Wentworth Park ends 94 years of greyhound racing
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After 94 years, greyhound racing concluded at Sydney’s Wentworth Park track with a final race meet attended by a sold-out crowd of 6,000 people.
For decades, “Wenty” had been a local institution, drawing large crowds in its early years, though attendance later declined with the rise of off-track betting. The track’s closure follows years of debate over animal welfare in the sport, including a previously announced and then reversed ban in 2016.
Animal rights activists gathered to celebrate the end of racing at the track, while long-time owners, trainers, and punters attended the final meet with mixed emotions. Trainer Ron Marsden, who had visited the track since childhood, expressed sadness at its closure. Greyhound Racing NSW plans to relocate racing to Gosford and eventually to Richmond, investing in upgrades to secure the sport’s financial future and ensure long-term ownership of the site.
The City of Sydney Council will convert the Wentworth Park land into sports fields and parkland, responding to a need for more recreational space in the densely populated area. The NSW government has pledged $10 million to aid the transition, though some, like Greens MP Kobi Shetty, believe the funds could be better allocated elsewhere.
