GBGB Managing Director Mark Bird is giving an emphatic nod to the UK government that British licensed greyhound racing will be more than ready to race again behind closed doors, as and when the current restrictions placed on society to combat the Covid-19 virus can be relaxed.
“We were quite literally the last show in town for UK sport whilst we raced behind closed doors, and it is our intention to be the first to return to that position” said Bird.
GBGB has had a small industry-led working group planning how the sport can return to racing in a responsible but efficient manner. The group, which has been working on the return for the last few weeks, has looked at how tracks can implement increased social distancing controls whilst maintaining integrity and welfare needs.
“From conversations that I have had with DCMS and key politicians, they acknowledge that we took our responsibilities seriously whilst racing behind closed doors, but we know that there is still room to improve, based not least on any updated government advice. We have been looking at all preventive measures against contact between racing staff and trainers, as well as enhanced hygiene controls, in line with other industries’ best practice guidelines.
“We have always been clear that returning to racing as soon as it is safe to do so is in the best interest of our greyhounds and their ongoing care. So, as well as these safeguards for staff and trainers and our wider communities, our plans are very much focused on the welfare, health and fitness of the dogs.
“A return to greyhound racing isn’t as simple as flicking a switch. Greyhounds – like any human athlete – will need to get back into training and racing safely following this pause. The working group is discussing how that can be best be facilitated and, where appropriate, we will look at certain dispensations. There is some real creativity in what the group are looking at, added into some very strict controls on social distancing.
“The reality will be that racing behind closed doors will most likely only provide a betting product to online customers in the short term as LBO’s will likely remain closed, but the imperative here is to start racing again, as that will at least allow incomes to start flowing again to both tracks and trainers.”
The working group are hoping to have their operational plan ready for submission by GBGB to DCMS early next week, emphasising their focus on quality consideration rather than speed.
Bird said, “It is important to strike a balance between government efforts to control the virus versus a sound, responsible plan for greyhound racing’s return once the green shoots of normality start to show.”