To continue with a selection of ideas that would enhance greyhound racing – but have so far not been devised by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, I suggest the following.

It would cost a minimal amount to create and operate, and far from being a ‘one per cent’ industry innovation, I believe it would ultimately be of huge benefit to the greyhound and betting industries. . .

 

2) GBGB should fund a new App that would make greyhound racing more accessible to the masses

For greyhound racing to survive and prosper it needs to engage new generations of followers.

The loss of half of all greyhound tracks in the last 40 years has reduced opportunities to engage in greyhound racing – but fortunately this has been counterbalanced by technology. If the punter can’t or won’t come greyhound racing – it can be delivered to them via their satellite dish, phone or iPad.

But you can’t just expect someone to suss greyhound racing without a bit of guidance and your traditional racecard might as well be written in Urdu.

If you have ever taken anyone racing for the first time, you will have noticed a glazed look come across their face as they contemplate the racecard. What exactly is ‘w bk d’? Or ‘Sa Aw, V BBlk 2’? Or ‘27.86 Sund’? etc etc

Greyhound racing’s early racecards were once very simple. They came more sophisticated as interest grew and novice punters were pretty much left to figure it out for themselves.

Now that is just about possible to learn more if you are brave enough to ask the red faced bloke who has just hurled a crumpled betting ticket to the floor, but not so simple for the punter at home.

But technology has the answer.

Imagine the next SKY card. The purists already have the race sussed, (or think they do). They can download the form, buy the Racing Post or try to decipher the racing jargon from the TV pundits.

But imagine the novice being given the option to download the free app. Skip ‘punter level’ and click on ‘Give me some help’. Up flashes a simplified card with:

9.19 WILLIAM HILL ST.LEGER

The St. Leger is the predominant stayers race in the Calendar (races from around 540-700 metres) with a history tracing back to 1928 and the old Wembley Stadium. It is now staged over 687m which is roughly a lap and a half of the Wimbledon circuit.

T1 (red) CLORAN PADDY A known class act over the shorter distances (480-500 metres), Paddy’s running style always looked as though he would relish the extra half lap. He is unbeaten in the competition to date with three wins but will need to avoid bumping in the first half lap where he would hope to take a lead.

T2 (blue) BILLYS BULLET Billy has been a champion in his day and is possibly in the twilight of his career. Billy has been patiently nursed back to full health after a serious injury and previously won two major competitions, Prestige Stakes which is run at Hall Green in Birmingham and the Regency which is staged at Hove. Billy isn’t expected to lead but will be running on strongly. One for the punters who like to bet at big prices, he will probably start at around the 20-1 mark.

And so on

The App would even have a third level of participation – Lucky dip’. If it work for the National Lottery – why not?

In the grand scheme of things, it would cost beans to develop the App which could be flagged up for ‘free download’ on every televised TV programme.

Live streaming and technology offer a great future to greyhound racing but unless we meet punters halfway, they will stick to punting that they understand.