Karl Brazier, a prominent owner and sponsor at Crayford under his Jay & Kay Coach Tours brand, has expressed deep frustration over Entain's decision to close the stadium. The announcement, made just days before the finals of the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Gold Collar and the Ladbrokes Grand National, has left Brazier both upset and angry.
While not entirely surprised, Brazier described the closure news as poorly timed and deeply disrespectful to the track’s staff, trainers, and sponsors. He criticised bookmakers for wielding excessive control over greyhound racing, acknowledging the delicate balance they bring to the sport’s survival. However, he condemned the announcement, calling it “scandalous” to deliver such news ahead of a major event.
Brazier stated that Entain’s explanation of dwindling support for the track felt hollow, highlighting the company’s decisions to reduce Crayford’s fixture schedule and eliminate popular racing slots like Friday nights and Saturday mornings. These actions, he argued, led directly to declining attendance and disengagement.
He also called attention to the lack of efforts to recruit new trainers, noting that insufficient advertisements were placed even as kennel numbers dwindled. For Brazier, the greatest tragedy is the impact on staff, many of whom face job losses just weeks before Christmas. He described last year’s redundancies during the holiday season, as heartless and believes this latest announcement compounds the lack of care shown to employees.
Despite his anger, Brazier confirmed he will attend Sunday’s event, “I dread to think what the atmosphere will be like on Sunday evening.”
“I, for one, felt like boycotting the night. However, I won’t out of respect and support for the staff who have worked tirelessly to make the event special – Dan, Jenny and Teresa in particular – and the trainers who have worked so hard to get their terrific hounds to the finals.”
“I also couldn’t do that to the owners either, without whom companies like Entain would not exist.”