Incredible secrets of London’s last dog track – that appeared on Blur album cover and gave David Beckham his first job

AS the smell of vinegar-laden chips and lager wafts through the stand, cabbie Keith Moore eyes the greyhound in trap six and assures me it’s a winner.

Soon punters’ cheers of “go on my son” and wild shrieks of “come on number two” echo as the dogs hurtle around the sandy track.

As they enter the home straight, number six begins to pull ahead and Keith’s voice rises: “Go on, baby! Oi, oi — another grand.”

The Gooner, 66, who owns greyhounds, is soon collecting his   ­winnings, folded in crisp £100 ­bundles. Even those who have lost seem to be loving the ­banter, beers and camaraderie here.

Yet, if you believe the gloom ­merchants, the old working-class sport of greyhound racing has, well, gone to the dogs.

Last Sunday the track at Crayford in South East London’s hinterlands locked away its mechanical hare for the final time.

Once there were 33 greyhound tracks inside the M25. Now only Romford remains.

This week I took the Elizabeth Line to the birthplace of Richard Madeley, Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson and the Romford Pele himself, Ray ­Parlour, to see if the dogs have really had their day.

‘I’ve won a few quid and it’s free to get in’

It’s a Wednesday evening in the market town of Romford, where the East End meets Essex, and the ­weather outside is brass monkeys.

Tucked away close to the railway line amid suburban streets, the Coral Romford Greyhound Stadium has an unlikely place in the history of Britpop.

Lending themselves some geezer chic, Blur used a snap of racing greyhounds at Romford on the cover of their landmark 1994 Parklife album.

Singer Damon Albarn even bought a share in a greyhound, and one ­cultural ­commentator at the time said of the dogs: “Horse racing’s poor relation has now grown into its hip younger brother.”

Although I didn’t spot any famous Britpoppers there, the stadium’s glass-fronted Coral Stand — with its three cosy bars — was filled with a decent smattering of midweek ­punters and party-goers.

Executive chauffeur Michael ­Goodridge, who drives a Rolls Royce ­Cullinan, says: “I’ve had a little bet on two dogs and had no luck. But it’s an exciting evening.”

Here with his in-laws, Michael, 38, from Manor Park, East London, added: “It’s best not to get caught up in the gambling side of it too much and don’t spend more than you can afford to lose.

“You can choose to have a bet or just come to relax and eat and drink. It’s a cheap night out, too.”

Prices are a steal compared to a seat at Premier League football.

It’s free to get into the track from ­Monday to Wednesday and on ­Saturday mornings.

At other times the admission fee is just £7.

A cafe serves up £4 beefburgers and hotdogs while a portion of cheesy chips is £4.50.

There’s also the Pavilion Restaurant with more substantial fare, including pork belly and T-bone steaks.

A gaggle of beefy security guards on a day off are laughing over their lagers as they celebrate their very late ­Christmas party. While, fivers in hand, family groups on midweek beanos queue up to have a punt.

First time visitor Nikita Sheridan, 25, who lives in Romford and is here ­celebrating her husband’s birthday, said: “I recommend it. I’ve won a few quid and it’s free to get in.”

The hubbub in the stand rises to a crescendo when the dogs flash from their starting boxes as the announcer declares: “And they’re off.”

There are no airs and graces at the dogs. No killjoy dress code like there is at some horse racing tracks, and no posh stand for those with bigger wallets.

Tucking into chicken goujons and chips, builder James Harbour, from Basildon, Essex, has been coming to Romford dogs for 35 years.

Here for a family night out, James, 53, told me: “It’s a real working-class sport. I love the atmosphere, meeting people and having a punt.”

Greyhound racing was banned in New Zealand in December over ­animal welfare concerns, but James, a former greyhound owner himself, assures me the dogs are kept in the best conditions, insisting: “They are fed better in ­kennels than most human beings are in ­hospital.”

Sounding more forlorn, he added: “This is proper British sport and it’s so sad that it’s gone downhill.

“The crowds have gone down but you can watch it on your phone at home now if you want to.”

It’s a sport entwined in British history.

One of William Shakespeare’s most famous verses, from Henry V, says: “I see you stand like ­greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start.

“The game’s afoot: follow your spirit; and upon this charge, Cry ‘God for Harry, England and Saint George!’” Once, tens of ­millions of us flocked to 200 greyhound tracks all over the country.

The first stadium, Belle Vue in Manchester, was opened in 1926 after an American devised a slant on Britain’s centuries-long — and now illegal — pastime of hare coursing. Canine superstar Mick The Miller won the greyhound Derby back to back in 1929 and 1930, helping to ­popularise the sport.

As a pastime for the urban working class, tracks were usually near city centres where — in pre-betting shop days — folk could have a punt.

Built for the 1908 Olympics, ­London’s premier track at White City stadium averaged an amazing 40,000 racegoers at meetings.

Incredibly, the France vs Uruguay match at the 1966 World Cup was moved from Wembley to the White City venue because the national stadium had a greyhound meeting scheduled on the same day.

Famous greyhound owners included the Queen Mother, Prince Philip and comedians Frankie ­Howerd and Ernie Wise. Off-track betting shops opened in 1961, ­meaning attendances declined.

Tracks — often occupying prime urban sites — were then eyed up greedily by developers.

White City became home to BBC offices, ­Portsmouth a housing ­development, and Walthamstow, the latter-day home of the dogs, even became a building plot.

Only the listed art deco facade remains at Walthamstow — where David Beckham had his first job collecting pint glasses — like a relic from another age.

The pursuit remains strong in its traditional heartlands

Oliver Harvey

It leaves cabbie Keith Moore, from Hackney, ­shaking his head disconsolately. “Walthamstow was always rammo, right to the end,” he laments. “It should have been saved for the community. Now you’ll never get it back.”

Greyhound racing peers enviously at darts — another working-class sport which, inspired by World Champion Luke Littler and ­shepherded by Barry Hearne, has gone into the stratosphere.

Today Britain has just 19 licensed greyhound tracks.

Crayford was shuttered — a spokesman from owners Entain Group tells me — due to falling attendances and too few dogs being entered for its races.

Just 18 per cent of meetings this season had the full complement of six dogs, which makes racing less interesting for punters, they said.

The parent company of bookies Ladbrokes and Coral, Entain Group also own Romford as well as tracks in Hove, East Sussex, and Monmore, Wolverhampton. They insist the stadiums will remain operational.

The South East London track’s demise was met by a headline in the Racing Post, insisting: “Crayford closure a stark reminder of the downfall of a sport that could once attract ­royalty.”

Yet governing body the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) points out that 800,000 punters still visit the dogs annually, putting it among our top ten spectator sports.

The pursuit remains strong in its traditional heartlands, with stadiums at Wolverhampton, ­Nottingham, Doncaster, Sunderland and Newcastle still pulling in the ­punters.

It turns over £166million, ­contributing £52million in tax to the Exchequer. Although decreasing, it still has a betting turnover of £1.5billion annually.

‘It’s authentic –  a great family evening’

Among those who own or have owned greyhounds in recent years are Katie Price, ex-Arsenal star Ray Parlour and Vinnie Jones.

And the industry supports 5,400 jobs, including trainers and kennel hands as well as people working in hospitality at the tracks.

Romford’s security operations director Josh Webber, 28, said: “The track employs loads of local staff.

“I’ve worked here nine years and the place has a special feel. It’s authentic. It’s a great family night.”

GBGB chief executive Mark Bird, says £6million is spent every year on the welfare of racing dogs.

The ex-Met policeman told me: “We owe a big debt to the dogs and we think that through our ­welfare strategy we meet that debt before, during and after they race. It’s the hundredth ­anniversary of the first race ­meeting at Belle Vue next year.

“There’s no reason why the sport shouldn’t make it through another hundred years as well.”

Back at Romford, accounts ­manager Michelle Bowmer tells how she’s been coming to the dogs with her family for 20 years.

“Romford’s the only track left in London now,” the 50-year-old from Brentwood, Essex, said. “It’s just got to keep going.”

With a smile, she adds: “They never catch the hare and it’s better than playing a fruit machine. You’re guaranteed a good night here.”

With that, a cheer echoes around the cavernous stand as the greyhounds bound from the starting box once more.

There’s life in the old dogs yet.