History of course does repeat itself this was the end of dog racing at the Kursaal ground in 1928:
UNITED MANAGEMENT TAKE POSSESSION
The directors of Southend United have taken possession of the Kursaal ground in order to comply with the Football League’s ban on Greyhound racing at the Kursaal. The last greyhound meeting was on Monday 9th July 1928, after which a meeting was held asking the football club to remove the ban, but shortly after midnight the Football club took possession of the ground locking and bolting the gates refusing admission to anyone. On legal advice the locks were changed and entrances bolted with four policemen in attendance.
From the Southend Standard 12th July 1928
Everything from the Electric Hare Racing Club Ltd. had been left in place from the previous nights racing, even a directors Saloon Motor Car had been left in the Car Park, it had been so closely kept secret that even the man who lived on the ground found himself locked in. When the employees of the Racing Club turned up they were refused admission and catering had to be taken into the occupiers locked inside. Later in the morning notices were painted and left on every entrance reading, “the tenancy of the Electric Hare Greyhound Ltd has ceased, no more racing will take place here. By order of the directors of Southend United Football Club”. No one had attempted to enter the enclosure but as afternoon came a small crowd, gathered outside the Woodgrange Drive end probably through curiosity, while at the Beresford Road end there was a crowd of some 200 people, including bookmakers, bookmakers clerks, racing attendees etc, a demonstration ensued with people standing up and making speeches condemning the football club. A couple even climbed a fence and gained admission but they were soon caught and ejected. By nine the crowds had dispersed and the Football Club were in total possession, although the Police stayed on sight for a day or two.
A month later Greyhound Racing at the Kursaal was no more than a memory
END OF GREYHOUND TRACK
It is interesting to note that the whole of the greyhound track has been sold to a company whose intention is to establish dog racing at Watford and that the smaller appliances and fittings have been disposed of to local firms. The electric standards which surround the pitch and which suggested the presence of a light railway have been piled up with the rest of the fittings in and near the entrance on the Beach Road entrance. Everything is down. All that remains is to patch up the fence and clear the ground. Then when the fence is up all that will serve to remind the crowd of the dogs is the yellow grass patches round the four corners and these will soon disappear. All the dogs left the kennels on Friday and Mr. J Shand managing director of the greyhound Company have gone to Liverpool to manage a track there. He has taken several of his old staff with him.
From the Southend Standard 16th August 1928.
With the Greyhound Racing finished at the Kursaal, other tracks were keen to pick up the clientele, racing at West Ham Stadium was soon being advertising in the Southend Standard.
This wasn’t a good time for a betting man in Southend the Horse Races were called off as well
SOUTHEND RACE MEETING POSTPONED
The next meeting of the Southend Race Club fixed to take place on Saturday and Monday next, have been cancelled. The reason for the cancellation is that insufficient entries have been received owing to the fact that similar meetings are being held at Lilleshall Park and South Wales just before the Southend events and not allowing sufficient time to get the horses to Southend. Under the circumstances the directors thought it wise to abandon the meeting;
From the Southend Standard 12th July 1928
Rochford races did continue but before long other Race tracks such as Chelmsford, and others, combined racing with Charabanc travel were being advertised in the Southend Standard