Senior representatives from Central Park Greyhound Stadium visited Downing Steet demanding fair treatment to one of the UK’s favourite pastimes.
Central Park’s Business Coordinator Cerys Robbins joined Kevin McKenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, plus volunteers from the track’s homing partners Home Run Hounds and Retired Greyhounds Canterbury.
Together, they and more than 1,000 other signatories are calling on greyhound racing to be exempt from the Government’s decision to increase general betting duty on online and telephone bets from 15% to 25% from April 2027.
Horse racing has been made exempt from the 10% tax hike.
The industry states it is being unfairly treated by government under current proposals which will risk the 7,000 jobs created by greyhound racing and the sport’s £160m annual economic contribution.
Central Park remains Kent’s only greyhound racing track in the county following the closure of Crayford last year.
The Church Road venue is operated by Arena Racing Company, which is also responsible for 16 of the UK’s horse racing tracks including Lingfield, Windsor and Doncaster. Central Park races five times each week, including Tuesday and Saturday nights, with four Category One finals scheduled each year.
Sittingbourne local Cerys joined the track as Business Coordinator in 2025 after attending the races as a child with her family.
“As a child, greyhound racing was a fun family night out – now it’s my life,” said Cerys.
“Before entering the industry, I underestimated just how many people it provides employment to – trainers, kennel staff, vets, caterers, grounds teams and more.
“This year is the sport’s centenary. But by increasing general betting duty by 10%, its long-term future is being placed at risk. We want fairness, and to be treated on a level with our horse racing colleagues.”
More than 900 racegoers turned out to attend Central Park’s most recent Category One final – the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby final.
The race was won by two-year-old rising star Annadown Warrior, who is trained by GBGB Trainer of the Year leader Maxine Locke. The Essex handler attached her kennel to Central Park in the spring, and is in pole position to become the UK’s first female Trainer of the Year since 2002.
Backing the track’s call for the government to reconsider its position was Kevin McKenna MP.
He added: “We’ve got a dog racing track, Central Park, in Sittingbourne and I’m really proud of that fact and I really wanted to support it.
“I think it’s really important that we make sure that these parts of our culture are preserved and protected and actually supported. But also that they’re not treated unfairly compared to other sports like horse racing.”
Further information about Central Park Stadium is available online via www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
