PIRATES DETERMINED TO RIDE ON

Following Friday's sad announcement that Greyhound Racing will not return to the Wimborne Road stadium, Poole Speedway promoter Dan Ford remains resolute that speedway racing will resume in 2021.

The Chairman of Gaming International, Clarke Osborne, announced on Friday that his regret and sadness over the closure of the operation that they have been involved with over the past 23 years.  He said "We re-opened greyhound racing as a part of a new venture in Poole in 1997 and have made so many friends over the last 23 years. We have all had a lot of fun, entertained so many people and formed a family."

"We always hoped that we would see an early end to the [Covid-19] restrictions and to this horrible virus that has gripped the whole world but today, it has been made clear that normality for sporting and leisure events is a long time away.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to that family over the 23 years and to remember those members of that family who have sadly passed during that time.  
“I think we can all be proud of our achievements and I know that we are all so sad that it has come to an end.” 

Dan Ford, who took over the day-to-day running of Poole speedway this year, has stated "First and foremost I have to say that it is a sad outcome for the staff involved in the Greyhound side of the stadium activities and my Dad and I are sorry to learn that some of our colleagues are losing their jobs as a consequence, however, I would like to offer my assurances to our supporters that we have every intention of seeing the bikes roar again in 2021. Of course we have to see how things develop with the current pandemic that wrote off our 2020 season, but the loss of the sport this year has given us even more determination to get the lads back on track here at Wimborne Road, as soon as we possibly can."