I usually decline to push my fat English nose into Irish greyhound politics – and at no point am I telling my Irish friends how to run their industry (God knows we have enough problems on the eastern side of the Irish Sea). However, for the benefit of the English readers who want to know what the hell is going on at Shelbourne Park, and for those who insist that the full story is not being reported – here is a view.
Fundamentally Irish greyhound racing continues to be badly run – from minister level downwards and not over a short period of time. Rather like the GBGB, the Irish Greyhound Board has employed some fine foot soldiers but has been led by people who don’t understand the industry. In short – years of incompetence, including some incredibly poor decisions have left a big hole in the finances. The worst – by far – was the building of the new Limerick track. Greyhound Star carried dire warnings from former IGB Chairman Paschal Taggart about the location and size of the venue. All were ignored.
Taggart, by his own admission, was a ‘lucky general’ put in charge at the height of the Celtic Tiger – but I have no doubt that he would have continued to take the industry forward with a lesser budget. He would also have opposed the appointment of the various CEOs who have since been appointed. The last, tried her best, but clearly hadn’t worked out that the British business model would never work on Irish racing – it barely works on the British one.
The net result is that her short term replacement has come in and upped the ante. ‘We have one plan – sell Harolds Cross’. The plan has been on the table for a while but Dr Brady thinks he will deliver it. He will fail.
A statement issued by the Irish Greyhound Board borders on being belligerent- it is certainly inaccurate in suggesting that the Dublin Greyhound Owners & Breeders Association represent a minority of interests. There is strong evidence to suggest that the majority of Ireland’s greyhound folk strongly back the Dublin greyhound folk.
Their message is – your useless organisation – which has allowed tote turnover to slip from €50m to €16m in ten years is looking to sell the family silver to cover your own arses. It is worth noting that Harolds Cross has the third biggest turnover of all the Irish tracks.
It is true that there would be some fairly formidable Dublin characters on the picket of Shelbourne Park, but that isn’t the reason that the owners, trainers, bookmakers and staff won’t cross it. It is because they actively support it.
Sooner or later this will escalate
