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John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 04 Jan 2020 12:44
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So you strongly object to paying fee's to the ICC for the registration of greyhound pups, which incidentally is the first step in their identification and welfare regime and you call me an old fogie. I might think you are an old prat but I leave posters to form their own opinion.
I see references here to Goverment money, terms the antis use. The money referred to is generated by greyhound and horse racing of which we get a small.percentage back.
So you strongly object to paying fee's to the ICC for the registration of greyhound pups, which incidentally is the first step in their identification and welfare regime and you call me an old fogie. I might think you are an old prat but I leave posters to form their own opinion.
Of course all greyhounds have to be registered but I am of the opinion that the registration should be held by the IGB and not the Coursing Club. The registration should be available on line and the fees retained for the good of greyhound racing. Those that still wish to go coursing can still register separately with the Coursing Club. Incidentally a little while ago I had to register 2 pups with the UK Coursing Club that I was importing into Ireland. The UK Coursing Club could not accept a credit card over the phone so I had to drive 25 miles to my bank to obtain a sterling cheque and post it to them by airmail fortunately not using the Right Brothers Airways but Queen Victoria is alive and well! John if there are no changes to greyhound racing then inevitably as recommended by the recent report tracks will close until there are none left. Its already well on the way to happening in the UK where even the capital city can no longer hold the greyhound derby. I suspect that neither you or I will see the end of racing as we shall probably had our one ticket to the crematorium by then but with no radical changes the end is nigh!
John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 05 Jan 2020 16:41
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It seems we will never agree about anything Clive, Its sensible that in Ireland the registration is carried out by one authority with one register and one system, anything else would be chaotic, registration can never be carried out on line because the steward must physically see the Dam and pups and mark the ears. Regarding the longevity of the sport I take your point that there is currently no track in London, but Crayford is bursting at the seams on a Saturday night and the new refurbished stands at Hove and Romford are extremely successful. Towcester is opening again in March and that Oxford will open again is more than just a rumour. So its not all bad news. Is Eddie looking after you or are you not racing these days, if you bump into him please say Hi from me. John S.
Pat Scully Ireland (Verified User) Posts 28 Dogs 0 / Races 0 05 Jan 2020 22:36
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Edmund you asked for suggestions as to the way forward other than getting rid of the board, which i think is not going to happen.
In a later post John Kelleher said "The Greyhound industry doesn't help itself with its weak and fragmented form of representation ".
This to me is a major problem. Presenty there are serious tensions between IGB and grassroot members, particularly over proposed track closures.
Everyone knows disputes,rows are always solved through dialogue, and with the unprecedented challenges facing our industry dialogue is crucial.
We need a strong and fully united representative body. That body must include all tracks and must have the full support of every owner breeder and trainer.
I respect everyone's opinion as to the way forward and obviously you and some other people feel getting rid of the board is the answer. My question to you and them is what is your strategy to achieve this aim?
John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 06 Jan 2020 08:39
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Pat, in my, often stated opinion, the Boards in both our Countries do a good job which will never be bettered by changing Board Members, the problem isn't the Bord its the fact that the general public have become disenchanted with going Greyhound Racing and for a variety of reasons. if King Solomon was chairman of the Bord it wouldn't make a scrap of difference.
Brian Walsh (Verified User) Posts 104 Dogs 0 / Races 0 06 Jan 2020 22:31
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Unfortunately, this is a perfect summation of the 'state of play'.
John Kelleher wrote:
Think we have to accept that the IGB are part of the Civil Service , where incompetence and inefficiencies are often the order of the day . ' Political Will' is the only thing that might make any change , but even with the funding coming under pressure , there is no sign of the Government making the slightest effort to reform the Board.
Of course , The Greyhound Industry doesn't help itself with its weak and fragmented form of representation .
Allan Boland Ireland (Verified User) Posts 20 Dogs 0 / Races 0 07 Jan 2020 16:00
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John Spracklen wrote:
Pat, in my, often stated opinion, the Boards in both our Countries do a good job which will never be bettered by changing Board Members, the problem isn't the Bord its the fact that the general public have become disenchanted with going Greyhound Racing and for a variety of reasons. if King Solomon was chairman of the Bord it wouldn't make a scrap of difference.
Not sure i agree 100% with do a good job because they most definitely do not, however i do agree with the lack of interest from the public, If live music etc were to be put on after racing it would attract more just like it does at horse racing tracks in the uk but even then they are there for the top bands not the racing but at least they are spending money at the track.
John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 08 Jan 2020 07:24
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Allan, one can only speak from experience, did you ever have dealings with the ICC registration, efficiency personified!!, did you ever want assistance in homing a dog, then you would have spoken with Barry Coleman who would have gone out of his way to assist you, as he always does. Did you ever meet a Control Steward that wasn't approachable or helpful, I never did, so why would I say anything different.
Allan Boland Ireland (Verified User) Posts 20 Dogs 0 / Races 0 08 Jan 2020 16:06
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John I agree yes on most of your points (not that ive tried to re home a dog as i have a house full from 11 and a half down) I have sent polite emails that have been ignored and the board who are supposed to be in charge do not really instil much confidence. They will just roll over to the latest report and leave half of us nowhere to run our dogs. Okay i used to run at Lifford ...closed....Now at Longford where it may be closed ...Where then Dundalk?? its over 2 hrs and the poor management cannot get every dog from my area on with only 2 meetings a week so where will they facilitate my dogs.
John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Jan 2020 08:59
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I'm sorry to hear of your plight Allan, and understand how you feel, I hope everything works out okay for you but neither the Igb or GBGB can do much to prevent the closure of privately owned tracks. Good Luck.
Martin Tucker Ireland (Verified User) Posts 904 Dogs 55 / Races 1 09 Jan 2020 13:16
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The IGB cant do anything to stop the closing of Private tracks ?
They are the reason why they may close as they are cutting the funding that the private tracks receive from the IGB.
John Ryan Ireland (Verified User) Posts 17 Dogs 0 / Races 0 10 Jan 2020 16:44
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Sometimes i wonder why i bother reading stuff on this site .When you have someone who posts such shite to say IGB can do nothing to stop the closures of private tracks . Obviously this man is not effected by the proposed closures unlike the rest of us in top half of the country.
John Spracklen United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 504 Dogs 0 / Races 0 10 Jan 2020 17:27
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I also wonder why you bother reading stuff on this site, if everything that you disagree with is catalogued as Shite. Of course the Igb could do something, they could give you access to limitless taxpayers cash but I don't think the taxpayers would like that much.
Martin James Ireland (Verified User) Posts 1128 Dogs 5 / Races 0 10 Jan 2020 18:06
This industry has been top heavy with over employed staff for years, can the CEO not see this he has been here long enough to see that this industry is burning money left right and center but still he chooses to take on more staff at a time when we should be reducing the running costs of the IGB and not making it harder on the loyal dog man/woman.
Do you have questions about greyhound racing?
