Racing Fans Mourn Closure of Sydney’s Historic Wentworth Park Greyhound Track

Thousands of racing fans and spectators gathered on a Friday night at Wentworth Park in central Sydney to witness the final greyhound racing event at the historic venue. According to the Guardian, the inner-city stadium, affectionately known by locals as Wenty, has hosted races since 1932. The landmark venue is slated for demolition after October 2027, with the land ultimately returned to parkland under the auspices of Sydney’s council.

The Final Night at Wentworth Park

The final night of competition featured the world’s richest greyhound race, the Million Dollar Chase, which was won by a dog named Magical Ang. Geoff Rose, chair of the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, acknowledged that while the land in the inner-west suburb of Glebe holds immense financial value in a fast-growing city, the closure remains heartbreaking for many.

Veteran greyhound writer Jeff Collerson, who first visited the track in December 1962 as a 17-year-old cadet journalist, reflected on the unique atmosphere of the venue. Now 81 years old, Collerson noted that having an inner-city track created a special buzz that other suburban locations simply cannot replicate.

History and Future of the Industry

Originally created between 1876 and 1880 using silt dredged from Sydney’s harbour, Wentworth Park saw greyhound racing take root in 1932 before drawing massive crowds by the 1970s. Following the closure, Greyhound Racing NSW announced it has chosen the existing Richmond race club, located about an hour north-west of central Sydney, as a replacement site. Additionally, the association is exploring a potential alternative site near Appin, south-west of Sydney.

The transition has also drawn criticism and protests. Outside the gates, demonstrators chanted slogans against the sport, arguing that it harms animals and criticizing government support. Conversely, representatives from adoption groups like Greyhounds as Pets noted that new facilities could open fresh avenues for the future of retired dogs, even as traditional punters mourn the loss of a prominent piece of Australian sporting history.

Source: Gone to the dogs: racing fans mourn closure of ‘Wenty’, Sydney’s historic greyhound track (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-16T23:00:15+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.