Mention Greyhound racing and, for many, it conjures up thoughts of old men in flat caps, jellied eels, dodgy burger vans and perhaps a bit of low-level skulduggery on the side. This may have been the case in the past, but ‘the dogs' have re-invented themselves with plush restaurants, corporate entertainment facilities, private boxes and clean, well run bars - making it a perfect place for a day of casual betting with the lads, ladies or work crowd.

Plenty of characters are still to be found trackside, however, and nothing tastes sweeter than a few foaming pints of lager purchased courtesy of that hapless bookie you and the lads pole-axed when the black dog railed up strongly to snatch the last race.