Cleveland Park Stadium
The idea of constructing a greyhound track in Middlesbrough came from Jack French who formed the National Greyhounds Middlesbrough Ltd.[1] An eleven-acre site of former allotments in the Ayresome Ward, south of the River Tees and directly south of the Tees Marshalling Yard Railways and Stockton Road Tramway was chosen in 1928.[2] Originally the greyhound track had a circumference of 412 yards (377 m) and used a Mono-Rail type hare system running on a bogie which would later be replaced by an 'Inside Sumner' in 1939.[7] In 1956 there was a triple dead heat between Law Maker, Red Bay and Spinach Lad in 30.36 over 518 yards, an excellent grading achievement by Racing Manager R W Burns.The feat was repeated three years later when Quarry Tanist, Sandboy & Skip Me crossed the line together on 12 July 1959.The principal event was the Cleveland Stayers Championship and amenities on offer to the public included four bars and three cafes.