It's been a funny old year at Oxford Stadium - with a difficult start thankfully ended with all guns blazing over the festive period.

Like tracks all over the country, Oxford saw a downturn in attendances and tote figures early in the year.

But packed restaurants leading up to Christmas and another highly successful Boxing Day with a crowd of more than 1,000 saw the attendance and tote figures soar some 15 per cent up on the same time last year.

General manager Stephen Rawle parted company with Oxford in August, to be replaced by Maureen Ridley, who brought some stability back to Sandy Lane.

A Geordie, she doesn't suffer fools gladly, and the stadium looks safe under her guidance.

In fact, since she took over there have been a record 3,800 covers in the Grandstand restaurant.

And a big sigh of relief was felt by all and sundry when the Greyhound Racing Association tracks - which include Oxford - were taken off the market in November after being put up for sale at £100m.

The big open races all went well and it's comforting to know that they are all sponsored for 2008.

That added to a new BAGS contract should ensure that Oxford continue to progress next year.

The racing strength at Cowley has also never been healthier and is set to continue the upward trend.

Ian Wills was crowned champion trainer after producing a steady flow of winners with his tally of around 350 one of the best totals in recent times.

The top greyhound accol- ade fell to the wonderfully- consistent Appleford Al, trained by Angie Kibble.

The big race scene got under way in March with Ballymac Charley, owned by Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, landing the £5,000 William Hill Pall Mall.

Charley went on to reach the Derby semi-finals under the guidance of trainer Charlie Lister.

Poole trainer Jo Burridge picked up the Trafalgar Cup with Westcountry Lady, while Swindon handler Paul Foster went one better than last year by taking the William Hill Cesarewitch with Dark Hondo.

And Barnfield Jo, trained by Julie Luckhurst, took the Oxfordshire Gold Cup.