Given the lack of younger people entering the sport, it would have ended up smaller anyway.

The powers that be are just bringing it forward.

I have no idea where your data comes from. It's not even clear what period it covers. IF you mean the month of January in each of those years then it might be right or wrong but it is not helpful in identifying trends.

I talk Litters by year and I have already published those on this site not long ago. I will repeat ......

Victoria - Pre-2010 - varied from 1,000 to 1,315
2011 - 994
2012 - 937
2013 - 1,003
2014 - 960
2015 - 926
2016 - 634
2017 - 409
2018 - 643
2019 - ?

These data come from GRV direct or from GA which is advised by GRV. The major fluctuations are directly related to the periods of live baiting discussions etc etc. 2018 might have been helped a bit by reductions in fees but that is conjecture only.

Either way, there are 300 or 400 services not happening which I see as a huge worry. You are not going to fill the boxes when breeding is down at this level.

But go further - there is some evidence that we are witnessing a two-decade long easing in breeding numbers. Not huge but significant and it is an Australia-wide trend (breeding should always be looked at nationally anyway) which was made worse by live baiting.

What this tells us is that fiddling around the edges (eg with more Tier 3) is not going to cut the mustard. We need to get out the big guns.

Yes yes & again yes Bruce.

All your other points on breeding I've identified 4 years. That's why I started this thread so no arguments or need to reply.

The story of the GAP visitor to the racetrack kennels is a marvellous one. You could even have added stuff like post-race vet checks, swabbing, temperature rules (ambient and in trailers), and off-course things like weighing of meals, free running and Council limitations.

It reminds me of the charity occasion a few years back when Sam Cauchi opened up Rocky Ridge stud to the public one Sunday and got 2,000 people through the gate - all amazed at the hi-tech gear and the care and protocols sires and dams have to go through. The local paper ran a four page supplement about it.

They may not come to us but they will respond to invitations - we just have to make the offer. GAP days themselves illustrate that point.

For groups, the package of a meal/beer/racebook can always be enlarged to include carefully organised inspections - if not on race days then on trialling days. It's extra work but it would be worth it.

55, 55, 66, 41

I wonder if Alan Clayton will ever admit to following a myth, because he did. I know, I was there.

And you can pump up the litter count as much as you like, 50% of them will not chase, there's the problem.

I couldn't agree more Ron.

Maitland cancelled ---> EXTERNAL LINK

Please be advised that the race meeting scheduled for Maitland on Thursday 27th June, 2019 has been abandoned.

The meeting was abandoned due to lack of nominations.

------------------

Well we're nearly at rock bottom.

Once the M1/M2/M3/M5, what ever you want to call them, the matured greyhounds that were whelped before July 2015 (which makes them 4 years old now) have all retired, probably this time next, that's when the sh1t will fit the fan........& that's only if no tracks have closed in the meantime.

They've been trying to close tracks for years. This time they've made sure it wouldn't fail.

They then employed an escape-goat T0ny to do his best, but the foundations were already secured..........so don't blame him.

And the breeding figures during the month of January in NSW, has not even hit triple figures yet. In fact its nowhere near it and for 10 years leading up to the scare campaign in 2015, the average for January was in the high 130 litters.....That's how bad we're travelling.

You don't have to be to SMART to work that one out. Next.

so it would be SMART to say there is a shortage of trainers, not dog's then stephen..??

No. That's not SMART lol. There's definitely a shortage of dogs & there's definitely a drop in trainers....But if your mates dog broke in faster, than we probably wouldn't be talking about it.

If it helps, send it to Bundy. Good Mdn race coming next month.

soon be a solo and betting on the time only .

can it get any worse.?

8 races at Goulburn yesterday

8 races at Goulburn tomorrow

Not enough nominations to hold a meeting at Maitland

Last week 2 x 280m races at the Wentworth Park Saturday night meeting

This Friday 4 x 280m races at Wentworth Park

Tuesday - Goulburn, Gosford
Wednesday - Bulli, Richmond
Thursday - Goulburn, Dapto, Maitland(since cancelled due to lack of noms
Friday - W.P., The Gardens, Richmond
Saturday - W.P., The Gardens, Bulli
Sunday - Nowra, Richmond

Goulburn was only racing once per week until Canberra closed. Why have they gone to Thursdays instead of racing Sunday?
Why is Richmond racing 3 times this week?
Bulli racing twice. Why?
Dapto, Goulburn, Maitland on a Thursday. Why?
Why are W.P., The Gardens and Richmond all racing on a Friday and again on Saturday (WP, T.G)?

I have no idea who changed the racing schedule but in my opinion that is where the problem lies. There can't be enough dogs to race in the same region on three consecutive days. Some people won't travel.