The Derby debate

I have seen many dogs disqualified for fighting (deliberate interference) in my 60 years in greyhound racing.

In my opinion, you should not condemn a dog because of something he does when he is inexperienced. Perhaps the best example I saw was a dog called Nanchez who had his card marked in his second qualifying trial. Yet he went on to win a string of open races for myself and Pam Heasman. I think at one stage he won about a dozen open races in a row including competitions. He later went on and won a string of flapping Derbys.

At no stage did he ever look as though he was going to do anything wrong. You have to give these young dogs the time to grow up before you condemn them. To disqualify a dog in its qualifying trials was an absolute disgrace.

I can understand that you want to be as satisfied as it is possible to be, before you allow them into the English Derby, but a probationary period of maybe eight or ten races should be enough in my opinion.

When you think how many dogs fight for a second time, it is very very few. And it has always been that way.

Pat Quinn

Mick The Miller Mosaic

Despite an initial positive communication with Galliard Homes, well they at least responded to e mails.  This ceased as the date for demolition approached. Having been advised that I should contact 777 demolition and given a contact e mail, that person has not replied.  Not satisfied with ending greyhound racing at Wimbledon, the opportunity to make millions of pounds profit, Galliard Homes want to deny the one remaining piece of racing history at Wimbledon from it’s supporters.

Bob Boswell

China

If you think the trip to China to try to help greyhounds there was a ‘Jolly” in your words, maybe you have not seen and heard the footage of the dogs at the wildlife park screaming and barking in their concrete prisons, these dogs had little water, bedding or any form of comfort. They dig holes in the sand to try to shelter from the heat in summer, and endure freezing temperatures in winter. Its a heart wrenching scene, not a jolly.

Dog eating is not rare, greyhound eating is not rare, my own dog was amongst 13 greyhounds crammed in one truck on top of each other, slung in by metal clamps around their necks, I have the video of my boy in there, he was lucky, he only had pneumonia and bites, infected, swollen legs, some greyhounds have distemper and they still slaughter and eat them.

Please don’t make light of this atrocity, these greyhounds did not pack their bags and decide to go to China. The greyhound racing industry are wholly responsible for this outrage against this magnificent, dignified breed.

They exported them there, they have started this and I bet they are too busy counting their cash to even bat an eyelid.

Don’t knock people trying to help what the greedy industry has started, they have well and truly shat on the dogs they reckon they love. And for your record, illegal greyhound tracks in China often have a slaughterhouse close by for the injured and fallen. Still, have a nice night at the dogs.

Sue Cotton

 

Editor Floyd Amphlett responds. . .

In terms of the barbaric treatment of dogs in China, most people reading this website would share your revulsion of a culture with a set of values that allows this to happen. You may not choose to believe that, but whether you do or not is irrelevant to this response.

However, I would like to clarify a few issues:

1) The vast majority of greyhounds in China originated in Australia, as they always have done over decades. Until the last year, it was virtually unknown for British or Irish greyhounds to be exported there. Quite frankly, and sadly, nobody saw it coming.

2) The British/Irish greyhounds who were sold into China were for breeding, not racing, nor the meat trade. Most of the females were probably given away – not sold – by their original owners in the (naïve) hope that they would have a chance to produce pups.

3) Even if the British and Irish racing communities had been aware that the dogs were headed to China, it would have been impossible to prevent it. Sooner or later, a middleman could have lied about the ultimate destination of the dogs. Only Governments can enforce sanctions, and even then, the dogs could have been sold into an intermediate country and then moved on again.

4) It would seem to the casual reader that you are attempting to blame British/Irish greyhound racing for the practice of eating dog meat and any cruelty associated with it. Even, when by your own admission, the tracks are illegal. Shouldn’t your target be the Chinese authorities?

5) The Editors Chair piece to which you are referring was carefully researched from a variety of trusted sources including this,  this and this. I am satisfied that it was materially accurate.

To conclude Sue, although the decent greyhound folk feel unfairly tainted for a situation in which they are minor and unsuspecting participants, the vast majority would surely understand your lashing out and commend your attempts at trying to make a difference.

My contempt is aimed at those whose contribution to welfare extends no further than putting a ‘Paypal donate’ button on their websites.