Dave Firmager, who has been Britain’s biggest breeder in recent years, may never produce another litter of greyhounds.
The successful Melton Mowbray based businessman who has achieved tremendous success with his “Romeo” boys and “Fabulous” girls prefix, and has a training contract at Hall Green, is disenchanted with the direction that greyhound racing is going.
He said: “It is a year since I had my last bitch mated and I don’t plan to start again any time soon. Why am I so fed up? There are many reasons. I have a kennel full of retired dogs who I can’t find homes for. Like every other breeder, I know everything I breed can’t be a champion but the lesser dogs help keep the game going if you can sell them. But you can’t. You might only be asking £600 for a nice young grader and you get offered £300. You are left with another young dog and I’ve just about had enough of it.”
So does he plan to leave the industry completely?
He says: “I have been in this game for most of my life, but I am not enjoying it like I did. If I did decide to get involved with young dogs again, I’d probably just get a couple from Ireland.”
