Greyhounds
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09 Apr 24
22:15
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Date Joined:
15 Oct 01
I wish as a school child I hadn’t watched Sportsnight growing up and saw greyhound racing for the first time.
Purely by chance the first race I ever saw featured the one and only Scurlogue Champ - who could not become intoxicated by our wonderful sport with an introduction like that!
Then came SIS and Hackney live! Watching Tracton Charm continually deliver over 523m in the Getting out Stakes on Saturday Mornings was a thrill in itself - his only nemesis was Hackney specialist Curryhills Press who had a touch of the Scurlogue’s himself with his powerful finishes - was never as effective elsewhere and despite being fav for the 1988 Gold Collar over 555m at Catford was well beaten in the final by Ginger’s Sard. The sheer disbelief of 150/1 Mossy Moore another lifetime memory.
Was also so fortunate in that my first ever Derby I watched was also 88. Everyone will remember Hit The Lid against Curryhills Gara but the strength in depth was incredible with super hounds such as Captain’s Trail and Sam Bridge amongst too many others to mention.
Also remember some poignant moments - watching Ravage Again at Powderhall over 241 metres completely missing the break and despite showing some incredible early pace being mullered at the first bend and unable to reel in John Coleman’s Base Rate.
Nowadays I sadly rarely watch greyhound racing despite having had a deep affection for it, but have now fallen out of love for the sport and tend to stick to watching tennis and golf both of which I have played for decades.
Who is responsible for the current malaise and perilous position that greyhound racing finds itself in with its very future at stake?
Is it the GBGB - a somewhat toothless regulatory authority who at best try to fulfill the mandate of the former NGRC? Not really as far as I can see.
Perhaps it’s the Antis - determined to ban our ‘cruel’ sport by painting an unfair and inaccurate picture of those involved.
No, not them either. I think most supporters of greyhound racing would agree with the principle that the health and welfare of dogs must be first and foremost. The recent vomitgate incident was as Phil Donaldson said a bad own goal. What the Antis don’t appreciate is that the overwhelming majority of trainers are animal lovers above all and the health and welfare of their hounds comes way above any trophies garnered.
Perhaps it’s the lack of a Barry Hearn type figure to grab the sport by the scruff of it’s neck and promote it far better than has been done? Perhaps. Greyhound Racing as a whole has certainly been guilty for far too many years for having a naive Micawberesque attitude to its future. Certainly such a figurehead would have been beneficial.
Maybe the previously unthinkable closure of the last London track was the death knell? Certainly a body blow.
What about the people on the gravy train - people taking a lot out and giving nothing back? Yes, to a point. I don’t and never have agreed, however, that the pundits/presenters on RPGTV were guilty of that charge despite some comments to that effect in the past on this forum.
I think the vast majority of them were passionate supporters of our sport
RPGTV at its best is a huge loss with the current PGR alternative, in my view, not worth watching. It’s the equivalent of LIV golf.
That leaves us with the bookmakers - not the on-course layers who I generally have respect for but the national firms. I can’ t say on this forum what I really think of them. Happy to kill the golden goose, happy to let unfortunate addicts lose all their money on the ‘crack cocaine’ machines with legislation having been required to minimise that avenue of pleasure, happy to not accept relatively small bets, happy to avoid contributing to a levy, happy to throw RPGTV under the bus when it suited them, happy to take everything from the sport and give nothing back. Innovative people like Harry Findlay at Coventry were not permitted to continue as did not suit their agenda.
Let there be no doubt, they are the real villains and the real reason why the future for our sport is so bleak.
Purely by chance the first race I ever saw featured the one and only Scurlogue Champ - who could not become intoxicated by our wonderful sport with an introduction like that!
Then came SIS and Hackney live! Watching Tracton Charm continually deliver over 523m in the Getting out Stakes on Saturday Mornings was a thrill in itself - his only nemesis was Hackney specialist Curryhills Press who had a touch of the Scurlogue’s himself with his powerful finishes - was never as effective elsewhere and despite being fav for the 1988 Gold Collar over 555m at Catford was well beaten in the final by Ginger’s Sard. The sheer disbelief of 150/1 Mossy Moore another lifetime memory.
Was also so fortunate in that my first ever Derby I watched was also 88. Everyone will remember Hit The Lid against Curryhills Gara but the strength in depth was incredible with super hounds such as Captain’s Trail and Sam Bridge amongst too many others to mention.
Also remember some poignant moments - watching Ravage Again at Powderhall over 241 metres completely missing the break and despite showing some incredible early pace being mullered at the first bend and unable to reel in John Coleman’s Base Rate.
Nowadays I sadly rarely watch greyhound racing despite having had a deep affection for it, but have now fallen out of love for the sport and tend to stick to watching tennis and golf both of which I have played for decades.
Who is responsible for the current malaise and perilous position that greyhound racing finds itself in with its very future at stake?
Is it the GBGB - a somewhat toothless regulatory authority who at best try to fulfill the mandate of the former NGRC? Not really as far as I can see.
Perhaps it’s the Antis - determined to ban our ‘cruel’ sport by painting an unfair and inaccurate picture of those involved.
No, not them either. I think most supporters of greyhound racing would agree with the principle that the health and welfare of dogs must be first and foremost. The recent vomitgate incident was as Phil Donaldson said a bad own goal. What the Antis don’t appreciate is that the overwhelming majority of trainers are animal lovers above all and the health and welfare of their hounds comes way above any trophies garnered.
Perhaps it’s the lack of a Barry Hearn type figure to grab the sport by the scruff of it’s neck and promote it far better than has been done? Perhaps. Greyhound Racing as a whole has certainly been guilty for far too many years for having a naive Micawberesque attitude to its future. Certainly such a figurehead would have been beneficial.
Maybe the previously unthinkable closure of the last London track was the death knell? Certainly a body blow.
What about the people on the gravy train - people taking a lot out and giving nothing back? Yes, to a point. I don’t and never have agreed, however, that the pundits/presenters on RPGTV were guilty of that charge despite some comments to that effect in the past on this forum.
I think the vast majority of them were passionate supporters of our sport
RPGTV at its best is a huge loss with the current PGR alternative, in my view, not worth watching. It’s the equivalent of LIV golf.
That leaves us with the bookmakers - not the on-course layers who I generally have respect for but the national firms. I can’ t say on this forum what I really think of them. Happy to kill the golden goose, happy to let unfortunate addicts lose all their money on the ‘crack cocaine’ machines with legislation having been required to minimise that avenue of pleasure, happy to not accept relatively small bets, happy to avoid contributing to a levy, happy to throw RPGTV under the bus when it suited them, happy to take everything from the sport and give nothing back. Innovative people like Harry Findlay at Coventry were not permitted to continue as did not suit their agenda.
Let there be no doubt, they are the real villains and the real reason why the future for our sport is so bleak.
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a major contributing factor for me to stop owning greyhounds was the change in race times which removed the 7.30 start so it became impossible to be at the track to watch greyhounds you own run so it became a relatively easy decision to stop being an owner.....that also meant i stopped going to the track which also became an easy habit to get out of.....im sure there will be many graded owners with a similar experience......like you in the 80's and 90's i was at various tracks three nights a week as a minimum....if you want to reintroduce punters to tracks return evening racing with first race start times which allows people to get home from work...grab a bite to eat and a change of clothing before heading out to face the old enemy....
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Whole Sport needs a Reset , Will not last another 10 Years ,The Homing situation will End It , It is not about the Dogs anymore , They are a throw away part of the Sport
That thankfully cannot be thrown away, 800-900 Dogs are running a day for no Other reason than trying to Fund the Sport , There is Very little of the Entertainment Factor left , The Majority is Cannon Fodder Racing and Dogs who have no Personal owners , Is this really what we want ? I for one say NO , Before the end of this Year action needs to be taken , If tracks are lost so be it , Of course there will be Folks who suffer Financially BUT IT CANNOT , AND MUST NOT GO ON AS IS , Catastrophe awaits |
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Romford are doing Something Right Good Crowds , Restaurant Full ETC
Still the Homing Issue ,But never the less they are on the UP compared to some tracks |
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When I read "Sard" in your post, I sort of froze for a moment.
1988, that era I was literally going all over the place to watch the greats and completely obsessed with the sport. Drawn in Trap 4, Sard absolutely smashed the break and made all to the roar of the packed terraces. I'll never ever forget that race. |
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Bettfair dont help
Late suspension on the last at Sunderland tonight and 19-44 Nottingham not settled WTF is going on |
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The Mossy Moore win at Hackney at 150-1 in the 1988 Guineas 2nd Round
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8V5lDNTh4A The Mossy Moore 2nd at Hackney at 100-1 in the 1988 Guineas 1st Round when coming in as reserve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1UEDw8TqaU |
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Thanks for that, whitey.
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