Top dog

Darren Kennedy is the new manager of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.
He reveals his plans for the UK’s largest dog track to Diana Pilkington

Darren Kennedy is not a gambling man. In fact, the New Zealander had barely set foot near a dog track before taking over as general manager of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium in December. But, despite being more into playing sports than betting on them (snowboarding and rugby are his passions) he couldn’t wait to get his hands on “an exceptionally interesting business”.

Having worked his way up from being a lowly barman to manager of a string of London pubs, the 36-year-old had the experience to deal with the stadium’s diverse mix of bars and dining areas. But the venue also posed a number of challenges he was keen to tackle. “For the last few years, there’s been a cloud hanging over the stadium about the possibility of closure,” Kennedy explains. “It’s been seen as dated, unloved and untouched, and now our intention is to change the customer’s perception.”

And so begins his mission to bring the vast arena on the edge of Wimbledon into the 21st century. As the largest dog track in the country and one of only two left in London, around 2,000 people descend on the Plough Lane stadium for race nights every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The venue also plays host to the biggest event of the greyhound racing calendar, the Greyhound Derby, which boasts a first prize of £100,000. But with dog tracks shutting down elsewhere in the country (Catford Stadium stopped operating in 2003) Kennedy wants to make the most of the site’s potential.

To brighten up the somewhat soulless corridors on the way in, the new manager has hired artist Debbie Jew to design big, bold murals of greyhounds and stock cars, the bread and butter of the stadium. The owners, GRA Limited, have also ploughed £100,000 into a new, fully automated Tote betting system. “If you were going to close down, why would you spend that much money on something?” Kennedy asks. And then there’s the focus on spreading the word about the track, which will, he hopes, bring in the punters and remind people why an evening at the dogs can be a fun, inexpensive night out. “Once you get people through the doors, they have a great time and want to come back,” he says. “But we have to get them through the doors in the first place.”

While dog racing may call to mind images of pint-swilling men in flat caps, the stadium’s client base extends much further. People from all walks of life fill the floors and stands on race nights, huddling around the screens indoors or braving the cold to soak up the trackside atmosphere. Glammed up girls rub shoulders with little old ladies, and young professionals jostle for space among mums, dads and small children to cheer on the 86 dogs that tear around the course in an evening. “The kids get very excited,” Kennedy says. “In the middle of the race, when the dogs come back around the track, the atmosphere goes crazy.”

Not all visitors to the stadium share this excitement. Protesters gather there too, handing out fliers about the alleged mistreatment  of the greyhounds. But Kennedy insists they are misinformed: “A lot of the issues people protest about apply overseas. We’re heavily involved with the Greyhound Welfare Fund. Every effort is made to re-home retired dogs.”

Serious gamblers can make a killing here, and Kennedy recalls one punter who walked away with £200,000 from an independent bookie. But there is still fun to be had for those who only fancy a small flutter. “If you put £2 on each race and lost every time, you’d only be down £26 by the end of the night,” Kennedy says, “What we’re selling is an experience.”

Part of that experience is the food and drink, which is where the ex-pub boss comes into his own. While visitors can grab a quick burger and chips if that’s what they’re after, there are finer ways to dine at the stadium. The two glass-fronted restaurants overlooking the track can accommodate a total of 600 people, and a sample menu includes such treats as trio of duck, double chocolate truffle tart and iced champagne with elderflower and lychee. Diners place bets from their table, and staff will talk novices through the betting jargon, sorting out their ‘place’ from their ‘forecast’. “The restaurant standard here is exceptional,” Kennedy says, “It’s not just hot dog, chips and get on with it.”

Although the stadium is largely associated with greyhound racing, the 14-acre site has other uses too. On February 29, Tooting resident and snooker champion Jimmy White, a longtime friend of the stadium and ambassador for greyhound racing, will challenge people to play him in a game of pool in aid of charity. For fans of motor sports, there are stock car race meetings second Sunday at the stadium. Even Quentin Tarantino dropped by last year for the launch party of his movie Death Proof, inviting his celebrity guests to direct stock car drivers to victory (X Factor star Shayne Ward won). The motorbike sport of Speedway no longer takes place at Wimbledon, having stopped in 2005 when the crowds dwindled, but Kennedy won’t rule out its return completely. “There are no plans to bring it back, but we haven’t closed the door,” he says.

With stunt shows scheduled for Easter weekend, as well as a market every Sunday and car boot sales on Wednesdays, the year ahead looks bright for the stadium. “It’s not going to die,” stresses Kennedy. “It’s a profitable business and it’s doing even better this year already.”

Race nights are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, with the first race at 7.30pm.
Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium, Plough Lane SW19; Book by calling 0870 840 8905 or visit www.lovethedogs.co.uk