Following major track improvements which have led to ‘significant’ injury reductions at Crayford and Romford, Monmore is the latest of the Ladbrokes Coral tracks to be given a new running circuit writes Floyd Amphlett.
Plans have been drawn up to effectively dig up the 22 year old Wolverhampton circuit and start again. Head of Stadia Ian Smyth is hoping to confirm a start date for early May with Jason Begg, who carried out similar work at Romford.
He said: “The whole surface will be dug up, drainage and membranes replaced and we will be using a new sand, similar to our other tracks. I am still waiting to speak to Jason on a start date but we will probably need to close for a week. I would really like to be on the new circuit for the summer festival.”
Smyth declined to reveal the budget for the project beyond “a long way into six figures”.
Ironically, most track upgrades come following times of turmoil. The Monmore decision was made with the Wolverhampton circuit seldom having been more popular. Indeed champion trainer Mark Wallis recently described Monmore as ‘the best track in the country at the moment’.
Although many of the leading kennels have been enticed by the lucrative ‘festival’ events, this Saturday’s card is for ‘regular’ open race prize money and despite the opposition of a televised meeting from Perry Barr, the big names are back.
As is so often the case, the real interest at Monmore is ‘the story behind the story’ and it started with the major track work carried out at Crayford* and Romford in the last 18 months.
*Crayford’s original re-fit was carried out three years ago, though a complete overhaul of track preparations took place last year.
Having originally reported on both projects, for many months I have attempted to pin Smyth down on the most important statistic of all, how has the work affected injury rates?
His response has been consistent, if not exactly illuminating: “there has been a significant reduction in injuries at both tracks”.
How significant?
“I don’t want to quote figures”
Why not?
“Because it is too early, we may still hit a bad patch” or “I want to get through the summer, to compare with last year”, or “I want to go through all the data in detail” or “I am not convinced that we should be issuing detailed injury figures when other tracks aren’t”
Finally, at the umpteenth time of nagging, he replied: “At Crayford (the reduction in injuries is) way upwards of 25%”
By any standards, it is a staggering figure. However the Ladbrokes Coral man remains suspicious of the deep-seated cynicism and bitterness that seems endemic to the greyhound industry – and it is easy to see why.
He said: “I was asked yesterday, ‘is it true that you had four broken hocks at Crayford on Saturday?’ ‘What rubbish! Who told you that?’ What kind if vindictive agendas to these people have?”
In his first interview on this website, Smyth had announced plans to introduce the most detailed injury detection and analysis program ever seen on UK tracks. Because rather like his Ladbrokes predecessor Gordon Bissett, he was only interested in facts, not conjecture. Also, like Bissett, Smyth has developed a keen interest in track circuits and surfaces.
He said: “I learned such a lot at Romford seeing how the track was put together, literally from the ground up. I also learned a great deal about the correct maintenance program from Jason Begg, including the importance of regular rotorvation.
“Those methods have been implemented at all the tracks and I believe they have played a significant role in reducing injury rates.”
However, as Smyth acknowledges, despite all the money and endeavour behind the project, it is the greyhound handlers who will be the final arbiters.
He said: “Ultimately, the trainers will judge us. Things haven’t always gone well; all our tracks have taken some stick at one time or another. But look at the quality and depth of our open race entries in recent months. I think it speaks for itself.”
Monmore’s Saturday opens
