Nathan Corden
A new greyhound sales auction company is set to hit the scene this spring as Nathan Corden and his son James launch GreyhoundTrader.com – writes Floyd Amphlett.
With the future of greyhound sales likely to become more ‘remote’, the pair have been building the infrastructure to enable to potential buyers to fully engage in sales, even if they are unable to attend in person.
Nathan said: “Our first sale will be at Towcester on Wednesday 21st April and we plan to start with a bang with a top class Pre-Derby sale. The timing should be perfect with customers able to purchase their Derby hope at the sale allowing a good six weeks for their new charge to settle into new surroundings and qualify for racing.
“We hope to have 60 lots available probably made up of 30 potential ‘Derby dogs’ and then 30 top class pups which can be aimed at Towcester’s new Category 1 puppy competition scheduled to start the night before the English Greyhound Derby Final.”
“The plan is to hold monthly sales around the UK and we hope to announce a full schedule within the next few weeks. We already have tentative dates for sales at Central Park, Monmore, Romford and Towcester but we are waiting on a couple more tracks to come back with exact dates before we announce the full schedule.”
“Obviously the current Covid-19 restrictions are not ideal, however the technology will be in place to view the sales trials online and customers will be able to make online bids.
“We are comfortable that if restrictions mean the public cannot attend the sales they will have the capability to do everything from their computer or smartphone.”
“Brexit has been a worry too with concerns over the transportation of greyhounds from Ireland to the UK, however within the last week most of the transporters we have spoke to have resumed their weekly runs to the UK from Ireland. It will mean a little more paperwork for us and vendors but we need to ensure everything is done correctly with the relevant authorities.”
Nathan’s son James, 20, is currently in his 2nd year at Leeds Beckett University studying Sports Business Management but plans to be as active as possible in the new business.
“I am excited to get started and cannot wait for our first sale in April. My first venture into ownership was a share in Bubbly Mustang and then soon after Mark Burridge got me involved in his Jotainthelastminute Syndicate (even though I’m a Nottingham Forest fan!).
“My dad and I now have a litter of pups out of a sister to Skywalker Logan by Dorotas Wildcat which are 16 weeks old and with Shane O’Gorman in Portlaw, Co Waterford (who reared Steel City Cup winner Tyndall Baz for my grandad). It looks like I have the bug already!”
“Our website www.greyhoundtrader.com (@GreyderSales) is currently under construction however people can go onto the website now and sign up for the latest news.
“We are very pleased with the progress of the website and we know we need to ensure the latest technology is used such as streaming the trials and giving our customers the option to bid online. Not only will we make sure the website and technology is good quality, but we will ensure we bring over quality greyhounds for all budgets to our sales.”
Nathan added: “We have been planning this for a while, and already have a number of Ireland’s leading breeders committing to sending us pups. But given the anticipated shortage in the number of available greyhounds in the next year, we are always keen to expand our group of contacts. So get in touch.”
