Why ‘rescued’ can never be acceptable
I’ve been made aware of the term ‘rescued’ being used and indeed justified as a term we should be happy to see used about the rehoming of our retiring greyhounds.
Having spent my lifetime in this sport and dedicating myself to the care of my greyhounds I can fully understand the frustrations of the majority of people in the sport when they see and hear this term being used. I have at times in the recent past on occasion tried to listen to the other side of the argument.
I hear the view point that ‘rescued’ sells and it helps with rehoming numbers. Though this maybe true at least in the short term we also have a sport to consider and on consideration the use of the term can only harm and not help our medium to long term prospects.
I’ll be far from alone in this scenario but I’ll be out having a meal or a drink or just about walking my dogs and a member of the public will ask that dreaded question.
Did you rescue him or her?
My usual response will be ‘did I rescue them from what?’
At which point the answer will usually be fired back ‘did I rescue them from a racing career?’
If you’re like me you will be tired of this loathsome question. It does ourselves, as people who dedicate our lives to the greyhounds, a huge disrespect, and from the sport’s point of view, no good whatsoever.
Unless we’re prepared to challenge this uninformed description of our retiring greyhounds, then we’re on a fast route to selling ourselves down the river.
We need to stand up for ourselves and stand up for our dogs. I begrudge nobody that right to earn a good living from reporting on the sport.
People such as Jonathan Kay and Julie Collier, who were the presenters on Thursdays RPGTV show and who both attempted to defend the use of the term ‘rescued’, provide a valuable service to the sport. They do though, need to realise and quickly the offense that the use causes throughout the grass roots level of the game.
Should Jonathan or Julie end up in a situation were an ill relative needs to be taken into care because they can no longer support their needs would they be happy with that person being described as having been rescued from them?
I would guess they would be far from happy with such a description so I ask that they and others who feel it is okay to use the term to think hard about doing so. I’ve heard the argument that it’s ‘just a word’. There are many incidents over the years were a word which was once deemed acceptable in society has rightly been shunned by society as we’ve progressed throughout time.
‘Rescued’ is a term that should be consigned to the same place in history when it comes to describing our retiring greyhounds.
For the dogs sake, for the people working in the games sake, and for the sport’s future sake.
Peter Harnden
GBGB Trainers Representative
No longer a TV spectacle
Yesterday morning I was watching on ITV, The Big Match revisited, fronted and commentated by the late great Brian Moore.
The match involved from January 1975 was between Leyton Orient and Villa. While watching this mudbath of nostalgia, I couldn’t help but been drawn to a couple of the advertising boards alongside the touch line.
One was for Harringay-Monday and Friday nights 7.45p.m. The other for Walthamstow, Tuesday and Saturday nights 7.30pm.
Maybe nothing special in this at the time, but I couldn’t help but think this is another timely reminder just how popular greyhound racing was at this time. Especially racing in the capital.
There would be no way greyhound racing would get that sort of free country wide advertising like i saw on this programme yesterday; especially in the present climate.
And also another example just how its lost that magnet of people that it so easily could attract at that time.
Warrick Pinder
Sad Memories of MK favourite
We used to race greyhounds at Milton Keynes Stadium and had five racing at one time. We really enjoyed our racing in the 1980s; we raced three dogs from the same litter: Northways ‘Shadow’ ‘Rover’ and ‘Meteor’. They were all bred by George Morrow and were wide runners. Northway Rover was a particular favourite and such a genuine dog. We always watched our dogs race and would hoped they would win of course but as long as they returned safe we were happy.
One Saturday we were unable to attend due to a family wedding and were disappointed to miss Rover running. It was a blessing as Rover was badly injured after getting knocked under the hare rail. He was helped on the track by a chap who leaped over the rails and held the injured Rover until the vet could get there. It turned out that his injuries were so bad that he had to be ethanised.
We decided to sponsor a race entitled the Northway Rover Trophy. The first running of this race was won by a greyhound who was owned by the chap who had helped our dog that night.
He was a lovely guy who was a fireman and had dogs of his own. I hope you don’t mind me sharing this story.
Stephen Saunders
Greyhound Star -1999 to finish
I have a full set of these wonderful publications but am now faced with a big down sizing due to a big change of personal circumstances.
If anyone would like these or knows of anyone it would be a pleasure to move them on. There is so much knowledge, advice and news etc hidden within them I am reluctant to dispose of them without this thought. Not forgetting “Editors Chair”!!.
Best wishes to all my racing friends, past and present, especially Peter and June here in Norwich and Nick Carter now back at Crayford.
Nick Potter
07767878410
Indiscriminate interest?
They’ve won !! If I told you 5 years ago that the big owners and trainers (who really need to protect their interests) will be saying they are happy to run their dogs for no prize money so that the competitions can go ahead.
You would have told me to go for a check up. But that’s it, despite multi millions being turned over despite shops being closed. How can a Derby for big money go ahead with no interest from bookmakers. There’s no way Jose. A hardened punter doesn’t care if it’s a pet dog A10 at Crayford or the Derby final. The sad truth is they don’t care just the chance to punt!!
That’s it turn the light off you open race trainers – end of the road boys
Ray Carter
Presumably this is a reference to a number of owners who offered to relinquish prize money for the first round of the Blue Riband, after SIS and RPGTV decided not to broadcast it but promoter Kevin Boothby decided not to cancel?
In fact, Towcester turned down the offers from the owners and insisted on paying full prize money. Furthermore on a first attempt, more than 1,600 people paid to stream the meeting – when they could have watched RPGTV for free!
There is no doubt that fanatical punters will bet on anything and everything. They would probably prefer the FOBT machines – a much quicker way to lose – if that option was still available.
Clearly though, there is a significant group of greyhound fans who appreciate top class racing and who decided to vote with their credit cards. Interesting times ahead.
Ed
