Toady

I agree the racing was great, but the dust was awful, just like last week. It’s not a pleasant experience for spectators; firstly, there’s nowhere to park, and then get covered in dust. This isn’t good enough, and something needs to change, or people will just drift away and not return.

Anyone know if the parking situation at Unipart has been sorted out, as I haven’t seen any official update on the website as yet?

I think you’re confusing the fact that the site was owned by ADT Auctions, who incidentally sold it to Clark Osbourne. They never ran car auctions from that site. Also, there was a Park and Ride at nearby Groundwell, but it closed around 2009 through lack of use, so it would have been unlikely that option would have been open to Abbey Stadium.

No, definitely two different people, but both with the same weakness: ££££. Neither is remotely interested in speedway; hence Park speaking for the demolition of the Abbey Stadium recently and now dissolving the company that he had been left with after the death of Terry Russell.

It ultimately depends on what the landlords want if Boothby goes under. All we can do is keep turning up and supporting the team.

Enjoyed tonight, good to see some action after all that’s gone on recently. The crowd wasn't that bad, but obviously the weather played a part. The Unipart car park situation was a bit embarrassing, but hopefully sorted for next week. The highlight for me was the Poole reaction when Killeen was excluded and then Wood replacing him for a 5-1 with Masters. I will say for all those complaining about the track, for us to even have any Speedway to watch is something to be thankful for.

As he is still the leaseholder (unless anyone knows any different) then he must be involved.Oxford Speedway Ltd is in Courtney’s name though.

I would think he has; otherwise, he would have been locked out of the stadium. Sis loaned him money in part to get Oxford up and running, I believe, and they obviously have some problem with him if they have pulled the plug on his ventures.

Hope you’re right, but that never bothered them when they closed it the first time round.

The original lease that Kevin Boothby signed with Galliards was for ten years with a break clause for either party at five years. I also understand that they would not be interested in signing another long lease with anyone, so your thinking is correct. Our only hope, due to construction being difficult at the moment, is that they will allow us to stay for now.

Oxford Speedway Ltd have apparently reached an agreement to continue to operate at the stadium (obviously who with only they know). The debt, I believe, is owed by Oxford Stadium Limited. The stadium is owned by Galliards, so maybe they have come to an agreement over the lease payment for at least this season. Beyond that,who knows…

Good news, though. If the statement had been shared here along with your call to ‘get your tickets’, it might have helped some of the recent posters feel a bit more at ease with the situation.

Yes that’s the rub £20000 plus all the running costs and not to mention that lease that allegedly has a 5 year break clause for either party so maybe not such good news if their aren’t any talks with Pgr.

It’s also been reported independently elsewhere that 3 meetings have been arranged this week so as I said we will just have to wait.

Yes but Arc have a contract with PGR so Mildenhall will be ok .The Oxford situation is different as the lessee is heavily indebted to SIS so maybe that’s why they pulled the plug

Mildenhall hasn’t lost the dogs; it’s just a change of lessee from Mr Boothby to Arc. Oxford is still owned by Galliards and we might hear some news about the greyhounds and speedway later this week otherwise….

Nothing strange at all. He took it out using money from SiS in part, and now they’ve obviously called in the debt, hence why the only greyhound tracks they’ve pulled out of are his.

Regrettably for Speedway, some in greyhound circles predicted a similar outcome when Boothby took on Oxford. These rumours gained traction last August when this scenario and timeline were forecasted.

Would be nice to think that they will allow the speedway to continue to the end of the season, but after that previous experience with Galliards, says they will use the viability card and submit new plans for the site.

Whether it did or did not, I think it’s all about the dogs, unfortunately. All it shows is that the often-mentioned subject of viability has reared its ugly head again.

Or put another way, have the chickens finally come home to roost for Mr Boothby? Either way if the speedway can’t raise the reported £20k a month then we won’t even see out this season.

Yes, I believe that is right, but where the money is coming from now, who knows?Courtney registered Oxford Speedway Ltd in January this year, so maybe he has another income source. I also heard a rumour that he has been asked to cover the lease until October at £20,000 a month. How true that is…

Can’t be Boothby? He ain’t got any, he owes lots and won’t have much income going forward..

Looks like GBGB have little confidence in the future of Oxford and Kevin Boothby. Mark Bird, GBGB CEO, said: "GBGB understands why SIS has made this decision and shares their concerns about the situations at Oxford and Suffolk Downs. While Suffolk Downs was due to change hands next month regardless, Oxford's closure will be a real loss for our sport and the track will undoubtedly be missed by all its connections. "With such a sudden closure, our priority is the welfare of the greyhounds connected to both tracks and we are also concerned for the staff and trainers who will be affected. We will ensure that our Stipendiary staff are liaising with trainers and their staff as to the situation. "Kevin has made a considerable impact on greyhound racing during his time in the sport, and everyone in the sport will remember the success he made of the Derby in the years he promoted it at Towcester."

He owes a significant amount of money across his business and administration could be next. As discussed on here, someone like ARC could take on the lease.