Patrick Janssens believes GBGB should not intervene in the preparation of dogs for racing when racing eventually resumes writes Floyd Amphlett.
In a recent Editors Chair, I suggested that tracks could be racing four days after they re-opened for trials, providing that every dog had had at least one sprint trial. The further suggestion was that every greyhound could then have its first race back over a sprint.
Champion trainer Mark Wallis broadly agreed but reckoned he had dogs in the kennel would would be able to race over a standard distance four days after a sprint. Others in the kennel, particularly the stayers, would need at least two trials, and possibly a standard distance race.
His former assistant Patrick Janssens had more to add: “Everything depends on the dog himself and what work he has had at home. I guarantee you that if Bockos Doomie was to run in a sprint trial at Nottingham tonight he would do 17.50. And as any trainer knows, the likelihood is, that he would go slower in his next run. That is how greyhounds are.
“It was a lesson I first learned in Belgium when all the dogs would be off from November to March. You could guarantee that they would take off in their first trial back. You would be all excited, and then disappointed when they trialled again.”
The phenomenon is as old as racing and is summed up by Graham Holland as ‘Boy Racer Syndrome’. The dogs come back so fresh that they often over exert themselves.
Patrick said: “You adapt accordingly after the first trial. For example, if I was to give Goldies Hoddle a sprint trial, I would be quite comfortable in running him in a Romford 400m race on Friday. Others you might want to give a second trial, or even some physio.
“What would be the point in insisting on two trials? Does the dog know that the second run is a trial? Will he be easing himself back in his first run? Of course not. When he goes to traps he doesn’t know whether it is a race or a trial.
“But trainers have to take responsibility. I don’t have a gallop but I have two 70 metre paddocks. When I put the dogs out, they will burn up and down there at least twice. If I get a lazy one, admitedly there aren’t many, I would put them in a paddock next to a dog who will take them up and down the fence. Our dogs are also walked two miles every second day.
“But not everyone is in my position. If you have a trainer whose business is based on racing for betting shop meetings, and they have 100 dogs and only small concrete paddocks, their dogs may not be in the right condition.They may want to put in some extra work.
“But that responsibility has to be theirs. If they are stupid enough to take unfit dogs to the track, then they have to take the consequences, particularly when they own the dogs themselves. In most cases, trainers have more sense.
“But trainers vary and so do dogs. I don’t think the authorities should ever interfere. I remember when Seamus had Jimmy Lollie in training, he was running him twice a week and the dog was sensational. When he had a fortnight off, he didn’t come back as well.
“That is the bigger problem. When I was working with Mark we had Kinda Ready in training. I took him to Monmore and he broke 15.00 for a sprint, which was sensational for a non-sprinter, but he never really recaptured his best form. Some of them struggle to come back to form after an extensive break.”
“I should add that feeding is another factor that trainers have to bear in mind. We have not cut back to cheaper feeding, because that brings its own problems with conditioning and injuries. Our dogs are fed identically as they were when they were in full training. ”
