Bruno Berwick, whose Derby winning exploits provided one of the great racing fairytales of recent times, would like the GBGB to re-examine the case that led to him leaving the sport writes Floyd Amphlett.
The small greyhound trainer who took former Romford A4 grader Salad Dodger to win the 2014 English Derby was banished just eight months later when Perry Barr grader Mays Goodluck tested positive for cocaine.
The dangers of incorrectly assessed cocaine positives were highlighted in the most recent Editors Chair. Berwick had no prior knowledge of the editorial but admits to being overjoyed at seeing his case highlighted.
He said: “It was exactly as it read in the article. I had originally asked John Coleman to represent me at the stewards enquiry. He took one look at the evidence and said ‘you don’t need me, they can’t possibly find against you on that evidence.
“But from the moment that I walked into that inquiry, I knew they were out to get me. They had decided I was guilty and wanted me out of the game.
“Basically, they were told from their own expert that according to the traces of benzoylecgonine, the drug must have been given to the dog at least six hours before.
“But then they worked out, that if I had given the dog just a tiny drop or cocaine, just before kennelling, which they rounded down to four hours, it might have tested for it.
“But if I had done that, then there would still have been traces of cocaine still in the sample after the race! There wasn’t any.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was an absolute fit up and totally corrupt. They had made up their minds that I was guilty and would do whatever was necessary.
“Even though they suspended my licence, I threw it back at them anyway. I wanted no part of any industry that was so rotten.
“Listen, when I was a young man I got myself into a bit of trouble, not dishonesty, it was to do with fighting, and had to go to court. I was guilty, I pleaded guilty and took my punishment with no complaints. But this was just wrong.”
It was only after a more recent case that Berwick still felt angry enough to react.
It concerned Nottingham trainer Kelly Tobin and greyhound Fearsome Flicker. A positive test showed the presence of benzoylecgonine and although Ms Tobin was fined £750, it was for breach of rules relating to vicarious liability.
Crucially, the Greyhound Regulatory Board declined to prosecute under the same rule that Berwick had been charged – rule 174i (a).
It reads “has administered or attempted to administer or has allowed or caused to be administered or connived at or procured the administration to a Greyhound of any quantity of any substance which by its nature could
affect the performance of the Greyhound or could prejudice the well being
of a Greyhound;”
In other words, although a trainer must ultimately be held responsible for the positive test, there was no suggestion that Ms Tobin had knowingly allowed the drug to be administered.
The difference was fundamental in Bruno Berwick’s mind.
He said: “The details were virtually identical to mine. I could see no difference. I spoke to Mark Bird and he could not have been more decent.
“He apologised for what had happened in the past and said it would never happen again. I was very impressed by how open he was.”
But clearly Mays Goodluck must have come into contact with cocaine at some stage within those previous four days before the test?
Bruno says: “Yes. I tried to work out what had happened and it was ironic that I had had some security cameras fitted in the kennels about three or four days earlier.
“The workmen were all young guys in their 30s. I don’t know whether any of them were taking drugs, but so many of them do these days. When I told Declan Donnelly (CEO GRB), his only interest was whether they were licensed to be around my dogs.”
Bruno continues to own a number of racing dogs but vowed never to train again. Bird’s response has him reconsidering.
He said: “I have been involved with greyhounds, with my dad, ever since I was a young boy. They are in my blood.
“Everybody remembers Salad Dodger but I had a lot of success with other dogs and took several from graded racing to break track records.
“I had never so much had a stewards enquiry before then. They blackened by name and reputation, which they had no right to do.
“I would love it if GBGB would re-open the case and look at it again.”
If they did, would the 2015 Derby winning trainer take out a licence again?
“I don’t like the way the game has gone with too much racing, though I think that will eventually resolved itself, and I also miss the SKY racing. But I love greyhounds and with Mark Bird now in charge . . . probably.”
