{
  "id": 15037160,
  "title": "'A special buzz': fans farewell racing at dog track",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/a-special-buzz-fans-farewell-racing-at-dog-track",
  "topic": null,
  "section": null,
  "published": "2026-10-16T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://armidaleexpress.com.au/story/9370182/a-special-buzz-fans-farewell-racing-at-dog-track"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jeff Collerson first visited the greyhound race track at Wentworth Park in December 1962, as a 17-year-old cadet journalist. At the age of 81, the veteran greyhound writer was present at the park for the final time, as the track was set to be demolished to make way for new sports facilities and green spaces. The track, nestled against the Sydney city skyline, had been hosting greyhound races since 1932 and attracted large crowds throughout the 1970s. It was built between 1876 and 1880 using silt dredged from Sydney's Harbour. Racing was not something Mr. Collerson sought out, but rather was foisted upon him when he transitioned from greyhound writing to rugby league. He fondly recalled the sport's impact on his life, mentioning that he wanted his ashes cast in front of the winning post at Wentworth Park, but changed his mind. The closure of Wentworth Park was deeply mourned by locals, who referred to it affectionately as \"Wenty.\" The track held a special aura that was irreplaceable, giving it a \"special buzz\" that could never be replicated at other tracks. Gloucester Park was chosen as the replacement site for the industry, with plans to build a new racing facility on the site. Prominent greyhound trainer Minnie Finn, who grew up with greyhounds in her backyard, represented four of the runners in the final race. While some mourned the closure of Wentworth Park, others welcomed its end, viewing it as a move towards the industry's eventual demise. However, the industry had evolved over the decades, and the final race meeting also drew the younger generation of fans. Aleisha Kernan and Kirsten Lambros, who work for Greyhounds as Pets, an organization dedicated to the adoption of retired racing dogs, expressed optimism about the future facilities. However, for young punter Harry Dunlop, the loss of Wentworth Park was deeply felt, as it was a \"prominent piece of Australia.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}