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SPEEDWAY: Cheetahs start search for new home
Oxford Cheetahs promoter Allen Trump has started the search for a new site to stage speedway racing, writes ROBERT PEASLEY.
For the last 59 years, speedway has run alongside greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium.
But with the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) issuing Trump with a demand for a 100 per cent increase for the stadium rent, he has been forced to look elsewhere.
Trump has already been down a similar path with his hometown club, the Exeter Falcons.
Exeter were evicted from their famous County Ground home at the end of the 2005 season, shortly before the stadium was demolished.
Trump is close to gaining planning permission for a new home for the Falcons at the Haldon Hill racecourse.
And it seems the earliest Cheetahs fans could hope for speedway to return to Oxford would be 2010 or 2011, bringing to an end the club's proud run of league speedway every year since 1949.
Trump said: "I need five acres of land, and a location where we could obtain planning permission. Anywhere within around a 10-mile radius of Oxford would be OK.
"I would be interested in hearing from anyone with suggestions of a suitable site. I think this is the best way forward, to own our own stadium and be our own bosses.
"Oxford Speedway has struggled for most of the last 20 seasons, and I'm convinced that is largely due to the club having to live out a year-by-year existence in a rented stadium."
Meanwhile, the deadline set by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA) for Oxford to confirm their membership of the 2008 Premier League expires today at 5pm.
However, with negotiations between Trump and the GRA having broken down, there seems no chance for Cheetahs - barring a last-minute miracle.
5:32pm Thursday 13th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Tony Peters, Greyhound Action on 1:21am Fri 14 Dec 07
A pity that the speedway can't stay at Oxford Stadium and the greyhound racing go.
In Oxford it appears to be that not only greyhounds, but speedway fans too, are suffering at the hands of the dog racing industry.
An estimated 20,000 greyhounds per year are put to death after being adjudged not suitable to race on British tracks or when their racing "careers" are over.
That is why, as an international greyhound protection organisation, we are calling on the public not to attend or bet on greyhound races, so that this death-industry fades away through lack of financial support.
See our website at www.greyhoundaction.
org.uk for more information.
A pity that the speedway can't stay at Oxford Stadium and the greyhound racing go.
In Oxford it appears to be that not only greyhounds, but speedway fans too, are suffering at the hands of the dog racing industry.
An estimated 20,000 greyhounds per year are put to death after being adjudged not suitable to race on British tracks or when their racing "careers" are over.
That is why, as an international greyhound protection organisation, we are calling on the public not to attend or bet on greyhound races, so that this death-industry fades away through lack of financial support.
See our website at www.greyhoundaction.
org.uk for more information.
Posted by: john newitt, long crendon bucks on 8:22am Fri 14 Dec 07
i think this is the only way forward for the cheetahs have there own stadium .if theres anyone who knows where theres land with in a 10 mile radius of oxford please let us know or to rob peasley
i think this is the only way forward for the cheetahs have there own stadium .if theres anyone who knows where theres land with in a 10 mile radius of oxford please let us know or to rob peasley
Posted by: john newitt, long crendon bucks on 9:39am Fri 14 Dec 07
looking for land .it has been suggested that there .is land near the kassam football stadium. peraphs this is worth looking into.
looking for land .it has been suggested that there .is land near the kassam football stadium. peraphs this is worth looking into.
Posted by: George, Blackbird Leys on 10:35am Fri 14 Dec 07
Good riddance to the noise and smell
Good riddance to the noise and smell
Posted by: Trudy Baker, middlesbrough on 12:19pm Fri 14 Dec 07
I am not at all surprised with the way the GRA have treated Allen Trump. The whole affair highlights just how financially motivated the Greyhound Racing Association are. Having little regard for the community's social needs. As with the Racing Industry as a whole, their only concern is to secure as much money as possible from their sordid and outdated form of entertainment. Not content with abusing and destroying greyhoundsin their thousands, to make a bigger profits, they now deny the progress of a successful local team, who engage in a modern day sport.
Good luck Cheetahs, I hope you find a suitable place to relocate. In my opinion, you're better off without a landlord where consideration for community and animal welfare doesnt even enter the equation!
I am not at all surprised with the way the GRA have treated Allen Trump. The whole affair highlights just how financially motivated the Greyhound Racing Association are. Having little regard for the community's social needs. As with the Racing Industry as a whole, their only concern is to secure as much money as possible from their sordid and outdated form of entertainment. Not content with abusing and destroying greyhoundsin their thousands, to make a bigger profits, they now deny the progress of a successful local team, who engage in a modern day sport.
Good luck Cheetahs, I hope you find a suitable place to relocate. In my opinion, you're better off without a landlord where consideration for community and animal welfare doesnt even enter the equation!
Posted by: Speedway Fan, Cowley on 1:50pm Fri 14 Dec 07
GRA = Greedy Robbing A*%$holes...
GRA = Greedy Robbing A*%$holes...
Posted by: nicholas fell, OXFORD on 6:37pm Mon 17 Dec 07
What about talking to the owners of Standlake Arena as a temporary measure?
Equally what about trying to buy Oxford Stadium? and then evict the Grey Hound racers?
What about talking to the owners of Standlake Arena as a temporary measure?
Equally what about trying to buy Oxford Stadium? and then evict the Grey Hound racers?
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