Sydney's historic Wentworth Park greyhound track holds final race meeting before demolition

The end of an era has fallen upon an Australian sporting landmark as the greyhound races at an inner-city track kicked off for the very last time.

Thousands packed into Wentworth Park in central Sydney on Friday night, where greyhound races have been held since 1932, for the last race meeting before the track's planned demolition. The final race of the night was the richest in the world -- the Million Dollar Chase -- and was won by Magical Ang.

For Geoff Rose, the closure was a sign of the times -- the land in the inner-west suburb of Glebe is worth a fortune in a city where growth will not slow down. But the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association chair remained sad to see the park go. "It is quite heartbreaking to a lot of people," he said.

Another spectator mourning the closure was Jeff Collerson, a veteran greyhound writer who first set foot on the track at Wentworth Park in December 1962 as a 17-year-old cadet journalist. Now 81, he was trackside as the dogs raced around the circuit, nestled against the Sydney city skyline, for the final time and reminisced about his career.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The closure ends a 94-year tradition of greyhound racing at one of Australia's most iconic inner-city venues, affecting trainers, owners and fans who have gathered there for generations.
The site's conversion to parkland reflects the intense development pressure on valuable inner-Sydney land, with implications for other historic sporting venues facing similar redevelopment.
The loss of Wentworth Park as a racing venue may concentrate greyhound racing at fewer tracks in NSW, potentially reshaping the sport's future in the state.

Background

Wentworth Park in Glebe has been a greyhound racing venue since 1932, when the sport first took hold in Sydney. The track, known colloquially as "Wenty," sits on prime land near the CBD surrounded by high-density residential and commercial development. As Sydney's property values have soared, the pressure to rezone and redevelop such large inner-city sites has intensified. The track's demolition and return to parkland follows similar patterns seen with other sporting grounds in Australian cities.

Key Perspectives

Racing community and fans: They express sadness and heartbreak at the loss of a historic venue that has been central to greyhound racing for nearly a century. Many attended the final meeting to pay tribute and say goodbye. Developers and city planners: The valuable inner-west land, now slated to become parkland, represents a major urban redevelopment opportunity. The conversion to green space may satisfy community calls for more public recreation areas. Critics of greyhound racing: While not referenced in reporting of the closure, animal welfare concerns have long dogged the industry, with NSW holding an inquiry and ban that was later reversed. The closure of a major track may be viewed by some as a step toward the sport's eventual phase-out.

What to Watch

Whether the remaining greyhound tracks in NSW, especially in the Sydney region, can absorb the activity displaced from Wentworth Park.
The timeline for demolition and conversion of the site to parkland, and any community consultation on the redevelopment.
Potential political reaction from the NSW government, which has previously intervened in greyhound racing policy.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources