BGRF board announces Will Roseff as new director representing Bet365

Chairman Joe Scanlon said today: “This is a big step forward for the BGRF and represents our first online bookmaker director. Will is widely known throughout the industry and the BGRF recognises Bet365 as a model company that has supported the greyhound industry over many years.” The pressure on Betfair is expected to continue as they now appear to be increasingly isolated in their stand against greyhound racing contributions. Joe Scanlon added “Betfair’s excuses were never more than thin and they are looking threadbare right now. We urge them to come to the table.” The BGRF is understood to be looking for significant progress during 2016 as discussions between greyhound racing and the betting industry intensify.

We are pleased to announce that Scotbet (49 shops) will be paying from 1st April.

BGRF announces a Welfare Initiatives Fund of £0.5m for 2016

Fund income has held up slightly better than expected over the past year and, together with a handful of write-backs and some underspends on the books, the BGRF is able to announce a Welfare Initiatives Fund of half a million pounds. The details will be worked out in the next few weeks by the GBGB Welfare Committee but it is understood to be an ideal opportunity to take forward ongoing plans for welfare improvements. Joe Scanlon said: “It’s a very welcome step in the right direction. We welcomed the EFRA hearings last year as a means of publicising the work we already do to ensure high welfare standards in the sport – what’s most needed now is greater resources.”

Grants to stadia:

The following grants to stadia have been awarded in the last quarter:

Crayford, Tractor                               19,921

Doncaster, Tractor                               6,750

Newcastle, Kennel Doors                   11,375

Poole, Traps                                        6,499

Romford, Hare rail                             12,750

Sunderland, Kennel Air con                8,625

Swindon, Tractor                                 9,750

Yarmouth, Hare rail                             7,071

 

A full list will be published in the summer at www.bgrf.org.uk

 

Forensic audit

Fund chairman Joe Scanlon said today he did not wish to step into the arena but continued to support the GBGB in its efforts to resist criticism from a minority of activists. “The BGRF is independently audited each and every year by specialist auditors who operate in the charity/ sporting sector [Haysmacintyre] and the GBGB have their own separate auditors. The calls for a ‘forensic audit’ of our books leave me puzzled.”