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| 70 years of Yarmouth greyhound stadium | 70 years of Yarmouth greyhound stadium |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A greyhound stadium is charging 1946 prices to celebrate its 70th anniversary. | A greyhound stadium is charging 1946 prices to celebrate its 70th anniversary. |
| Among other offers, punters at Yarmouth Stadium will be charged just five pence for their first pint of beer at Wednesday's meeting. | Among other offers, punters at Yarmouth Stadium will be charged just five pence for their first pint of beer at Wednesday's meeting. |
| The Norfolk stadium has bucked the national trend of greyhound stadium closures over recent years. | The Norfolk stadium has bucked the national trend of greyhound stadium closures over recent years. |
| The number of venues in England has dropped from around 80 to 25 over the past 65 years | The number of venues in England has dropped from around 80 to 25 over the past 65 years |
| Well-known venues such as Harringay, Walthamstow and White City are among those to have shut their door. | |
| But Yarmouth owner Stephen Franklin believes the sport is again gaining a growing audience. | But Yarmouth owner Stephen Franklin believes the sport is again gaining a growing audience. |
| He said: "Races starting in the mornings and being streamed for an international audience and online betting will lead to more future success." | He said: "Races starting in the mornings and being streamed for an international audience and online betting will lead to more future success." |
| Yarmouth Stadium has provided a livelihood for four generations of the Franklin family. | Yarmouth Stadium has provided a livelihood for four generations of the Franklin family. |
| Built in 1939, just a handful of races were held before World War Two - but on 7 December 1946, the crowds flocked back for its first proper meet. | Built in 1939, just a handful of races were held before World War Two - but on 7 December 1946, the crowds flocked back for its first proper meet. |
| The year also saw the launch of the first East Anglian greyhound derby, the competition rapidly evolving to be a 'must win' event. | The year also saw the launch of the first East Anglian greyhound derby, the competition rapidly evolving to be a 'must win' event. |
| The prize money for this year's race was £12,000, considerably more than in 1947. | The prize money for this year's race was £12,000, considerably more than in 1947. |
| Speedway also became part of the sporting mix in 1949 and when the Yarmouth Bloaters team raced against Coventry in a league meeting it was watched by 11,000 spectators, according to records. | Speedway also became part of the sporting mix in 1949 and when the Yarmouth Bloaters team raced against Coventry in a league meeting it was watched by 11,000 spectators, according to records. |
| Non league speedway gave way to stock car racing in 1963 and races are still held at the stadium today on the tarmac raceway. | Non league speedway gave way to stock car racing in 1963 and races are still held at the stadium today on the tarmac raceway. |
| The 1960s proved to be a pivotal time for greyhound and horse racing after High Street betting shops were licensed. | The 1960s proved to be a pivotal time for greyhound and horse racing after High Street betting shops were licensed. |
| Stephen Franklin said their rapid growth saw punters move away from racecourses and into the shops. | Stephen Franklin said their rapid growth saw punters move away from racecourses and into the shops. |
| Mr Franklin said "without the financial support of a levy on bets placed in the betting shops, which were given to horse racing, more greyhound tracks succumbed to property developers." | Mr Franklin said "without the financial support of a levy on bets placed in the betting shops, which were given to horse racing, more greyhound tracks succumbed to property developers." |
| He added that temptation to sell is not really there for the Yarmouth Stadium as the site is on marshes and is not prime development land. | He added that temptation to sell is not really there for the Yarmouth Stadium as the site is on marshes and is not prime development land. |
| The 1970s brought several changes including the refinement of sand racecourses. Originally racing took place on grass. | The 1970s brought several changes including the refinement of sand racecourses. Originally racing took place on grass. |
| New rules were adopted at Yarmouth in 1975 under the auspices of the National Greyhound Racing Club, now known as the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. | New rules were adopted at Yarmouth in 1975 under the auspices of the National Greyhound Racing Club, now known as the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. |
| Holiday makers were the back bone of the business then and today Yarmouth Stadium is still one of the town's biggest evening attractions. | Holiday makers were the back bone of the business then and today Yarmouth Stadium is still one of the town's biggest evening attractions. |
| Improved bar and restaurant facilities were part of an 80s re-vamp while the 1990s saw the introduction of the hare system developed in nearby Swaffham and now virtually universal in Britain and Ireland. | Improved bar and restaurant facilities were part of an 80s re-vamp while the 1990s saw the introduction of the hare system developed in nearby Swaffham and now virtually universal in Britain and Ireland. |
| In 1999 the family set up Homefinders for retired greyhounds and Mr Franklin says this is of great pride to him having begun his career tending the dogs. | In 1999 the family set up Homefinders for retired greyhounds and Mr Franklin says this is of great pride to him having begun his career tending the dogs. |
| He is still involved with the business but has handed over day-to-day running to his sons Justin and Simon. | He is still involved with the business but has handed over day-to-day running to his sons Justin and Simon. |
| Today his grand-daughter Paige is keeping it a family affair and is the fourth generation working for the business in its 270 seat restaurant and executive lounges which Mr Franklin says has made a huge difference to the stadium's success as an entertainment venue. | Today his grand-daughter Paige is keeping it a family affair and is the fourth generation working for the business in its 270 seat restaurant and executive lounges which Mr Franklin says has made a huge difference to the stadium's success as an entertainment venue. |
| Racing at Yarmouth saw a first in 2007 when Sky Sports asked it to host the Television Trophy, a marathon race originated on the BBC. | Racing at Yarmouth saw a first in 2007 when Sky Sports asked it to host the Television Trophy, a marathon race originated on the BBC. |
| It was also the start of a contract to broadcast races live to betting shops. | It was also the start of a contract to broadcast races live to betting shops. |
| Looking ahead to the next 70 years Mr Franklin envisages more digital involvement if greyhound racing to continue to succeed. | Looking ahead to the next 70 years Mr Franklin envisages more digital involvement if greyhound racing to continue to succeed. |
| But he believes the uniqueness of the seaside town will still attract punters looking for live interactive entertainment. | But he believes the uniqueness of the seaside town will still attract punters looking for live interactive entertainment. |