PEOPLE may not have managed to track down Harlow Dog Stadium yet, but then they may not realise the thrill and excitement greyhound racing generates.

Tucked away on a industrial estate off Roydon Road, just off the A1136 Elizabeth Way, this tiny race track which holds just 1500 spectators is certainly not on the scale of the big commercial stadiums like Walthamstow, but then punters may not get the same friendly atmosphere you get at Harlow.

Owner Toni Nicholls bought the land, which was being developed by Harlow Town as a football stadium, from the receivers in 1993 and the venue opened for racing in 1995 with meetings on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

But Toni believes a number of local people may not even know where the track is, or that they have preconceived conceptions of dog racing which are keeping them away.

He said: "We have been here for six years now and while we have done all types of advertising you can still go to a local garage and ask for directions and even they don't know where we are.

"It is also very difficult to get through to people that the cloth cap image associated with dog racing has gone.

"I think if you haven't been to a stadium recently you may still have that image at the back of your mind, but there has been a marked improvement in the facilities and we are always upgrading.

"In the past there weren't things like air conditioning, restaurant food and a fully licensed bar at stadiums, it was more a case of a kiosk selling Bovril. We've got all of that and we will be expanding the main stand in the new year so we can hold a further 300 people.

"Dog racing is more family-oriented entertainment now. We have now got the full age spectrum from children to old age pensioners."

But then Toni is keen to point out that he is not putting his stadium up in direct competition with the likes of Walthamstow.

He said: "We have completely different atmosphere here compared with the big stadiums, and the dog owners who visit all the tracks across the country always say that they find Harlow to be very friendly."

For more information about Harlow dogs call the stadium on 01279 426804.