Greyhound racing is said to be on its way back to Oxford and speedway fans will be delighted if their sport returns too.
If all goes well, dogs will be racing soon, and what are the prospects for speedway?
The thousands who flocked to Oxford Stadium at Cowley on Thursday evenings to see the Cheetahs in action will be hoping their team can be revived.
Speedway racing was an important part of the city’s sporting scene for nearly 70 years.
Read again: People abseil off city church to remember Muriel
It began in earnest in 1939 when the Oxford Motor Speedway Club moved to the stadium from a grass track at Sandford-on-Thames.
Secretary Ted Mander organised the move and the first race on Easter Saturday that year was won by rider Roy Duke.
After a break for the war, the club joined the National Speedway League Third Division in 1949 following major track improvements.
They were called the Cheetahs after the Oxford Mail ran a competition inviting readers to suggest names for the team.
Oxford finished bottom of the division in their first year, but finished top the next season and were promoted to the Second Division.
They reached the top division in 1957 and became champions for the first time in 1964.
Read more: Camera Club serves up a delicious menu of food photos
The winning team was Arne Pander, Colin Gooddy, Colin McKee, Danny Dunton, Eddie Reeves, George Major, Jack Geran, Jimmy Gooch, John Bishop, Ron How and Ronnie Genz.
They completed the treble that year by winning the National Trophy and the Britannia Shield. The team were also British champions in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001.
They were known under different names – they were the Oxford Rebels from 1972 to 1975 and Oxford Silver Machine from 2003 to 2005 – but for most speedway fans, they were always the ‘Cheetahs’.
The end came in 2007 when promoters were unable to reach a deal with the stadium landowners, the Greyhound Racing Association, to continue speedway racing.
Kevin Boothby, who runs greyhound tracks at Towcester and Henlow, has secured a 10-year lease on the stadium site from owners Galliard Homes.
He hopes to bring greyhound racing, which stopped in 2012, back to the track soon. Speedway enthusiasts hope their favourite sport will follow.
Read more: Museum launches art competition
The return of greyhound racing has brought protests, particularly from animal groups.
Emily Lawrence, regional campaigns manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “It’s a backward step for the city and animal welfare that the cruel sport of greyhound racing is returning to Oxford. Thousands of greyhounds are killed or injured on greyhound tracks every year in the UK, to support an industry which relies upon gambling to fund it, putting profit and greed before the welfare of the animals.”
Members of campaign group Save Oxford Stadium, however, have welcomed the return of sport.
Campaigner David Lestrade said: “All the hard work that everybody put into the Save Oxford Stadium campaign has been fully justified.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here