Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium shut its doors for the last time in March 2017, and with it’s closing signalled the end of greyhound racing in London. While controversial to some, in part due to animal welfare concerns, there used to be more than 30 greyhound stadiums operating in London. Since the 1960s, their numbers have been in gradual decline. The legalisation of betting shops in 1961 played a significant part in driving this trend. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain says races still attracts around two million spectators every year, making the sport roughly equivalent in popularity to rugby league. Nevertheless with rising land values in London, and a lack of support from local councils, London now appears to be free from a sport, lamented by some and cherished by others.