Ramsgate Stadium
Ramsgate Stadium was a greyhound stadium that existed between 1928 and 1995.[1]
The stadium first opened for racing on May 26, 1928 on Hereson Road, Dumpton Park and the first race went to Southern Surprise, a 4-1 chance.[2]
The track remained a popular destination for holiday makers until 1976 when a former greyhound trainer and owner of independent track Doncaster, Mick Hawkins, bought the track. His company Hawkins of Harrow started a new company called Northern Sports and they introduced a major race in 1977 called the Thanet Gold Cup.
Just a year later, they purchased Oxford Stadium and revealed plans to invest heavily in both tracks. In 1984, under the Managing Director David Hawkins, the son of Mick Hawkins, they duly invested after gaining planning permission and incorporated a leisure complex on site. The track became a prominent venue and business boomed.
In 1991, the track secured a lucrative BAGS (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service) contract but when parent company Hawkins of Harrow ran into trouble due to the building recession in 1995 the receivers took over Northern Sports.
Sadly the track did not stay open for business and the site was redeveloped.