SYNDICATED OWNERS
I have been organising the Syndicates for Alnwick Greyhound Group for 3 years and from our start with Graded runners at Newcastle we have progressed through to Open Race greyhounds who have been contenders in Category One competitions. However the current situation in greyhound racing makes it difficult for owners to see even their graded dogs race and the lack of a workable schedule on Open Racing is creating an increasing pool of disillusioned Syndicate Owners.
As an Example our Droopys Carat competed in the Yarmouth East Anglian Derby during September (Finishing Runner – Up on 16th September) however the next realistic competition ahead for him would be The Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr starting 12th November.
Analysis of the Open Race Calendar also shows the only realistic racing open to him after Yarmouth were an Open at Sheffield in Support of 3 Steps Final or Open Races at Romford/Crayford/Central Park & Carat was duly entered at Sheffield on 29th September and then at Romford on 9th October.
It should be noted that Yarmouth is a 620 mile round trip – Sheffield 350 mile – Romford 650 mile. With 5 trips to Yarmouth ( including Trials ) 1 trip to Sheffield & Romford this meant a cost prohibitive total of 4100 miles which cannot be to the benefit of Greyhound / Trainer /Kennelhands or Owners
The only suitable open races available to Carat before the 12th November at Perry Barr were at Tracks around the London Area ( Romford / Crayford / Central Park ) and to contemplate this trip on a weekly basis from our base at Alnwick cannot be deemed acceptable for any trainer or Greyhound.
It is essential to the survival of Greyhound Racing that a realistic Open Race Schedule is developed that suits ALL regions of the country the alternative is we will continue to lose Owners and Trainers and ultimately the Industry itself. Many Bookmakers / Tracks have stepped up to the mark with credit & thanks to the following Sponsors.
Ladbrokes /Corals – For the Monmore Festival in August
Simon Franklin /RPGTV – For the East Anglian Derby in September
Sheffield & Gain Feeds – For the 3 steps to Victory in September
Ladbrokes /Corals – For the Festival at Romford in September
Arc/Star Sports – For the Derby Festival in October
Ladbrokes/ Coral – For the Crayford Festival in October
I note also the Sponsorship of British Bred events throughout the country in this period
However it must be clear to all that there are many Bookmakers who whilst still benefiting from the income Greyhound Racing generates are :-
- – Still not -contributing to the Fund from Shop income
- – Still not contributing to the fund from Internet income
- – Still not contributing to any Open Race Sponsorship
If all the negligent Bookmakers paid their Dues and/or actively sponsored Greyhound Group Races we would have sufficient funds and security to organise an acceptable Open Race Schedule to ensure the SURVIVAL OF THE SPORT.
“There is no shortage of money in greyhound racing. The issue is who controls it and how it is allocated
Alnwicks Synidcates
It’s down to money
Well done in your summing up how this once great sport is and has gone. But at the end of the day it comes back to money, no need to go into how much the cost of a decent greyhound. But owners need to see a substantial increase in prize money to get them back if ever they want to come back. Trainers buying dogs to keep the racing strength up? What a way to go on! Would you buy a car for someone else to drive? ‘Hope springs eternal’ so they say, but I doubt it.
Keith Smith
Trap draw procedure
I have a question regarding the derby draw last night. 1st 8 greyhounds were railers. 1st drawn placed race 1, second drawn placed race 2, 3 rd drawn race 1 , 4th drawn race 2 etc etc.
After all 8 were drawn the next greyhound was middle runner Smurf machine, surely this draw should have been placed in race 1 so why suddenly/randomly placed in race 2 completely contradicting the procedure previously implemented?
Marc Morris
Nottingham’s Nathan Corden repied: “Under GBGB rules all the draws work left to right for railers (hence first out goes into trap 1/heat 1 then trap 1/heat 2), then right to left for middle seeds starting from the last heat and moving backwards (middle seeds are also placed inside to outside) and then finally returning to left to right for wide seeds. Thus on Saturday evening Smurfs Machine was placed in trap 5 in the second semi-final.
GOSH Fundraiser
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Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club charity golf day in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, organised by Maurice Newman a legend in his own lifetime….been fundraising for over fifty years! 34 teams took part, with competitors from the world of sport, journalism, greyhound racing & business. A fun day was had by everyone with over £18K …
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Great and safe golf & hospitality from SAGC courtesy of owner Phil Newman, plus Katy, Beth and team,
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Sports personalities e.g. Teddy Sheringham MBE, John Conteh MBE, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Flint, Dave Nash and others,
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Commercial sponsors e.g. Direct Commercial, Rebel Racing, UK Packaging, Star Sports, Melbid Construction, G Box, Key Light, WW Signs, B Lochead,
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Generous auction/raffle donors especially Phil Cunningham, Gary Moore Racing, Fergal O’Brien Racing, Tommy Tomkins, Hayden Smith,
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Generous cash donors especially Dave Allen & friends, Dave Fremel, Steve Fluin & The Champagne Club, Michael White, Kevin Proctor and others,
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Six great golf trophies courtesy Mark Burridge,
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Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, and business guests,
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Media contributions from TV producer Steve Katz, photographer Jim Tate, RPGTV Rachel Casey, Jonathan Hobbs & Dave Clark, Press Box PR Fred Nathan, national press, and finally,
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34 great golf teams competing (let me know if I’ve omitted anyone!)
Remembering the ‘nearly’ winners
Can you recall a time when prize money was paid to the second and third placed dogs, in minor open or graded racing?
As the part owner of Riviera Romeo I would welcome this. The dog runs consistently well in A1 grade at Hove but finishes second or third a lot more than he wins. His consistency ensures that he is most unlikely to get dropped in grade, and the current lack of opportunities for the top class dogs in open races is so limited, their is usually one or two in every race that are likely to beat him in a clean run race.
Greater rewards for finishing second or third might just encourage a few more owners to the sport. It might also discourage some trainers to think twice about not letting a dog run on its merits in order to get a downgrade.
Food for thought perhaps.
Mike Harrod
12 Track Future?
Interesting reading about inevitable possibility of 12 tracks only. There is one massive flaw in it though I agree with you on subject 100%.
You only have to see track income vs building and land values/low interest rates etc. Remembering coursing/hunting – a major factor in its demise was “more antis than participants”.
Now you see the danger of twelve tracks or less? A tipping point between Government revenue, fewer jobs involved and shut the 12 tracks to keep the anti numbers quiet?
Facts are not popular but fewer (ever bigger) kennels is a disaster, and you won’t ever succeed without open/graded system (as with horseracing)
Numbers are needed to break up monopolies, force up run/ prize money and reduce distances for runners, attract owners – particularly non attached small trainers gives more chance of runs etc.
Again not popular probably but would it not be advantageous to adjoin with like minded groups, (remember packed out Injured Jockey night at Stow?)
In other words, the more involved the bigger the crowd. A few races of lurchers/whippets/Afghans.
It’s a foolish business that goes bust because it is too proud to adapt or diversify to draw in like minded punters? Simple maths, 300 small trainers is 600 thru the door with kennel man alone and their friends? Ten giant kennels? Well you have seen the results, empty stadiums!
It is the ever bigger giant kennel protected monopolies and refusal to accept or encourage small trainer that has and is costing interest and crowds.
A short term business is suicide: protected monopolies, huge kennels and no way for new small trainers to start (a lost generation of kennel staff etc )
But for hand-me down kennels or land owners, who will replace the present trainers? Working man clubs tried to be exclusive monopoly 15-20 years ago. Now they don’t pick and choose and throw people out, but throw them in
A short term closed market only business models survive short term! Opening up racing to working man small traine, and like minded sports, (+open graded system) will at least delay the decline, and might even reverse it.
Khristina Farrah
I would only make a couple of points Khristina. Firstly, unlike some fellow greyhound journalists, I have NEVER advocated a 12 track industry – I would rather there were 100 tracks. I simply think it is inevitable. Apart from the geographic logistics though, it does make a lot more economic sense for tracks to be racing seven times a week than three.
Secondly, it makes no financial sense to force the small kennel enthusiast out of the industry. The small and hobby trainers contribute massively to its finances. If the industry loses them, then the tracks, and ultimately the betting industry, would have fill the void – everything from buying the dogs to re-homing them. – Ed
Alan Isherwood
Great to hear that Alan Isherwood still has fond memories of the game despite his struggle with Parkinsons disease. I often had a drink and a chat with him, almost always about open racing. I’m sure Alan will remember one occasion in particular that was a talking point for many years to come. To appreciate what you are about to read, you will need to have seen the famous Saturday morning “children’s” show TISWAS (Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, Spit The Dog etc.).
Anyhow, I had arranged to take our top dogs from the old Crayford track to Perry Barr for some Inter Tracks, and we took a full coachload from Kent for the occasion (about 1980). I was having such a good time with Alan and Robbie Poole that we decided to hit a nightclub in Birmingham. Alan enquired as to whether I knew any good nightclubs, and I mentioned the Dolce Vita was a great place, respectful, well run etc. (which I hadn’t been to since I’d left Brum many years previously).
Gary Newbon was in our company and suggested we go to Libertys which was new to me. ‘Great club’ said Gary. Anyhow, the three of us jump into Alan’s jag. Decision time. Is it Dolce Vita or Liberty’s asks Alan. Dolce Vita I replied, you won’t be disappointed. We got there, Alan paid the bouncers so that we get into this exclusive club. Beautiful red carpets. We’re walking up the stairs, and Alan is impressed. He pulls back the black curtain, which leads to the auditorium, and we received avalanches of flans coming our way.
I can remember us all diving frantically out of the way. It’s the only time I had seen Alan almost speechless. Where’s this you’ve brought us to he said. I was in shock myself. It was only later that I found out that the Phantom Flan Flinger was there, and it was Phantom Flan Flinging Night.
I’ve found a clip from the Internet (link below), to give you some idea of who the Phantom Flan Flinger was and what you could expect.
So if you could pass this onto Alan and his sister, it might bring a rye smile to his face.
Tony Smith
