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Grant Dunphy Australia (Verified User) Posts 743 Dogs 4 / Races 1 09 Nov 2023 19:12
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People paying $80+ a week board for each retired racer they own is definitely going to stop them from purchasing another pup or dog & probably already is.
The board & management of GRNSW & GWIC are facing a massive dilemma in working out what to do with retired racers.
The only suggestion I have thought of is for us to build a facility to house thousands of retired dogs within 2months of retirement on cheap land until adoption numbers pick up again.
If a solution is not agreed on & acted on in the next few months in NSW I regretfully predict our Industry will close within 2 to 3 years.
Hate the thought but I am a realist.
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19488 Dogs 15268 / Races 1856 09 Nov 2023 19:29
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GRNSW tried that at Denman, buying a property without proper due diligence or risk management
The GRNSW Board & Management made the wrong decision, wasted the industry's money & time and allegedly did their ar$e on it
They make a lot of promises and deliver very few
They don't provide a balanced program to cater for greyhounds across all spectrums with nearly 70% of racing below 440m
There are a lack of trialling and training facilities for small trainers who can't afford the cost of putting that infrastructure in themselves thus limiting how many new training participants can enter the sport
The grading systems leave a lot to be desired with no proper structure for young dogs to be protected before they go to open grades
They haven't addressed issues to assist dogs to stay interested in chasing like the FOL
I really wonder what the hell they do there in their offices to justify their massive salaries and to try and grow and protect the industry
They are not very good custodians or managers of the industry here in NSW
PS I guess people choose with their feet
Why do Brittons from Victoria bypass NSW who have more tracks to choose to centre themselves with a satellite kennel in Queensland?
GRNSW Management, ask yourselves why NSW can't attract that kind of interest
And the answer isn't the good weather
Rod Hampton Australia Posts 1628 Dogs 2993 / Races 11820 09 Nov 2023 19:51
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$80 pw is well over the top! just greedy, imo these dogs do not require racing diets I know of at least 2 retired trainers, who have approved kennels, just sitting empty, maybe the people could get a payment from GRNSW, on a monthly basis
Luke Brown Australia (Verified User) Posts 13 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Nov 2023 20:27
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In my opinion, you breed it, you buy it, you race it, it's your responsibility. If the industry can process the dog for you that's a bonus, not a right. The breeding numbers are slowing down and will eventually match what the industry can rehome each year. When this point is achieved the pool of dogs will be low and the opportunity to get a return on investment will be high. Whether this is a goal of the authorities to reach this point or simply the market responding to the changed regulations we will never know. It will be a good time to be involved in the industry though.
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19488 Dogs 15268 / Races 1856 09 Nov 2023 20:32
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Luke Brown wrote:
In my opinion, you breed it, you buy it, you race it, it's your responsibility. If the industry can process the dog for you that's a bonus, not a right. The breeding numbers are slowing down and will eventually match what the industry can rehome each year. When this point is achieved the pool of dogs will be low and the opportunity to get a return on investment will be high. Whether this is a goal of the authorities to reach this point or simply the market responding to the changed regulations we will never know. It will be a good time to be involved in the industry though.
Thats true but the industry will have contracted by then , less people on it too
Mark Staines Australia (Verified User) Posts 4499 Dogs 70 / Races 14 09 Nov 2023 20:41
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Paying Participants a subsidy to rehome there Dogs is the remedy that is needed !
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19488 Dogs 15268 / Races 1856 09 Nov 2023 20:49
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Sandro Bechini wrote:
Luke Brown wrote:
In my opinion, you breed it, you buy it, you race it, it's your responsibility. If the industry can process the dog for you that's a bonus, not a right. The breeding numbers are slowing down and will eventually match what the industry can rehome each year. When this point is achieved the pool of dogs will be low and the opportunity to get a return on investment will be high. Whether this is a goal of the authorities to reach this point or simply the market responding to the changed regulations we will never know. It will be a good time to be involved in the industry though.
Thats true but the industry will have contracted by then , less people on it too
With less people then the industry will be weaker and the anti people get a stronger hold
The industry needs to support participants in this area with solutions for rehoming
Otherwise we will end up like the USA
Then you can be a big fish in an ever smaller pond
Our strength is in keeping and growing our participant numbers
Yaakov Rishon Australia (Verified User) Posts 75 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Nov 2023 21:28
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Luke Brown wrote:
In my opinion, you breed it, you buy it, you race it, it's your responsibility.
That is absolute truth.
Grant Dunphy Australia (Verified User) Posts 743 Dogs 4 / Races 1 09 Nov 2023 21:47
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No one is disputing that the dog is the owners responsibility Luke & Yaakov. What we need to keep the industry alive is a solution to this problem.I guess I am hoping this post will bear some fruit from concerned participants.
Mark Wilcox Australia (Verified User) Posts 264 Dogs 1 / Races 0 09 Nov 2023 21:59
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If you can not move dogs on the industry will stop,breeders are not breeding now because of the lack of buyers and owner breeders have no room to bring the next lot in.Unfortately we have to move some on NOW or we are finished, You can only have so many pets.
Luke Brown Australia (Verified User) Posts 13 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Nov 2023 22:02
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Why do fewer dogs mean fewer people? Melbourne Cup carnival crowd numbers are well down(30-40%) but the number of individuals betting on the race is the highest it's ever been. The market is changing, if 10 people own a dog 8$ a week to retrain it and find a home isn't so bad.
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19488 Dogs 15268 / Races 1856 09 Nov 2023 22:06
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Luke Brown wrote:
Why do fewer dogs mean fewer people? Melbourne Cup carnival crowd numbers are well down(30-40%) but the number of individuals betting on the race is the highest it's ever been. The market is changing, if 10 people own a dog 8$ a week to retrain it and find a home isn't so bad.
I am talking about actual participants, not gamblers, they will always be there
David Mennie Australia (Verified User) Posts 657 Dogs 5 / Races 1 09 Nov 2023 22:30
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The only thing i would add to that is if you Train it ...you also take some responsabilty ..especially if it wins you races
Luke Brown Australia (Verified User) Posts 13 Dogs 0 / Races 0 10 Nov 2023 06:43
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The dogs bred need to equal the dogs that can be rehomed plus the required breeding stock to replenish the numbers. For years many more have been bred that can be rehomed, currently, the industry is going through an adjustment.
To increase the demand for retired dogs, GRNSW and each state authority should be copying the thoroughbred lead with EXTERNAL LINK
Create an event only for retired race dogs. Run sports such as Agility, Obedience, best in show, Fetch, long jump, high jump, the list goes on. For example, 10k to the winner of each event. It might cost 250K+ per year, but it would grow and so would the demand for dogs to compete in the event. Give 12 months notice of this event and watch how many people start calling GAP. It could even be run at the same equestrian centre that Equimillion was at SIEC at Horsley Park. There is a big indoor arena there that holds dog agility events regularly. Parking, Toilets, Food and Drink, Turn key ready for use. Just need some money, administration, and a marketing team.
It also increases people's understanding of the greyhound and their capabilities and in turn, those that are open to this idea of racing continuing.
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19488 Dogs 15268 / Races 1856 10 Nov 2023 09:44
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Hi Luke
I think a lot of those ideas have a lot of merit
Cheers Sandro
Michael Worth Australia (Verified User) Posts 875 Dogs 2 / Races 0 10 Nov 2023 18:29
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Hey Sandro, I too think Lukes ideas have merit and we need to keep thinking outside the square. Just wish our authorities would do the same. I know the Denman farm did fail for various reasons but still feel this would have merit and would create employment for farm workers. Also like the idea of paying retired trainers to house retired dogs however they have retired from the industry for various reasons. There are so many factors influencing the industry at the moment with the cost of living and rising interest rates being one factor stopping people from also taking on a pet with pet food and accessories also increasing in price. When buying a pup these days the thought is not where I will rehome it but where will I rear it and who will train it and what if it doesnt break in that good, who will train it then. Maybe our prize money scale is upside down with elite dogs bagging good coin and the others , well. A good race is a good race regardless how fast they run. Maybe with Lukes $250,000 we could offer $2000 per custodian of a GAP dog and rehome 125,000 of them a year. I think there is a lot of greed and live for the moment that happens in the greyhound industry which also doesnt help. I understand what Lukes saying regarding the breeding and rehoming balance, but the problem doesnt stop there. Obviously less dogs bred to meet the balance means less hounds to race, so now the clubs start to suffer. Coonamble are already suffering with lack of numbers, small fields, affecting prize money , participants and the club in general. We maybe excited about the possibility of a new track at Orange or Bathurst decided this week I believe. Trainers East of these areas or close by maybe less likely to travel to say Dubbo which may affect that club which is all reflective of the numbers of dogs available. Not saying that a new track at one of these locations or even both wouldnt be a good thing. It would offer more fields and allow the slower ones to be more compatible and potentially pay for themselves. I live on the mid north coast and although we are getting a new track at Taree , two other tracks are being utilised for trialling only. Will need a decent dog at Taree to get a start but the others could of raced at the other tracks even for lesser prize money rather then sit in the kennel at home because you cant get a start. GWIC are trying to save every injured hound regardless of the injury with three legged dogs now joining the GAP program which probably wont fit into Lukes ideas. Again Im not saying we should not show integrity regarding the welfare of our beloved hounds but we need to be realistic also. Maybe if Lukes idea did come to fruition we could give every participant a pay out instead of $10,000 per event and just let them have some fun and cover there costs. A bit like having a slow dog where you just keep paying with little reward. JMO. Cheers
Mark Latham Australia (Verified User) Posts 160 Dogs 0 / Races 0 11 Nov 2023 02:47
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This issue is huge. Sadly I share a name but have no political powers. I am just an owner who is addicted to the sport and promote it at every avenue I can
The solution definitely isn't an easy fix. To target NSW isn't far this is a nation wide problem and most bodies appear to be trying to overcome the issue.
However where do you start? What is the answer It is easy to say people are doing a horrible job and not earning the wages but what is the solution to this problem?
NSW this year started exporting ex racers to USA Record numbers being rehomed at days
Last year I tried helping a trainer in SA rehome a greyhound, I was advised that the hound had been socialized with young children 3+ and no issues. Sadly when the family adopted he really didn't like anyone but the one who fed him. He then became the backyard pet but he jumped the 5ft fences with ease
Upon asking the trainer to take him back and we will try again, he said " Mark, your problem now ". I didn't own the dog, had nothing to do with the dog, just helped a guy on facebook.
Just last week, I had a lead on a lady who wanted to consider an ex racer after losing her husband earlier in the year. She was so keen on the Fawn dog I currently have at home doing pet prep work with, She rang and spoke to her local vet who advised her as she was on the pension that greyhounds have serious health issues (This dog is unraced, doesn't chase and 2yo) and diet is incredibly expensive. From this advice, although i tried to convince her and offered to buy a bed, collar/lead, 20kg kibble + 10kg chicken mince to get her started and the promise that if it didn't work she was welcome to bring him home
We are all in this together, instead of pointing fingers lets hear some suggestions.
Mine, personally I have opposed microshare syndication as returns are minimal however after seeing the success of the Dubbo Greyhound Clubs syndication of dogs like Golden Bullet which has over 18 owners.
Those involved are fighting to who will keep him when he is finished and at the same time getting more involved in the sport
Greg Russell Australia (Verified User) Posts 107 Dogs 0 / Races 0 11 Nov 2023 07:05
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Each dog needs a retirement fund that builds over the course of their career with input from all involved - breeders, owners and the Administrators of each state. It works in the UK and for the horses in the USA. The horses here are just waking up to this and putting in place support mechanisms for retirement fund investments and money awarded to authorised rehoming trainers. These types of initiatives would be a plus for the greyhound industry. There are solutions and new approaches but the silence at the moment is deafening.
Donna Sadler Australia (Verified User) Posts 1731 Dogs 59 / Races 6 11 Nov 2023 09:50
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Luke Brown wrote:
The dogs bred need to equal the dogs that can be rehomed plus the required breeding stock to replenish the numbers. For years many more have been bred that can be rehomed, currently, the industry is going through an adjustment.
To increase the demand for retired dogs, GRNSW and each state authority should be copying the thoroughbred lead with EXTERNAL LINK
Create an event only for retired race dogs. Run sports such as Agility, Obedience, best in show, Fetch, long jump, high jump, the list goes on. For example, 10k to the winner of each event. It might cost 250K+ per year, but it would grow and so would the demand for dogs to compete in the event. Give 12 months notice of this event and watch how many people start calling GAP. It could even be run at the same equestrian centre that Equimillion was at SIEC at Horsley Park. There is a big indoor arena there that holds dog agility events regularly. Parking, Toilets, Food and Drink, Turn key ready for use. Just need some money, administration, and a marketing team.
It also increases people's understanding of the greyhound and their capabilities and in turn, those that are open to this idea of racing continuing.
Good thinking Luke! The Equimillion has been a great success. Somehing along those lines with the greys would be terrific. The only thing that might have be to worked differently - with in the equine show/competing sectors a very large percentage of those horses are ex gallopers. Some of out very top showjumpers, eventers and show horses are Thoroughbreds. With our greys, you dont often see them doing anything other than racing and being the most amazing pets BUT they are easily capable of being great agility and obedience etc dogs so introducing events like you mentioned would be great. I wonder if there are any retired greys doing obedience and agility etc now. It would be good to find out and then promote those individuals as examples of the greys actually being versatile. .
Robert Conway Australia (Verified User) Posts 462 Dogs 4 / Races 0 11 Nov 2023 20:20
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sandro grnsw has completed 3 tracks rebuild as trial tracks this year.
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