Professional numbers are steady – the decline in greyhound trainers continues – and a very promising start by owner trainers. Those are the main talking points of the 2017 registration figures from the GBGB.
Professional trainers: There were 339 professional handlers licenced by the end of the year. (Two more have since been added during this month). This suggests some short term stability in recent years; for example, there were 340 professional handers in 2014. This follows a lengthier period of decline, compatible with the reduced number of tracks. In 2007 there 508 professionals, in 1997 there were 684.
Greyhound trainers: The greatest decline is the number of greyhound trainers. These are the handlers who are allowed a maximum of ten dogs, beyond which, most of their kennel requirements are similar to those of the professionals, on a pro rata scale. They have declined from 447 to 364 in the same four year period. Back in 2007, there were 917 greyhound trainers and in 1997 the figure was 1,367.
Owner Trainer: These are a new innovation and were introduced last February as an opportunity for amateur trainers. Owners trainers are allowed to train a maximum of two greyhounds who they must own themselves. There is no kennel requirement. By the end of 2017, GBGB had licensed 188 owner trainers and that figure has continued to creep up by the end of January to 206.
In January there was the first transfer to from owner trainer to greyhound trainer, and the first from owner trainer to professional trainer
(And despite the fear of widescale bedlam with the introduction of owner trainers – so far it hasn’t happened – Ed)
