Greyhound racing in London

After greyhound racing was introduced to the UK from America, London hosted its first races in 1927. Tens of thousands came to Harringay and White City to watch dogs chase a mechanical hare around the track – and to gamble on the result. Park Royal Stadium, shown here, opened in 1931.

By the 1930s, there were 17 greyhound tracks in London, many purpose-built and located mostly in working-class suburbs such as Haringey, Catford, Walthamstow and Romford. In 1936, more people went to the dogs than the cinema.

This west London stadium was used for the 1908 Olympics, and could hold over 60,000 people in its stands. Greyhound racing started here in 1927. After the last race was held in 1984, the stadium was closed for demolition.

This drawing by the artist Grace Golden shows a huge crowd watching racing at the old Wembley Stadium in the 1930s. Although Wembley is now most famous for hosting major football finals, regular dog racing started there in 1927 and was initially the stadium’s main focus.

Racing attracted people from many backgrounds – MPs and lawyers rubbed shoulders with working men and sometimes women. Its connection to America made it a glamorous activity, but it was also a chance to gamble in a time before betting shops were legalised.

Dog racing has declined in popularity from its peak around the Second World War (1939–1945). Other leisure activities became more popular, while the legalisation of betting shops under the 1961 Betting and Gaming Act created a major rival.

Harringay Stadium closed in September 1987, exactly 50 years after it opened. Most other dog tracks have followed, including Wimbledon Stadium in 2017. In 2024, two remained open in London – at Romford in Havering and Crayford in Bexley.

As well as photos from dog tracks, our collection includes signs and parts of the totalisator from Harringay Stadium. The electro-mechanical totalisator or “tote” was installed in 1930, and was used to calculate and set the odds in a time before computers.