Armadale Stadium
Armadale Stadium is a motorcycle speedway and former greyhound racing stadium situated in the town of Armadale, West Lothian in Scotland. Stock car racing has also been held at the venue.
Location | Armadale, West Lothian EH48 2PD |
---|---|
Opened | 1939 |
Tenants | |
Edinburgh Monarchs speedway |
Speedway
It has been home to the Edinburgh Monarchs speedway team since 1997.[1]
In 2009, the Edinburgh Monarchs reached agreement with Sainsbury's for the stadium to be purchased and re-developed as a supermarket, subject to planning permission being granted by West Lothian Council.[2] This was not forthcoming, the application being rejected in June 2010.[3]
Greyhound racing
The greyhound track near Bathgate Road opened on 20 February 1939 just four days after the Armadale greyhound track at Volunteer Park closed.[4] In later years two races called the West Lothian Stakes and Armadale Sprint Championships were introduced and remained feature races. Track distances were 330 and 540 yards.[5] Armadale was mainly handicap races and there were regular opens for the higher class of greyhound with a main distance of 525 yards. TD Heffernan was involved in opening of the new track.[4]
The owners of Armadale greyhound stadium announced on 8 October 2016 that they were ending the greyhound operation.[6]
References
- Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- "Monarchs in new stadium hopes". 10 May 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- "Edinburgh Monarchs' Armadale switch rejected by council". 2 June 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- "Remember When - February 1939". Greyhound Star.
- Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 270. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- "Stadium clarification". Edinburgh Monarchs.co.uk.