Only reading all of this now so sorry for the delay Debookieboy - altho don't know if I'd be classed if PF's league
I have heard about the lease/sale of Newbridge but as for it becoming a BAGS tracks, I could never see that happening. They're not getting the crowds they used to on a Fri/Sat night so don't know if having it as a BAGS meeting would be much better - I could be wrong tho.
The plans for Newbridge, if the change does happen, does look a step in the right direction however.

No elaboration is needed for the purpose of this thread.
My apologies if i offended anyone but sometimes
provacation can inspire people to actually voice their
opinions/thoughts.
I suppose in forum parlance its called "fishing".
Wildman are u really from Borneo? LOL

The thread is about a possible change of direction for
greyhound racing in Ireland.
My intention was NOT to make this a personalised thread
and i admit i did think you were said person but now you are
correct ive being spouting rubbish to provoke an opinion from
somebody else.
Conspicous by your absence was purely provacational.

Ian is a nice lad, i'd say he will be down on the terrace or around the bar area for the last few races at Shelbourne tomorrow night if you want his opinion on it. I don't think he would have any problem with you asking.
He certainly wouldn't

looks like it may not be far away if rumours are to be believed

well if 'Bags' racing does come it has to be Limerick, as its the only way they can keep Limerick going..........

Confirmed

IGB ANNOUNCE PREMIER RACING FROM SHELBOURNE
15/06/2013
The Irish Greyhound Board yesterday announced that they are to launch a very exciting initiative which will be designed to guarantee a very high quality of racing at every Thursday and Saturday meeting.

With the prospect of attracting increased revenues from new national and international outlets.

The system will commence a trial period from next Wednesday night and for three weeks the trainer or owner/trainer presenting each runner for racing will earn €25 per runner. After the three-week trial period, commencing on Thursday, July 11th the system will operate each Thursday and Saturday night for all races with the exception of classic and feature competitions.

There will be new racing protocols introduced which will represent improvements and refinements to the existing racing guidelines. These are designed to “further increase levels of integrity and fairness and will be introduced to protect all stakeholders and increase transparency”. The new protocols will be displayed at all stadia during this three-week pool building period.

The full statement issued by the IGB yesterday reads:



Premier Greyhound Racing from Shelbourne Park to be Broadcast to many new National and International outlets


Friday 14th June 2013

Shelbourne Park, the best known greyhound racing stadium in the world, is to introduce an exciting new trial initiative which will showcase high quality, highly competitive racing in more national and international outlets. The initiative will see the best greyhounds Ireland has to offer competing in highly competitive and exciting racing.  This will make the racing more attractive to the bookmaker customers in Ireland and the UK for fixed odds betting but will also help us secure a higher increased financial return from international audiences as part of an integrated tote product offered by IGB.

This initiative will create bigger markets for greyhound sales and betting as well as a highly competitive racing environment which will drive attendances and greater public interest from domestic and international audiences.
Under this trial initiative Shelbourne Park will host as much top class, extremely competitive racing as possible with the focus on facilitating the higher grade of racing in Ireland. The Greyhound trainer or owner/trainer who presents the dog will receive a ‘pool building” payment of €25 per race on a Thursday and Saturday night which will be paid weekly. The payment fee will not apply to classic and feature competitions. The initial focus will be to ensure strong racing pools at Shelbourne Park such that Thursday and Saturday nights deliver on the concept before focussing on the Wednesday night at a later stage. Once this is in place the plan is to roll this initiative to another stadia in order to profile the Irish Greyhound industry every other day of the week.
CEO for IGB Adrian Neilan said "Since the SIS deal at the end of 2011 we have all seen a significant improvement in prize money levels at Shelbourne Park. We need to sustain and build on that going forward. More exposure both locally and internationally with more income garnered from our racing is a fundamental cornerstone of the new Strategic Plan for the industry. However more importantly it has to be done in a manner that shows the very best of top class Irish Greyhound racing where anybody who has a good greyhound can participate. Irish greyhound racing with a few refinements to our racing procedures can deliver a far more attractive betting proposition for our fixed odds customers. Furthermore there is a far greater financial opportunity associated with the international market which is based upon tote betting. We want to ensure that this new global audience ee the best Irish Greyhounds compete in top class races that will further their interest in Irish greyhound racing. We are really excited at the potential this offers for greyhound breeders as we'll eventually need to widen our breeding pools to produce more top class racing. “

Shelbourne Park will have a lead-in introduction period of three weeks starting on Wednesday 19th June which will give all people presenting a greyhound for racing in Shelbourne park on all night racing  a 25 euro ‘pool building’ fee. However from July 8th onwards during this trial initiative the ‘pool building’ fee of 25 euros per greyhound will only apply to Thursday and Saturday races, excluding classic and feature competitions. This fee will be conditional on adhering to the new set of racing protocols. These protocols will represent a set of improvements and refinements to our existing racing guidelines. They are designed to further increase levels of integrity and fairness and will be introduced to protect all stakeholders and increase transparency .The new protocols will be displayed at all stadia during this three week ‘pool building’ period. IGB will gladly welcome any improvement suggestions via feedback@igb.ie  during this period to ensure that when racing starts on July 11th we deliver on the objective of having high quality, very competitive racing that gets all our new customers excited.