betty, still no sky deal done yet so thats another worry, will there be any coverage on sky next year ? hope there is but seems to be taking a long time to get a deal done

I would be worried to. But I have said on many occasions that the Management of the GRA would in the end destroy this sport.

Wimbledon gave me one of the biggest highlights as a dog owner and the GRA put me through the worst six months of my life with lies after lies. As the old saying goes, he who laughs last laughs longest and the GRA aren't smiling now,

The GRA managemnet are desperate for a management buyout at as cheap a price as possible. Trouble is, the may not have a product to make money from in the coming months

its all bull curley, they cant possibly run top class 460 races around what is the 3rd bend as the 1st bend, theres chaos in the sprints as it is ,might as well move the derby to pelaw grange and in no way
am I knocking pelaw ..they would probably do a better job than whats about to be done at wimbledon.

Are they going to close the executive boxes, the restaurant and the revamped diamond room. Will they be opening them up for the Derby or are they going to be gone for ever. It dont smell right to me, get your punting boots on now Nanny. I promise you the trainers will not be leaving with no money!!!!!

Whats the GRA management got to do with it, even if they are clueless?
The track is owned by a venture capitalist, he payed 60 odd million for 6 or 7 tracks and he wants his money back, and some.
It is or was just a matter of time

believe it is owned by luke johnson
he would sell, if he could, for a profit

Of course he would, but he cant. They appointed agents last year then gave up and nothing has got better since. They say it is cheaper to run the MtM stand than the grandstand and they refurbed the MtM stand in around 2002.
As I see it, all they are trying to do is run at as much of a profit, or as little losses, as they can till the market picks up and they can get rid.
Who buys it when they sell is anyone's guess.

wow so the starting traps and say winning line are going to be moved over to the existing back straight and therefore will be a new trip etc for all races, seems a crazy decision might as well just keep the current main stand open and spend as little as possible

on reading that ex hove trainers comments on english racing in the rp a few days ago, whoes moved over to ireland 7 years ago and doing really well now, how he must laugh as the numptie english

a real shame that the premier track has come to this and it does still have many good open comps, though the prize money is still very poor

one wonders if any sky deal will happen when things like this are occuring

According to the Post, the track is going back to how it was originally designed with the existing back straight being the home straight like it used to be years ago.

catford, i believe that is the official line from the track given at the time. in reality the reasons for losing bags were much different. it is the same reason that the stadium is losing money now, and that is the track bookmakers- most notably tony morris.

couldnt agree more

another nail in dog racings coffin

worcester sauce 13 Nov 14:05

bookmakers wouldnt want to go there same as they dont really want to go to any track at the moment,but here's an idea m.d.m why dont you apply to the gambling commision pay £600 get a licence pay the tracks around £150 a night rent pay a clerk £60 a night wages bet to 125% lay 1 dog per race no maximum bets and see if you can make it pay?

They don't bet to 125% very often, they bet to 140%+ at times. Maybe they would lay more dogs if they hadn't driven away any punter with an opinion (not just winning ones i might add) by refusing to lay them any bets at all. With regard to the "no maximum bet" comment, i am not sure what to say. I personally have had bets as small as £50 knocked back at the track, and one of the bookmakers has told me I cannot bet with him. The same bookmaker has knocked back £20 bets to others that I know, simply because he doesn't like them. People are always quick to say what a hard life being a bookmaker is but the reason they do not take any money is because they do not want to take any money. They are there to pick up the £5 and £10 bets from six packers and have no interest in laying punters/owners.

You obviously don't know how Mr Morris operates. Mr Morris would make it impossible for anybody else to stand down there. I agree that (at times) it may be difficult for the bookmakers, but they also get their share of good times (derby etc). They cost Wimbledon the BAGS contract, and now are driving out anybody who wants to have a bet. This has led to the stadium being empty and any real punters staying at home to bet on here. Owners are also put off, as some are now unable to bet their own dogs. Of course, the low prize money hasn't helped but this would be tolerated by some/most owners.

Also, laying one dog in a race as opposed to 3 or 4 makes no difference to long term profit/loss if your prices are correct. All bookmakers on all sports and all events only lay a few selections. High street firms will only lay the favourite on a premiership football match, but they don't constantly moan that they aren't laying the draw.

p1ss poor is correct. until something is done the track will continue to go downhill. I hope somebody who makes the decision realises this before it is too late.