Powderhall Stadium

File:Edinburgh Speedway, Powderhall Stadium (1982).JPG

Speedway at Powderhall in 1982

Powderhall Stadium was a greyhound racing track in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was opened in 1927 and was owned by the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA). The stadium closed in 1995. It was located on Beaverhall Road, in the Broughton area of north Edinburgh, by the Water of Leith. The track closed in 1995 and the site is now a housing estate.

Greyhound racing

The track opened on 3 August 1927 and attracted a crowd of over 10,000. A major event was introduced called the Edinburgh Cup-Greyhounds which took place every year from 1933. In 1970 and 1986 the Greyhound Racing Association invested into the stadium and the facilities were modernised. In 1987 and 1988 the track hosted the prestigious Scottish Greyhound Derby, the only time the event was run outside Glasgow.

In 1988 the ownership of the stadium changed twice. First it was sold to local businessman Norrie Rowan for £1.8m, who then sold it on to Coral for an instant profit at £2.2m. GRA had cut their ties with Scotland and therefore lost the rights to the Scottish Derby. In 1992 Coral sold to Eddie Ramsay who in turn experienced financial difficulties in 1995 and sold the site for redevelopment for housing.

Other Sports

Powderhall was also used for football, being the home ground of Leith Athletic from 1926 to 1928 and Edinburgh City from 1931 to 1934. It later became a venue for motorcycle speedway, with the Edinburgh Monarchs racing there from 1977 until 1995.

The Powderhall Sprint, first held in 1870, was a professional footrace with handicapping of the runners. It continues, since 1999, as the New Year Sprint and is now held at Musselburgh Racecourse.

External links

• Powderhall Stadium, pictures at Speedway Plus
• Powderhall Stadium, Defunct Speedway Tracks
• Powderhall Stadium, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
• A History of Powderhall, Powderhall Village Owners' Association