A modern sculpture outside Marks & Spencer on the High Street. The sculpture has recently been moved here from Dovecot Street where it originally stood.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A modern sculpture outside Marks & Spencer on the High Street. The sculpture has recently been moved here from Dovecot Street where it originally stood.
Picture Stockton Archive 
What a nice way to depict greyhounds – I am vehemently anti greyhound racing which is responsible for the death and disappearance of 1000s of dogs every year. They can make wonderful pets and learn to behave like other dogs – playing just like they are depicted here. Well done to the sculptor.
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I have just spotted this ,how nice, it brought back memories of my courting days. Neil my husband and I used to go to the dog racing at cleveland park often in the late 50s we called that stretch of road the erimus between Stockton and Middlesbrough,we also went to the speedway I can still smell the cinder track a nostalgic smell to me,great days if we won at the greyhounds we used to go to the sit down fish and chip shop and have supper that was a treat in those days not many people ate out then.
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The track Mike Heslop refers to was on the Wilderness Road & called Cleveland Park which also staged the Middlesbrough Speedway.The greyhound statue was made by Stockton engineering firm called Dual Engineering.
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Whilst searching for the statue of the Irish greyhound Master McGrath in County Waterford I came upon Stockton”s site. Despite the usual, and unneccessary, criticism your greyhounds may have received (q.v. Ian Smith) I think they are bright and happy. If one cannot be complimentary about something then one should keep one”s “trap” (greyhounds, get it??) firmly shut! These laughing, bouncy dogs are such a glorious change from morbid grey granite or bilious yellow Portland and Ham stone. I”ll admit I”m biased in the greyhounds” favour. I have eight rescued dogs, all of which I am proud to have as companions. Better than a miserable human any day!
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The three greyhounds are a tribute to the Bellvue Dog track that used to be on Norton Road, Stockton. Also they use to run in the High Street many moons ago. At the bottom of Stockton High Street there was a public house called the Greyhound, which was sited on the corner of Yarm Lane and the High Street. It was next to the Army and Navy Stores and I now believe it to be Kings Wool shop.
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A correction to my earlier comment re. the statue in Belgium. I am reminded by my daughter that in fact it is in Brunnsom near Maastrict in Holland. She lived there in the 1990″s and I saw the mother and child statue on a visit. I guess my memory had a ” senior moment”. Apologies.
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Looks like a great statue. During the forties the Norton Road dog track was one of the most popular sporting events in town, there was also a track on what I think was called Thornaby Road. (the road to the Boro). The Norton track was also a trial track were dog”s qualified for their standings & or a license to race. Any day before race day many handlers, me included could be seen walking the local dog”s up and down the High Street showing off the condition or lack of, in the hope of influencing the on track betting.
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The greyhound statue is an unusual choice and style for a statue, but don”t knock it because it is different. I visited a friend who lives in Mechelen in Belgium and they have an unusual statue there.It”s a young woman and a child sheltering under an umbrella. The point sticking out of the top of the opened umbrella acts as a fountain outlet thus continually showering the pair with a gentle shower of rain. The statue stands on a slight depression with a drain in the centre. Simple but brilliant.
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SORRY!!! I just cant see the attraction at all pull them down and bin them ASAP
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This is such a fun sculpture … we have 3 rescued retired racing greyhounds and they are such wonderful companions. We wish your town all the luck revitalizing!
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This is beautiful, I dont see much greyhound stuff so knowing this is set up in the middle of a public place where everyone can see it I feel is wonderful. What a great way to represent the greyhounds as playing – because thats what they do. This couldnt be more perfect.
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The work is called ‘Racing Ahead’ and was commissioned by Stockton City Challenge to reflect the forward looking and energetic regeneration of the Town. The Artist Irene Brown intended the work to be sited adjacent to the town hall, on the west side, where the dogs would appear to be running the length of the street. Far from being a reinforcement of the so called ‘flat cap and whippets’ image, greyhounds have been used since egyption times to depict sophistication and refinement.
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One of the sculptures was damaged in 2003; it was removed for repair. I believe the company that created them was in financial trouble at one point during 2003 but are fine now. They look fantastic.
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