEEK ONE
VIA THE GREYHOUND STAR — JUNE 16, 2023

The entire circuit has been cleared

The contractors at Central Park have made an impressive start to their huge race circuit renovation project.

Rachel Corden, Greyhound Operations Director, said, ‘Week One is going very well and we are currently on schedule at this point. GBGB’s Mark Peacock has visited and Dr Christian Spring from STRI has been overseeing the works throughout the week.

“The old surface has been completely removed and the team are now getting ready to set the foundation for the new racing surface. Retaining curbing is being installed and Gavin Smith is on site re-fitting the hare rail.

“The new state of the art drainage system will be installed next week, with the final week seeing the installation of the new running surface and preparing for re-opening’.

Dr Christian Spring, Principal Scientist at STRI, said: “This is an exciting project. Works have progressed as I would expect and in accordance with the schedule. Being on site as the build progresses means that I can give support to the teams as required”.

The huge stockpile of aggregate and sand in already on site.

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TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
FRIDAY 30-6-23.

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Central Park is ready to race again – looking way better than at any time in its 28 year history – writes Floyd Amphlett of the Greayhound Star website

The Kent venue completed work on their £500K renovation system in the latter part of this week. The results, as can be seen in the photo, are absolutely stunning.

Greyhound Operations Director, Rachel Corden said, ‘The re-lay works have gone well and in accordance with our schedule. We have had Dr Christian Spring, Principal Scientist for STRI, supervise the works and they have been carried out in accordance with best known practice for laying a greyhound track. Mark Peacock, GBGB Track Liaison officer has also been to site at all key stages of the works. The installation team have worked incredibly hard over the last three weeks and we are very grateful to both Christian & Mark for their expertise, advice and support throughout the project.

“We will be running a trial session tomorrow afternoon and our trainers will have the opportunity to walk the new track ahead of that and ask any questions.

“The track, traps and winning line positions have not moved, but the track and distances have been properly surveyed as part of the works. This has revealed that the distances registered by previous operators were inaccurate. Moving forward the greyhounds will be running the same physical distances they were, pre the works, but the actual metered distances over which they will be running will now be correctly registered with GBGB.

“The surveyed distances are now as follows:

461m (was previously registered as 450m);

491m (was previously registered as 480m);

277m (was previously registered as 265m); and

664m and 731m (which were previously registered as 642m and 708m respectively).

Marathon distances of 915m and 946m will also be registered as will a 209m distance.

“We look forward to welcoming owners, trainers and racegoers back to Central Park on our first race meeting back this Sunday, with the first race scheduled for 14:04.”

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TAKEN FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR WEBSITE.

SENSATIONAL CENTRAL

“It is absolutely brilliant. Really, in the 20 years, off and on, that I have been racing here, this track has never been anywhere near this quality. I cannot praise it enough.”

Tony Collett can do a dog. In greyhound terms, he also ‘knows the time of day’. But just as important, you will get his honest opinion, pretty much whether you like it or not – writes Floyd Amphlett.

So who better to ask for their views on the £500K track refurbishment at Central Park than the 2022 leading graded trainer?

Tony said: “It is a hundred percent. The circuit itself hasn’t changed but they have put a new outside rail in at the third bend. Visually it has the optical illusion of making the track look slightly tighter. But it has actually had the effect of the dogs running the bend better.”

“If there is just one way for it improve, it would be for the surface to bed in a bit more. Whereas before it used to flood, now they can barely get enough water on it. But that is inevitable with a new circuit. It is probably running between -20 to -40 for the standard.

“What we really need is a few days of sustained heavy downpours, when unfortunately, we’ve only really had a few showers. By the time the Kent Derby is here it will be fabulous.”

But it isn’t just the racing surface that has improved. . .

Tony added “I don’t suck up to anyone. I’ll tell it as it is. But the new guy (Daniel Rankin) has made a big difference. He is an old fashioned kind of racing manager. He’s listen to your opinion, and will give a bit back if he doesn’t agree, but I like that.

“One of the big pluses has been that he will downgrade a dog after six races if it hasn’t won, or less than that if he thinks it merits it. There is also less messing around with the going alllowances.

“There generally seems to be positive attitude in the stadium. At most tracks you hear about young track staff doing the track without any experience or enthusiasm. That certainly isn’t the case here. The lads seem well led and are really putting the graft in.

“To be honest, I was so fed up this time last year that I was thinking about retiring. I’m now so glad that I didn’t.”



In the meantime the Ash based handler is looking forward to the semi finals of the Sussex Cup where he will be represented by the recently purchased King Stevens.

The home bred was originally placed with Collett by Rab McNair to gain some graded experience and find out whether the dog was up to the open class standard of the KSS Syndicate.

After switching to four bends, the fawn had seemed like an A1/minor open racer with two wins in 17 outings. A very reasonable price was agreed as the trainer bought the dog himself.

Since then, Stevens has found a new lease of life. In early June, he beat King Ezra by a neck in a Central Park Cat 3 final to knock £500 off the purchase price. He then beat Havana Top Note by a short head at Hove. On Saturday, Stevens turned over defending champ Ninja Kerry in the first round of the Sussex Cup.

Given Mr McNair’s delight in winding up his fellow trainers, there have been a few queueing up to give him a bit back.

Tony chuckled: “You should have heard him after Saturday night.

‘What did you say Tony’ ‘He is a bad kenneler and he won’t stay!’ He was in the last race on Saturday night and you would have to bang a feed bowl on the front of the kennel to wake him up. And the way he is running on, you’d have to fancy him for next year’s f******* Dorando!”