News and Events | Greyhound Racing at East End Park

Greyhound Programme

Greyhound racing took place at East End Park after a run track opened on 5th June 1931. The track went around the perimeter of park and remained open until 1951. The opening meeting at the track attracted dogs from as far afield as Glasgow. The winner of the first ever race - the Pittencrieff Stakes over 480 yards - was Sure Away. Races were held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Greyhound racing had been introduced in an attempt to assist the running costs of the football club. At the end of the 1930-31 football season, a grass greyhound circuit was laid around the pitch and it was commonly believed that it saved the football club from bankruptcy.

Following two decades of greyhound racing at the venue, the football club ended its association with a sport that had provided crucial financial support during difficult times. The decision came after persistent concerns about pitch quality, particularly deterioration in the corner flag zones where the dog racing track bordered the playing surface. Additional pressure came from the Scottish Football League, which maintained a firm stance against hosting greyhound racing at member club stadiums. As a result, East End Park held its last greyhound meeting in November 1951.

The following was written by Michael Innes

`The dog has a pedigree. That is to say it probably didn`t have a pedigree but in a way inherited one. I would like to say it played for Dunfermline Athletic in the 1932 to 1933 season, as the Pars attempted to lift themselves out of the second division. However, that would be an exaggeration. It certainly had the pace but was otherwise disinterested. No, it ran at East End Park between games as it were.

Estervid won the 8.00pm dog race at East End Park on 16th March 1935 and the Heritage Trust has not only the dog`s photo but also the race card. It lists all the dogs placed first, second and third that evening.

You will be wondering about the name. My late stepfather David was in his mid-twenties at the time of the race, the elder of three McEwan brothers. James, Peter and David shared the ownership of the greyhound and it was named after all three.

Perhaps it won more than one race but I have no such record and know very little about the brothers from around that time. Dave died in 1965, although his brothers were still around then. Peter was a miner and James, a dockyard labourer. I have no knowledge of what came of them.

Nonetheless, the card and the photo commemorate their fine victory and is a little bit of local history.

Michael Innes
Rosyth
31st July 2018