Sir, I read with interest Peter Harden’s comprehensive letter on the current state of greyhound racing, agreeing fully with most of his comments. Mark Bird brings vast management expertise as managing director of the GBGB and is doing a brilliant job and should be supported by all of us as owners or trainers. Funding is of paramount importance to improve greyhound welfare, rehoming, track safety and veterinary science. A major concern I have is the constant criticisms, via the media, about bookmakers “voluntary” contributions, voluntary being the key factor word here.
These constant media criticisms jeopardise Mark Bird’s negotiating ability with Betfair and Paddy Power. We all know that greyhound racing provides an important service for these lucrative companies, but, in my view, a symbiotic case has to be put by the GBGB to several bookmakers not sharing the contribution load, a sum reported to be currently £7.2 million with the GBGB looking for a figure nearer £9 million, for income to be used to grant funds to trainers to improve kennels, greyhound welfare issues of such importance, and a brilliantly innovative apprentice scheme for kennel staff.
A couple of personal grievances that I have, do racing offices realise how dangerous it is the schedule open races as late as 10pm? Trainers or kennel staff then have to drive back to their base, at times over three hours or more away in the middle of the night, after already having completed a full day in the kennels, then driving to the open race venue track. This can lead to a dangerous level of tiredness and the last thing I want to read is a coroner’s report about a serious accident via falling asleep at the wheel. No open race should be schedule any later than 9pm on the card.
Secondly, kennel staff have no trade union and following Peter Harnden’s letter in the Star, I wish that more owners and trainers would use the columns of the Greyhound Star to air grievances, that’s the only way matters can be resolved. Kennel staff turn up for work at 8am, then leave for a BAGS meeting to arrive at 12-30pm for kennelling, many get back with their charges to paddock and feed after 7pm, at several tracks reported to me, they receive nothing by way of a cup of tea or a meal voucher. To me that is disgraceful and a gross negation of basic workers rights by “some” tracks, not all I have to add. This is a relatively minor issue compared to bookmakers voluntary contributions, but, nevertheless extremely important and should be addressed by any track that recognises that they do not provide kennel staff with a meal voucher at a BAGS meeting. In my day as a kennel man and headman, we were always provided with meal vouchers at White City, Walthamstow, Clapton, the old Perry Barr track and many other venues, why does that not happen now?
Michael Kelly
Monmore Green Owner
07961301506
I must comment on a statement in Graham (Holland)’s recent column whereby he bemoaned the fact that all handlers should be licensed.
I work in the racing media here in Australia and have been in dogs for over 35yrs. It has always been the case that handlers need to be licensed here in Australia and I am astonished that someone in Grahams position, with his experience, and his recent history cant see why it is important for anyone handling a greyhound in an offical capacity to be licensed.
It shouldn’t require explanation to be fair.
Integrity is everything in racing and I am astonished, absolutely gobsmacked, that in Ireland an unlicensed person can handle a dog on race night. To allow such a thing invites all sorts of under-handed practices to take place, and I am completely amazed by Grahams reluctance to want a more professional approach taken to what is an obvious integrity flaw.
Jason Lincoln
With respect, you are comparing apples and pears. Australian racing is based on a business model that is funded by the betting industry. Millions of $$ are ploughed back into racing from TAB turnover. Compare that to Irish racing – which is pretty much ‘club racing’. Enthusiasts paying €10 to enter a runner and not even getting their money back if the dog gets beat. These guys are enthusiasts who are subsiding their hobby. There are no kennel inspections for the small guys because most don’t have kennels. So why would they want a kennel hand’s licence?- Ed
