The Dream
I bought my first dog in 2003 and the last in 2020. I wanted to live a dream.
Being a horse racing fanatic in my teenage years, my bookie visits would draw me to Hackney, Wimbledon and Walthamstow. Soon I fell in love with the “dog game” and started on my journey at a track in the West Midlands.
I absolutely adored Thursday nights at the dogs with my Dad and Brother, naturally this progressed to Saturdays and bumping off work for BAGS and the Perry Barr Monday sales. I had an insatiable appetite for learning breeding lines and that magic “click”.
When dog folk say “it’s in the blood” that’s absolutely true. Tens of thousands later and enjoying relative success trying to beat the big boys at wherever I had dogs, I look back and regret three things. Who you trust, who you believe and who you just walk on by.
Yes, the game now seems a bit plastic and not true grass roots. I yearn for the days of the £500 one offs on Sky with whatever final was on that Tuesday night. Watching Top Savings in full cry, I’ll never see one faster.
For now, the dream is over. But, as a true greyhound man, I’ll be back. Maybe wiser. Perhaps not. That’s our dog game we all love.
Identity withheld by Editor
Martin Race
It is with a sad heart that I have come to realise my career in the greyhound industry has come to an end after a 30 year span. Portsmouth, Swindon, Peterborough, Henlow & Suffolk Downs.
My leaving Suffolk Downs was maybe the biggest mistake I’ve made; thinking I was a more cherished member of staff and trying to get things sorted.
Moving to Doncaster was an experience. I was made to feel like a gatecrasher in a family party in the racing office. It couldn’t continue that way and the best option for Doncaster and myself was to leave.
A note to the GBGB. When you hold an interview and someone tells you they have a young family and are putting all their eggs in one basket so would like to find out if its a yes or no a.s.a.p, don’t leave them 8 days to find out by having to ring you to find out its a no because the person who was interviewed 2 days earlier showed more ‘enthusiasm’. I’m guessing the time was used waiting for the other person to accept the job.
To all the friends and foes within the sport, thank you for making this great sport what it is. All the best for the future
Martin Race
Doncaster promoter Robert Watson responded: “I was very sorry that it didn’t work out for Martin. There are actually three members of the same family in the racing office and Martin had been working in a different environment and may have struggled to adapt. It is a shame, because I think he is an excellent racing manager, and person, and would have made a positive difference to the stadium.”
