REFLECTIONS – A POST DERBY BLOG

By GBGB Welfare Ambassador & owner Mark Burridge

Nothing to rival . . .

It has been just over a week since the Derby final at Towcester, where over 4,000 folk enjoyed a fabulous night’s racing – as well as a night meeting up with old friends.

Whilst the Northamptonshire venue is not everyone’s ideal host for our greatest race, it is becoming blindingly obvious that nothing can rival the overall experience.

Despite the wretched train strike, which may have accounted for 10-15% missing, the number was more than decent, particularly taking into account the cost of living crisis.

I love the fact that, even if for one night, a great atmosphere is created as the crowd is dominated by genuine greyhound racing people, Derby night regulars, who appreciate seeing the best canine stars in action.

Each and every year, as it has been for many years, you still want to be there for the greatest of greyhound racing occasions. For some it is pure tradition.

There were lots of smiling faces all night long with, notably, several younger enthusiasts attending with friends and families.

There were tribute acts, entertainment, drinks easily available and food options for all.

Former boxing champs John Conteh & Michael Watson, courtesy of Mo Newman, were also there to see the racing and sign autographs for some appreciative fans.

For those with the stamina there was even a post racing disco as well.

There was a noticeable determination to enjoy the night, something that had built on social media all throughout the month, particularly the final week. A really buzz!

According to Star Sports blogger Simon Nott even the betting ring was vibrant, with plenty of big punts, just like the old days.

 

What a final we had too, in that you could make a case for every greyhound to win, each would have been a popular victor but it was the worthy favourite Romeo Magico who took his chance at the first bend, roared to the front at half way and came home ahead of Peter Cronin’s youngster Kildare and the hugely supported Mickys Barrett.

Owner Dave Firmager has been a massive supporter of greyhound racing and breeding over the years. How many can say they have seen their Derby winner from the very moment they entered the world?

‘Badger’ as Magico is named after his distinctive markings will now look to head to Ireland to take on the best in their own Derby with an extra £50,000 bonus from Ben Keith’s Star Sports should Graham Holland’s charge complete the double.

‘It has been quite a week for us with so many kind people sending messages of congratulations, with the general consensus that Magico is a great  Derby winner’said Firmager last Friday.

To complete the night for the purists, in the finale, marathon superstar Space Jet ran away from her rivals in the closing stages of The Original Foods Dorando, to win by nearly a dozen lengths.

The roar from the stand was deafening as Matt Dartnall’s St Leger & TV Trophy winner  romped home, with punters  more cheered by the style of her win rather  than the prohibitive odds of 1/5.

It was that kind of night!

The Derby debrief has already taken place between Nathan Corden, StarSports brilliant and indefatigable Kim Sanzone along with David Stewart.

 

Why was the Derby experience so good this year?

Louisa Strahan, a relative newbie to greyhound racing, took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the evening and loved meeting the retired greyhounds on site.

‘There was such a good atmosphere and all the people were so friendly’.

Jonathan Mullin, operations and marketing executive at Ripon Racecourse, a keen owner and breeder felt it was ‘ A thoroughly enjoyable evening and a great Derby Final.

‘There’s no hiding from the fact that the sport has its challenges at the moment but it is equally important to focus on the things that we do well. Final night was a great atmosphere and a celebration of all that is good about greyhound racing.’

Owner Jack Bingham felt the whole evening was “very well organised and seeing the retired dogs made my night. It is a great message to send out to the wider community about the care and loving homes these dogs receive after they finish racing.

“That is my third Towcester Derby and easily the best yet, right from the first round to the finals night, it was first class”

Neil Price said: “It was a wonderful evening, there are not many better places when the sun is shining than to watch greyhound racing than Towcester’.

‘There are a few things that could make it even better still but I’d bet short odds that the greyhound community has grown from the thousands that attended and that’s what success looks like, well done Star Sports & Towcester.”

Neil very sadly lost his mother Julie recently, another huge greyhound lover and the likeable Welshman asked to mention his deep appreciation of all the supportive from the greyhound family.

Adrian Blanco Perez, who flew in from Spain for the weekend, is another young owner of English runners and he was delighted to have made the long journey. ‘To be fair it was the most magical night of the year and to watch the top dogs performing, whilst meeting up with friends and many greyhound enthusiasts was brilliant. The atmosphere on Derby night makes for a great spectacle’

There were several others making long journeys; plenty of the ‘faces’ from Ireland & Scotland who support this prestige evening without fail.

One of these is Dick Hawthorn, who made the journey from north of the border with some pals. ‘I thought the competition was brilliant right from the start, Towcester might not be everyone’s cup of tea but to watch good greyhounds competing with a huge crowd, it really is the only place to hold the Derby’. 

The O’Brien-Mchpherson Racing team, led by Dr Simon, were supportive throughout and attended five of the six weekends, almost picking up the Derby Plate  with the line coming inches too soon for their Goldies Perryman.

‘Loved every minute of it. What a fantastic event which naturally builds to the incredible Finals night and I’ll definitely be back next year, hopefully with a few dogs.’ A winner on finals night would be the dream’.

 

So many people deserve the credit for this year’s success and many will point to the non-stop coverage, helped in no small way by David Stewart’s brilliant orchestration on social media for the sponsors. It went to a new level.

The regular reports in Greyhound Star from Floyd and Mark, the ageless Steve Nash with the very best greyhound shots each week and Dave Clark did a great job as MC at the track, engaging the crowd with Spin the Wheel and producing some great interviews.

Kevin Boothby simply has to get a mention. Without him there isn’t a Towcester! How he must have enjoyed having a Derby finalist in Savana Beau, fittingly bought out of Greyhound Trader’s excellent sales at Towcester in April.

Then there were the retired greyhounds and their owners, spreading the message, that was so well supported throughout the rounds.

Over £5,000 was raised in all, for the rehoming centres, which does make a huge difference. A great effort from everyone.

I also believed RPGTV’s coverage was a good as could be each round. Pre-race interviews with trainers and post-race connection comments were woven seamlessly in between the action.

The one wish, for our biggest evening of all is to have the whole programme focusing on just the one meeting .  After all, is really is that – just one night!

This would allow more features and interviews on the night of all that is taking place, so viewers can partake more in the atmosphere at the track.

That will not be down to the producers but let us hope the sponsors see the longer term benefits of such a shift.

Overall though, it was the greyhound people who made this year’s Derby; the stakeholders.

Lots of personal content, views, videos, discussions, and debates on social media gave this long and gripping event some real energy.

It really is amazing what can be done when a good percentage pull in the same direction.

For the final word on this year’s Derby that goes to Nathan Corden from the venue.

‘This was the first time since the 2019 event that everyone was free to travel. It was fantastic to see many friends and familiar faces from Ireland make the journey once again’

Last year was very last minute due to the lifting of some Covid restrictions the week leading up to the final, so it was difficult to prepare fully and know what to expect.

This year we had plenty of time and I believe Team Towcester delivered on the whole. I was particularly pleased with the quality of the racing.

Planning for next year has already begun and we hope to make it bigger and better.’

Next year could see very easily 5,000 plus attending.

One thing we already know, of those that attended this year, they will be back.

 

There’s only one Micky Barrett

PR story of this year’s Star Sports & TRC Derby was undoubtedly the Micky Barrett Syndicate and their greyhound’s army of enthusiastic fans.

Fittingly the decider was a year to the day since they bought the son of Out of Range.

The beginning of his career followed the path of the members beloved Nottingham Forest last season, with a rather indifferent start, finishing 6th, 4th then 5th in his first three races.

Mickys Barrett was named as a tribute to their late friend of the same name, a genuine Nottingham character, who was a very good sportsman and an ‘equally fabulous human being’.

‘He could have played football at a higher level but he preferred to play in teams with his mates, which is why we all loved him.’ said one of the owners Paul Howitt

Everyone in the 64 strong syndicate knew Micky and the idea came about through an idea from Ash White, who put this to Howitt and the rest is history.

If you wondered, like me, who is the tall guy in dark glasses with the mini guitar and the dummy dressed in a Nottingham Forest shirt that is indeed Ash!

The rather quiet additional and smallest member of this merry band of followers has been named Trent End Trev. Dummy or not, he gets in all the right places!

Not only did ‘Trev’ make it to the Championship Play Off Final at Wembley, far more importantly he was a regular at Towcester and even gate-crashed the stunning Boothy Suite for the Classic decider.

The syndicate brought enthusiasm and fun to each and every Derby round where they turned up to cheer on their charge, just as they did earlier in the year at Newcastle when ‘Mickys’ made the Arc Northern Puppy Derby Final.

On the journey down to Towcester on finals night the convoy of fans visited two local pubs close to the track.

‘We even meet some Irishmen who told us they had come over specifically to cheer on Micky and it wasn’t long before they joined us in the singing’ added Paul.

“We gave them the orange hats and they supported us on the night, everyone we met wished us luck and the whole experience was like a dream. We could not believe that we could suddenly be in the Derby decider and from the semi-final on, the Monday lunch and leading up to the big day we simply loved and took in every moment’

“We sat with Susan Hennessey and her family on Derby night, what lovely people who made us feel very part of the occasion. We still didn’t know how on earth we had got here with all these greyhound racing celebrities. Only normally see them on TV’ Paul chuckled.

The ‘Mickys Crew’ very sportingly cheered and sang about the brilliant winner Magico, which just added to the atmosphere and colour on the night.

 

The following morning on from the Final, Ash White (right) had a full nine minutes of coverage on the Jonny Owen and Friends show on Talksport.

 Owen, a fellow Forest fan and syndicate member, ‘owns a claw’ according to White and the syndicate leader spoke very humbly about the whole Derby experience and became, understandably, very emotional when talking about his great friend Micky, who left us far too soon.

The syndicate boys & girls have been a real credit to the sport of greyhound racing and gifted us the best publicity for many years.

Mickys now goes for a trial at Dundalk with a view to running in the prestigious International on the 12th July and the syndicate also have puppy Nottinghamforest set to contest some Open Races.

‘We might even look at breeding from Mickys, to keep it all going, we leave and trust so much to Jason Gray (trainer) that we are just waiting to see what happen’.

This has been an incredible adventure for us all and whatever transpires from here the memories we take are very special’ said Paul having a moment to reflect.

We have all been lucky to witness the fun and let us hope this charismatic group of followers are heard cheering on their greys for a long time ahead.

 

Syndicates – the only way to grow the sport?

The BHA recently announced that attendances at racecourses are down by a hefty 16% this year, mainly due to the cost of living and entrance prices regarded by many as too high.

What an opportunity then, for greyhound racing.

Weekend racing can still see decent numbers attending and you could quite easily own a greyhound, or two, via syndication and have your night out for less than going horseracing!

We simply must make a concerted effort to bring new people into the sport, for without a steady introduction of first time owners other problems will surface down the line.

There appears to be, in my view, an acceptance that trainer owned dogs in large numbers are there just to satisfy a contract.

We can talk about welfare progress, of which there has been plenty, yet how can we not look to the future and not foresee a potential crisis with rehoming?

It goes without saying that owners are far more likely to retire their greys at home. Not all can, of course, which is where the rehoming centres do such a wonderful job but what can a trainer do?

They will need kennel space for new recruits and if injured or retired, the pressure can build.

This model is so flawed that I can only hope it is revisited by those in charge sooner rather than later!

This is nothing against those particular trainers. After all it is their living but a concerted effort from everyone to grow owners is essential, if not just to deal with this potential issue alone.

 

I understand from the new GBGB Owner Practitioner Director Ian Foster that the Owners Portal is set to be substantially extended and will have a section on syndicates.

Ian runs syndicates  himself, eleven dogs alone running under Noduff Racing, complete with a website updating all members.

There are hundreds of great syndicates out there, that can come together for various reasons, the Mickys Barrett story proving the fun that can be had when a group of like-minded folk come together for a common cause.

Syndicates are a great way to ease the beginner into the sport, who can converse with more experienced members to find learn about greyhounds, as can be done via kennel visits.

As many will know, once the family get involved it is inevitable that some will then consider these amazing, intelligent, humble and beautiful greyhounds as the next pet.

Is enough done by promoters at tracks? Maybe some more than others but everyone who attends racing are a potential new owners/homers.

How about each track having someone on site to talk about ownership/homing? Engaging with the racing crowd is the best way forward.

It is vital we maximise the potential of our customers.

Maybe ‘syndicate nights’ at tracks? A full list of options at a new track, in the race programmes.

Football clubs, sports clubs, pubs, social clubs, they are all areas with members and a common theme, a great place to start.

People will come together for something they love, so why not a greyhound representing them and an opportunity for a group to get together and enjoy ownership together for less than the cost of a pint a week!

In the last week one track has already taken to social media to promote syndicates and the O’Brien – McPherson Racing partnership (Twitter following 51k) is clearly looking to the same and build a team of new owners.

We need more, lots more please.

Right from the top, we all need to up our game to bring in a steady stream of additional stakeholders to help maintain the welfare standards to which we commit.

There is no doubt the word is spreading that greyhounds make great pets.

No doubt a lot of this has been due to the education from owners to fellow dog walkers and passers-by, when out on our daily walks.

The #retirednotrescued mantra has been a big success.

Slowly, very slowly but yet still noticeable, the general public are realising greyhounds have it a lot better than they previously thought.

Education and patience is starting to pay off.

Social media remains our greatest platform and so many do this brilliantly, breeders, trainers and of course owners.

Showing off the greyhounds soft, kind, characteristics, their grace and beauty will continue to show everyone how lucky we are to have them as our pets.

They will always be the ultimate canine paradox – these incredibly handsome, sleek, athletic creatures really do only require the minimum of walks and are incredibly low maintenance

As we all know, they will however steal your heart, your couch and possibly your bed!