Our Team at Harlow Greyhound Stadium

Chris Page - General Manager

WITH 26 years' experience as race manager at the historic Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium, new Harlow supremo Chris Page certainly knows a thing or two about the sport. Headhunted by Dave Barclay who bought the Pinnacles track for £2m in 2005 - 51-year-old Page is relishing his new role as general manager. And there has already been a rise in the numbers of race fans at the track which opened in 1995. This could be on the back of the closure of the Walthamstow circuit or through a number of superb promotions available at Harlow at the moment.

However, aficionados will be well aware that greyhound national champion trainer Mark Wallace has switched to the Essex venue. He was one of five trainers lured from the 'Stow by Page, who began work at the East London circuit in the early 1980s.

Page rates Wallace very highly. "He's put Harlow on the map. It's like Wayne Rooney signing for Millwall," explained Page, who started at Harlow in September.

"Now, you will never see a Sky Sports programme without a Harlow dog in it."

"Most dog tracks are in decline but in November we were the only track in the country where the attendance went up. There are a number of Walthamstow people here. They are diehards. They love dog racing and are coming to Harlow," Page said.

The track is set to feature in a new Danny Dyer film called Dead Man Running. Cameras filmed scenes for the British gangster film at the Pinnacles just before Christmas.

But the biggest problem for Harlow is that even some town residents don't know where the track is. "Walthamstow was bang on the A406 but people have really got to know we are here," said Page.

That is an issue the owner is addressing, as the fantastic 300-seater stadium is home to a restaurant, two bars, a function room, private boxes, poker and darts facilities and even an internet café.

Recently the stadium introduced a £90,000 state-of-the-art Tote system, essential for professional tracks and last week Harlow secured £180,000 from the governing body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, to carry out more improvement work.

Page said: "We are hoping to extend and enlarge the track."
Harlow is now home to 25 trainers and holds meetings three times a week; Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Fans can also watch racing at Harlow on the internet - and have a bet!
Page hopes to regularly attract more than 500 punters to race nights on Fridays and Saturdays, while if sponsors come on board offering top prize money the television cameras will make Harlow a regular spot.

"We hope to get the top dogs. We will only get these dogs if we can offer big prize money," Page explained.

Fans will have been saddened by the closure of Walthamstow and Page fondly recalls the night 8,500 people attended to watch Scurlogue Champ - the Red Rum of greyhound racing.

With the nearest tracks as far as Romford and Wimbledon, Harlow simply must seize this opportunity to go to the next level.

"If there are two clubs in Manchester and Manchester United close, you would be a fool to think your club would not grow quite a lot. But people still think of it as men in cloth caps and grey coats. The beauty here is we are so reasonably priced."
Barclay, 46, is determined to make Harlow synonymous with top-quality greyhound racing.

"When I left Walthamstow I did not need to work again. I could have sat back and retired but I met Dave [Barclay] and he fired my enthusiasm again," beamed Page.