~ New dedicated website launched to give trainers direct access to the updated Rules ~ 

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is today publishing amendments to its Rules of Racing as part of its drive to continue raising welfare and integrity standards under the Greyhound Commitment.

The Rules of Racing amendments, which will be detailed in full in this week’s GBGB calendar, follow the 2020 GBGB licensing review and introduction of new external residential kennel inspections by NSF International.

Key amendments include:

  • Rule 212 & 213: It is now a requirement of the licence that trainers must read, understand and be compliant with the PAS 251 – Specification for Trainers’ Residential Kennels. Developed in partnership with animal welfare organisations, veterinarians, government and industry specialists, the PAS covers all aspects of caring for a racing greyhound from diet, exercise and environmental enrichment to kennel specification and construction.
  • Rule 53 & 195: There are new criteria for disqualifying a greyhound for deliberate interference. The requirement to obtain a signed declaration from the trainer has been removed whilst the trainer (or their representative) must now be given the opportunity to present any mitigation they feel is relevant during a review of the interference. The deadline for submitting the details of a disqualification to the National Form Database has been extended to the end of the meeting.

GBGB will no longer be printing or distributing the Rules of Racing in a physical format. The Rules of Racing will now be moving online onto a dedicated website. This includes a search function as well an archive of all previous versions. The new website is also mobile optimised, allowing licence holders to view Rules of Racing wherever they are.

The Rules of Racing website can be found on the GBGB website under the ‘Rules and Regulation’ heading: www.gbgb.org.uk/rules-regulation/rules-of-racing/.

Paul Illingworth, GBGB Senior Stipendiary Steward, said:

“We are pleased to launch our new Rules of Racing website today. By transferring over to this digital platform we can ensure that everybody is viewing the same issue and can search and print relevant sections. The fact that it is mobile optimised too should make it far easier for trainers and kennelhands to use whilst away from their kennels. This should likewise prove helpful for our own Stewards.  

“We encourage all trainers to read the Rule amendments announced today and become familiar with the new website. Any trainers with questions regarding the amendments should contact their Area Stipendiary Steward.”