October 2019 GRA Acquisition sold the lease to the Arena Racing Company and just two months later on 19 December housing planning permission was passed resulting in a probable closure in 2020. The imminent closure came following an announcement on 1 August 2020, with the last race being run on 6 June, won by Rockmount Buster (trained by Gary Griffiths). The closure was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic because the stadium initially closed because of the virus and then the planned re-opening only lasted one race meeting. Competitions Scurry Gold Cup Northern Flat Laurels Cesarewitch Oaks Gold Collar Cock o' the North Manchester Cup Gorton Cup Northern Stayers Stakes Formerly the Northern 700 1937-74 (700 yards), 1975–90 (647 metres) Track records Final Previous Post-metric Pre-metric Protests In 2008, the Sunday Times revealed that Belle Vue greyhounds had been sent for research at Liverpool Veterinary School by Charles Pickering. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain Disciplinary Committee found Pickering in breach of nine rules of racing and ordered that he be made a Warned Off person and fined the sum of £5,000. An incident during 2010 raised concerns over injury rates at Belle Vue. As of 2017 all injury data was made publicly available and independently verified. A 2012 article by the Sunday Express alleged that the kennels of two trainers were kept in unacceptable conditions and highlighted welfare issues. In 2018 licensing and inspecting trainer's kennels was changed and to be conducted through the government-approved, UKAS accredited method. See also 1926 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year References External links Belle Vue Dogs Official Belle Vue Website Belle Vue Owners Forum Belle Vue Aces Fans Site Sports venues completed in 1926 Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom Defunct speedway venues in England Defunct sports venues in Manchester History of sport in Manchester 2020 disestablishments in England 1926 establishments in England