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The Monday Column
Why us trainers need to be heard
BY RAB MCNAIR11:59PM 31 JUL 2022
YOU can blame RPGTV for this after they came to film our Hove finalists. I aired my views about most things – some were stronger than others – and they said put pen to paper and get them down in print. Here we go.

The first thing I’d like to say is well done Hove for putting together a brilliant showpiece for greyhound racing at the weekend. Two major events plus supporting competitions and as close to a festival as we’ll get. Without these, open racing would be in trouble.

Open-race trainers can’t afford to travel now as much as they used to with the rising costs of fuel and feed – and prize-money is hardly keeping tabs with that.

So as much as we’d like to travel to Newcastle and Sunderland, it’s not going to happen again until they group a few competitions together.

Unless you get to a Cat One final and they pay £1,000 for also-rans as they did in the Northern Puppy Derby you can’t justify it. Get knocked out in the semis and you’ll lose money. That ain’t right.

And don’t think I’m singling out Newcastle here. It’s the same for their trainers coming down south – it’s not worth their while with the also-run money for one-offs and some events still poor.

One man who is trying to change things is Kevin Boothby and I’m his biggest fan in what he’s trying to do.

Towcester is the best place for the Derby – but I’d like to think those boys are looking at attracting even bigger crowds for final night. Why not 20,000 people? Let’s go for it.

But what I do have an issue with Towcester is their traps. You don’t want trap one there – and that can’t be right for the premier track.
Thankfully they do listen to us trainers and are always looking at what can be done to make it fairer for all.

In fact, I’d say this is a massive problem across the sport. We’re putting people away.

Listen to the pundits and presenters on RPGTV, or read what’s written in the Racing Post or the Greyhound Star. How many times does someone mention the ping-box?

It used to be the three-box at Romford week in, week out, but they sorted that. Now other tracks have taken over – and it’s wrong.
So I’m calling on the sport to standardise traps.

Every track should have the same set and style of traps. Switching dogs is a fallacy – they are creatures of habit. They like their routine and are intelligent. Once they see something it generally sticks and I reckon you might get even cleaner racing because of it.

You’d certainly get fairer racing for punters. And surely that’s what we’re all after, so listen to us trainers – for once.

For instance, why did the GBGB bring in the four-day rule without consulting the trainers?

Now I know Peter Harnden is the trainers’ rep – but he’s not even allowed to tell us what is happening. In what business or boardroom does that happen when the most important stakeholder – those that have the greyhounds in their care – are not consulted? It’s b*llocks!

Trainers deserve a bigger voice – and hopefully that’s something Mark Bird will look to improve. Mark is the best man in his position greyhound racing has ever had. I think what he’s done to tackle the antis has been brilliant and, in what is a difficult job, no-one could have done it better.

That’s not say it’s perfect, far from it, and Mark knows that – but at least he’s fighting the sport’s corner.

The last thing I’d like to see is for greyhound racing to ensure it doesn’t forget those who put the game on the map. I’m talking about people like Charlie Lister and Nick Savva – and there are many others, too.

Why not have a special night’s racing - a Friday or Saturday to get the crowds in - with an all-open race card and Charlie or Nick as the guest of honour?

Name all the races after their champions or Derby winners – and do either a Q&A with them or a meet and greet. Treat them like the celebrities they are.

They and others deserve to be spoilt and NOT to be forgotten.

Until next time .