Punters lost to the sport

Shelbourne Park - Any Saturday night

July

Thurs 12          William Hill UK Festival                                    Sunderland

Wed 18           Betfred Select Stakes                                        Nottingham

Tue 31             Coral Sussex Cup                                             Hove

August

Tue 7               Williamhill.com Puppy Derby                          Wimbledon

Tue 14             Betfred Steel City Cup                                     Sheffield

Tue 21             Grand National/Kent Derby                             Sittingbourne

September

Tue 4             Yorkshire St Leger                                            Doncaster

Wed 12           Coral Champion Stakes                                   Romford

Thu 20             Ladbrokes East Anglian Derby                        Yarmouth

gone forever sorry to say

Shelbourne Park is a great place, completely agree with that. A big night at Hove is enjoyable as well.

Spot On mad dog .. gone forever..!!

i was at crayford last friday calling home a 6/1 winner having taken the fractions with a couple of pals and it was a laugh and a good night......just as good as those winners at hackney or wembly or catford........the clue is....you have to get off your arse and go......

i still remember going to white city harringay wembley hendon truely great times had at those tracks and a lot more

Shelbourne Park 8th September - if this doesn't get your juices flowing nothing will

mad dog, i started on the circuit in the late eighties early ninties and have visited all the tracks in the south (mostly gone) having good times and bad......i still like going and still have fun......i have seen people refused a bet 30 years ago and can see the same now......what has gone is the groups of fellas who used to turn up.....mostly clueless but piggybacking onto someones fancy creating ripples where the old enemy could be toppled off the stool pre-race......and if fortunate enough to find it in front...scream the place down.....in my opinion the basic principals have not changed......theres just fewer of us participating.....

Winja.. I understand what you say about getting up and going.. but I for one just dont like whats on offer at this time.. most people had they're Favourite Tracks which are now gone, and I'm afraid once you lose those people who attended those Tracks, they do not return to go to Tracks they never attended in the 1st place.. In my mind the whole Essence of Greyhound as been destroyed.

Essence of Greyhound Racing.. should have read.

Decent class of hound quite a few Sunday evenings at Coventry

Used to be Hackney in the morning Harringay in the afternoon then back to Hove in the evening. Never used to have a dollar but it was the happiest time of my life.Where did it all go wrong?

i did hackney / harringay/  rommers in evening 

it use to be hackney Saturday am.......crumpet Saturday night and football Sunday morning.......things change.....but the principals of going dog racing have not.......it’s nothing to do with the quality of dog either woody........its backing dogs using actual cash that you carried in your pockets..........it’s a bit more serious when you are effectively betting all your free cash.....a bad night meant sandwiches all week while a good night gave the privilege of the cafe......quite a small target but we all knew a pound won was sweeter than a pound earned......

With respect Winja, i follow the better quality of dog, hence you are more likely to see me at Shelbourne Park, in Ireland than my local track Belle Vue, in England!

a saturday evening at the stow was pure joy think iv been        greyhound racing 2 or 3 times since it closed

thats your loss woody.......

a good example to us all is paul lawrence.....started doing the newcastle vids a few weeks back because he wanted to put up a real opinion on RPGTV......now he knocks out winners left right and centre at the track along with runners who put up a performance....its all about going, or at least watching, getting an opinion and then you can enjoy it again......

yes before videos/dvds that was the key Winja
we had to go to the track and see the dogs running ourselves
although it was easier then with racing on only 2 nights a week

crumpet Saturday night

you obviously dont rate dog racing better than sex Winja

as richard whitely once said.......it used to be twice nightly whitely....now its once yearly....nearly...

Winja.. dont agree with you there , when you say its all about backing dogs with actual cash in your pockets.. When you reflect on how it was .. why should you play up your money on what you now consider to be Sub-Standard Racing & Tracks... For example, I would not bet with someone elses Money at Romford for instance.. and Wimbledon is a complete Khazi..!

the cash comment was refering to when i first started going .......now....it makes no difference....my principal reason is not gambling.....although it is nice to back a winner.......but if someone started going to romford or wimbledon and they understood what they were looking at.....there would come a time quite quickly where they would recognise a chance in a race or two and would like to test that opinion with a bet and so on and so on.......and after missing a meeting or two you ask a like minded fella their opinion on a race.....next thing you are sharing opinions and betting and having fun.....then you sack the wife move in together and get a couple of labradors who you call the boys........oh forget that last bit .....it only happens at monmore!

Winja.. I can see where you are coming from.. but I really believe if Walthamstow does not re-open or another Track does not open in London..The game will finish in a few years... I know so many people who would love to go back Dog Racing but feel there is nothing for them.. Very Sad I know , but it seems like the end is Nigh..!!

Didn't realise the whole of greyhound racing revolved around London

galwat ladies day greyhound meeting, donkey derby

*GALWAY

Matso, I absolutely agree with you on the lack of Tracks in London, and I also feel if nothing turns up on that front.... It is Game Over.

I went to the dogs most nights, but sadly no more. I also feel that there is nowhere to go, I live in London, and do not like the Tracks that are still left, and the more you stay away the more chance of never going back.. even the Tv racing does not do a lot for me.. It seems The Buzz as gone, and the Game is a Shadow of its former self, no matter how much the Pundits try and talk it up.

I pootled down to hove, 12 opens, i lasted 7 races, everybody i used to know to talk too years ago replaced by middle aged women smoking and squawking.

Never been as bored in my life.

Gone forever, dead.

Did you treat yourself to a packet of minstrels kidda ?

i couldnt afford it

romford

Did ya bring the missus roo ?

roo's comments typifies the perception held by those who no longer go....putting aside his description of the hove bookmakers.....cant believe they are still smoking......what was he looking for.........an extension of the pub or dog racing............for me the card is why i go and if i meet people thats OK.....if i dont.....thats also OK.........as long as i can get on what i want when i want........also when you are known by the bookmakers you are extended the trust of calling the bet and settling after........always helpful for last minute changes.......

I suppose i was expecting it to be the same as it was really.

Horse racing and dog racing entertain the same clientele, namely 90% of them have zero interest in whats really going on and the alcohol really is king.

Dunno if the alcohol is king

Most people associate Gambling with greyhounds / horses

If you go for the craic, run a dog, have a decent meal, bit of entertainment afterwards, its a great night out.

why would anyone go to the track anymore when the value on early prices with the off course firms is phenominal 100% books are now the norm cos most of the odds compilers are clueless !!! the value of betting at the track is non exisistant and on 99 out of 100 races all 6 dogs are bigger prices in the morning. obviously im referring to the tournaments, sky meetings and rpgtv

It's still better to watch the racing live rather then on the television in my opinion. By all means bet off course or on here if there is markets and you're getting better value but you can still go along to the track and watch it live.

still the best buzz in the world

Although it's easy for me to say when Shelbourne and Harolds Cross are my local tracks

wembley monday
city tuesday
don wednesday   (occasionally)
city thurs
wembley friday   palais after
city saturday .. birds nest kings road after

Great days not a fxcking care in the world

well if you aint watching it live ...... then how do you know its not virtual ?