PETER HARNDEN
Its just about three weeks since I heard that I would be the trainers representative on GBGB.
The reaction has been mixed. Apparently I have had all sorts of abuse on Greyhoundscene with allegations being made by antis about the whereabouts of my retired dogs. Nobody has chosen to take them down, which possibly says something about agendas. Somebody has also set up a false Twitter account in the name of my head man and is sending out disruptive tweets.
I can confirm that the vast majority of my ex-racers have been re-homed. Like all trainers, over the years, very very occasionally, we will have a dog critically injured. But I can prove, with the assistance of the Nottingham retired scheme, where all my ex-racers are now. It is just slurring my name with the antis.
But I don’t want to dwell on the negatives. Some of the biggest names in the industry have phoned to offer their support and advice, and just as important to me, the response from the Nottingham trainers has been immense.
I went to GBGB offices for the first time last week and was able to meet some of the staff and hear their views on various subjects. My first board meeting is a month away.
I have already highlighted three initiatives that I would like to present to the board to help improve the life of trainers and their dogs.
Firstly, I have been made aware of tracks cancelling race meetings after the dogs have kennelled and refusing to compensate trainers. That is unacceptable and costing trainers who have fulfilled their part of the bargain. Not all tracks are guilty, but I would like a commitment that in any future circumstances of abandoned meetings, runner money will be paid whether the dogs actually race or not.
My second strategy concerns the oldest issue of them all, kennelling time. More tracks than ever before are cancelling trial days and asking for dogs to trial before race meetings.
Since they only have one kennelling, and it starts earlier than it would for a race meeting, some of those dogs in later races are in kennels for more than five hours. That is wrong and despite the improvements in most tracks kennels, it is a potential welfare issue.
Again, not all tracks are the same. At Nottingham, trialists and runners in early races are kennelled at 4.30pm with a second kennelling at 6.30pm. I can see no good reason why other tracks can’t adopt a similar policy. It will take a while to formulate but I would like to think that I would get the support of the independent directors and some of the track promoters on this. It is not difficult to enforce.
Finally, I would like to see the best practice that has been introduced at some of the tracks, for the costs of any greyhound receiving a career ending break or fracture to be absorbed by the stadium where it occurred.
That should include veterinary care and re-homing. It should become the industry standard. Us trainers have a tough enough time and it would take away many of our worst headaches.
