Before highways, shopping centers, and auto auctions reshaped the landscape, the roar of the crowd and the thunder of racing greyhounds made Williams Street one of the South Coast’s busiest destinations.
The Taunton Dog Track opened in 1935 as a modest rural oval, attracting local fans eager for an evening of excitement. Everything changed in 1941 when businessman Joseph Linsey purchased the facility and transformed it into one of New England’s premier greyhound racing venues.
For decades, the Taunton track became a local institution, drawing thousands of spectators who packed the grandstands to cheer on their favorites. It wasn’t just about the races—it was a social event where families, friends, and racing enthusiasts gathered under the lights.
A major chapter ended in 1981 when the Taunton facility closed and merged with nearby Raynham Park, creating the sprawling Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park. While racing continued just a few miles away, the original Williams Street property—technically located in North Dighton—entered a new era. It later became a popular flea market before a devastating fire destroyed the buildings in 2001. Today, the site is home to the Manheim New England Auto Auction.
The combined Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park went on to make history in its own right. In 1971, it became the first major racetrack in the nation to offer live racing seven days a week, reflecting the sport’s enormous popularity. Nearly two decades later, in 1989, the track set a world record with an annual betting handle of $240 million, cementing its place as one of the busiest greyhound racing venues in the world.
The final chapter came after Massachusetts voters approved a statewide referendum in 2008 banning live greyhound racing. One year later, on December 26, 2009, the last race was run, bringing an end to more than seven decades of greyhound racing in the region.
Today, little remains of either track, but for generations of local residents, the memories of bright lights, packed grandstands, racing programs, and the thrill of the chase remain an unforgettable part of Greater Taunton’s history.
