The Irish Derby final proved to be all we expected with a three dog photo finish and a worthy winner in Lenson Bocko, but I cannot understand why this was a five dog final?
If a semi finalist withdraws lame a week prior to the final then why does the fourth dog in the withdrawn dogs semi final not automatically be given a final place? A five dog final makes no sense to me at all and the IGB and GBGB should seriously look at this ruling.
Mike Kelly
I am sorry Mike but I disagree. As frustrating as it is to see empty traps, any form of substitution is open to abuse.
What happens when the well backed ante post favourite finishes fourth in the semi final. How long until the owner of the rag in the final gets a call suggesting his dog might be lame or off-colour? £££.
I have heard it suggested that an empty box might be occupied by an eliminated dog ‘to make up the number’ and betting market. Even if they were ineligible from taking the winner’s prize, would anyone want to take part?
I think it is different in low value Irish sweepstakes where the opportunity to showcase a young dog takes precedent over a virtually non-existent betting market.
The one area that is inexcusable for empty boxes is invitation races, eg the Select Stakes. I cannot remember a Select Stakes where the original six press chosen runners went to traps.
There are invariably at least two or three changes, up to as many as five prior to the race. But there are still last minute withdrawals. In the last five Selects, there have been three empty traps. Although reserves were originally selected, they have often opted to contest a race on the same card.
The solution might be to insist on reserves for each seeding up to kennelling time. It would be a condition of entry. But any dog on standby should be paid the same as the fourth-sixth in the race itself.
Ed
Another good sum up from the Editors Chair. Hopefully Towcester opens. But have to ask were will the greyhounds come from?
Perry Barr can’t fill their open evening meetings shortage of greyhounds. The overall picture is of no owners coming in the sport. The few that are there do it for the love of the game. Prize money does not stack up for owners.
I owned and trained on Leicester and Perry Barr some years ago. I was told some years back that the only tracks that will remain open will be bookmaker owned. This I’m afraid looks the way it is going.
Keith Smith
This is too big a topic for a full answer Keith, but I agree completely. Track closures are inevitable. At several tracks, the loss of one/two of the biggest kennels would result in an inability to fill a BAGS/SIS fixture and the loss of just one weekly fixture would make many tracks unviable.
I can imagine scenarios whereby trainers drive past their local track for an extra few bob being offered elsewhere, unaware that by the time they choose to return, their ‘local’ might well have shut.
Ed
I wonder if you could have a word with the GBGB as I find it impossible to get in contact with Mark Bird and get no joy from any one in his office.
I rang Mark about two years ago just before the Greyhound Derby at Towcester, to see if it would be possible for P.J Fahy to stay at my house with one dog.
I have kennels which were licensed as I do not keep dogs I never replaced the license, but as there is now a license for an owner to have one dog in the house, he said he could see no problem.
I have a friend who would like to come over for the English Oaks at Swindon I wonder if you could have a word to see if any thing has been done about this.
Brian King
I have forwarded your letter to GBGB senior steward Paul Illingworth and will report any changes in the rules, should they occur.
As a champion of the scheme to allow trainers to keep a runner in the house, rather than a mandatory kennel, I have been delighted by the success or the scheme over the past three years.
If GBGB can allow a dog to race from a sofa, why not from a previously registered kennel? Okay, maybe fill in a form giving details, supply photos even. But there should be no need for kennel checks unless the number of runners from the same kennel exceeded a sensible limit.
As someone who hammered the stewards (NGRC/GBGB) for their petty regulations for over three decades, I can honestly we are in much more enlightened times so fingers crossed.
Ed
