Greyhound Board of Great Britain managing director Mark Bird has issued the following statement:
“The first point within our GBGB Greyhound Commitment states that ‘Greyhound Welfare and safety is at the heart of everything we do’. We find ourselves within the hottest prolonged start to the Summer since 1967 and with Thursday’s temperatures likely to hit 34-degrees, it is matter of real concern not only for the GBGB, but trainers, owners and promoters. I maintain that it is for the tracks to consider whether they should cancel or suspend racing, based most likely on a combination of determining factors some of which include; transport to and from the track and whether the dogs are subject to air conditioning and over what distances the dogs are travelling? During what times is racing or trialling taking place? Are the track kennels air conditioned or otherwise suitably cooled and what other mitigation can the tracks provide to limit the heat exposure to the racing greyhounds?
“GBGB officials cannot attend every single race meeting, but where they do, they routinely monitor the temperatures of trainers’ vehicles during kennelling and whilst other greyhounds remain on the vehicle. In addition to the racing office, the veterinary surgeon officiating at each track is there to ensure the health and wellbeing of the greyhounds both before and after racing. If they have any concerns as to the heat/ humidity and conditions of the greyhounds, they should outline their rationale to the racing office with a recommendation as to suspending racing. Were the racing office to simply ignore these concerns then it could very easily result in a Local Inquiry with the respective track under the GBGB Rules of Racing.
“The GBGB published its Hot Weather advice to tracks back in April and most recently in June, together with subsequent Calendar notices. Realising that we need to do more, we are now working with stakeholders on a more comprehensive academic and practical review as to weather extremes to, in the future, provide clear and unambiguous guidance to everyone concerned.
“The GBGB notes that Crayford has cancelled its afternoon meeting tomorrow afternoon, while Towcester has cancelled its regular Thursday trial session.”
