There is anger among greyhound racing supporters following an article in today’s Racing Post in which Betfair appear to be justifying their failure to pay into the British Greyhound Racing Fund for the last five years writes Floyd Amphlett.
The article is an apparent response to an open letter from GBGB’s Mark Bird warning of the potential catastrophe for the industry’s welfare ambitions if bookmakers continue to shirk their responsibilities by making voluntary payments into the British Greyhound Racing Fund. Indeed, there are growing concerns that there will be a significant hole in this year’s contributions due to reduced betting, caused by the ARC/SIS media rights battle.
Furthermore, if Betfair and Skybet do not commit to pay, there is a strong possibility that their business rivals will renege on their promises to pay up on their internet betting business.
Two claims in particular within Jonathan Kay’s article seem particularly likely to raise hackles. The first is the claim that £2.5m was paid into “racing and welfare” – presumably that includes the Paddy Power betting shop contributions. The rest? Possibly, some of the cash that Betfair pay into Racing Post Greyhound TV.
The second is that Betfair are ‘willing to pay providing the others do so’. John Gilburn, chairman of the Racecourse Promoters Association was incredulous at the suggestion.
He said: “They are being entirely disingenuous. They have been stalling the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media & Sport) for months, asking for more time. Then they are claiming that they will only pay up if they see audited certification from the other contributors. A company like Betfred is privately owned. Why would they want to make the sensitive commercial information available to their rivals?
“They know that of course, and are using it as a ploy. To be fair to Betfred, they have offered to provide a letter from their financial director in relation to their greyhound turnover. Quite simply, they have called Betfair’s bluff. But Betfair still won’t accept it. Their behaviour is entirely immoral.”
Fellow GBGB director Pete Harnden was equally as frustrated.
The trainers rep said: “I can’t believe those claims, I would like to have seen Betfair grilled on those claims. If they are including RPGTV contributions, that is a business transaction and nothing to do with welfare.
“Make no mistake, if this all goes awry because of Betfair, the implications for greyhound welfare don’t bear thinking about. This industry does its absolute best, but it is the betting industry that makes the big profits. Ultimately, they will carry the can.”
Meanwhile the impressive ‘Pay Up Betfair’ campaign have issued their own response to the Post article. Expect more from them in the coming days and weeks.
