It would be good if some of these "word is" deals could be put in the public arena.

The criteria should be ......

1. Is it good for the state and the country?
2. Is it good for the region involved?
3. Is the track/club well set up and capable of satisfying a need.

First, remember that the first and major beneficiaries of additional greyhound races will be the gallops and the trots because we will get full value only for the first 590 or so meetings (out of 800-900 total) under the TAB contract.

Second, following 2015 live baiting and resultant rules changes, more dogs out of each litter are getting to a track somewhere - ie the field standards are dropping.

Third, any recent growth in races is a function of more 250m/350m races, presumably because that's what trainers are demanding. That change is aided by GRNSW policy of awarding the shorts comparable money to longer races. (Any incentives for medium/long races are puny by comparison and probably not ideally directed).

Fourth, overall breeding is way down on historical numbers - ie 50% - 60% of previous patterns. Victoria is the same. The outcome is more empty boxes - simple arithmetic - saved partially by the introduction of the shorties.

Fifth, in the above context it is mystifying that GRNSW would be regularly upgrading former country sites to TAB status. My guess is that they see it as helpful financially, rather than leave them as "administrative" burdens.

Sixth, previously I wrote that I was wary of boosting Northern Rivers activity as the current experience showed difficulties in organising full 10-race meetings and filling all the boxes. I have been wrong on that, but only because of the massive increase in ultra-short races commonly half the meeting.a Occasional meetings at Wauchope and Taree added to that pressure. But, there is a big BUT, Newcastle fields have also been padded out by large numbers of 272m races while Maitland is a shadow of its former self some meetings below 10 races and short fields common.

Actions produce reactions. And any nice words about Wauchope and Taree (both popular tourism regions) pale when you note that betting volumes and time data (sectionals) are poor. Not professional (see also Temora and others).

Richmond Straight has been a boon and an overdue change. Any other growth has been dubious at best.

Yes, the Covid period has produced more cash but what will happen when folk are able to spend their recreational dollar on lots of normal activities? Or if Tweed Heads gets a run in the future?

PS Grafton is a good deal in many ways yet it is still dominated by 350m racing.

18/12/15

Taree is not even a Hub its not in a centralised location. Wauchope is central for the Racing Hub and Spoke Model. There is influence coming from somewhere.

My friend asked wheres the Centres of Excellence?? Ha ha ha . too expensive?

Everything happening today is a function of 2015 live baiting and resultant rule/policy changes by GRNSW. Notably, this has meant avoiding euthanasia, lifetime tracking, lure types and making more use of the entire litter.

More Veterans racing is a sound move anyway. Racing for crook dogs is not although if you can hide them away somewhere (ie non-TAB) that's fair enough. If you put them in the normal mix that is the opposite of "excellence" (which never really got a run in any case - all waffle).

Mugs will throw money after crook dogs, real punters will not, especially when racing over the shorts.

The serious question is what will prompt more breeding and therefore generate a significant improvement in average field quality.

Two answers ...

1. An improved industry image in the public arena, and
2. Good money potential - still no guarantees, of course, which is why you need #1.

Overall prize money is creeping up a little but its distribution is not consistent with (a) achieving a bigger proportion of good standard fields or (b) sustaining and advancing the breed (ie too much emphasis on squibs and short races).

It's is not good policy to let participants control the industry product. Only the market should do that.

Separately, Wauchope is not a big centre in its own right but it does have a major tourism feature and things like vineyards are building up in the general Port Macquarie area. Port is a goer, Taree and Kempsey are not. Greyhounds should go with the strength.

Business sense would also shut down Casino and build up Lismore (for similar reasons, plus the fact that it is feeding into the fast-moving Byron Bay/Ballina region) - a move which would improve the bottom line. That principle worked for Orange/Bathurst, Penrith/Richmond and Cessnock/Maitland. Also, Temora/Young/Cowra has some padding in it. But I digress.

As far as the politics goes, I am not for or against any of the clubs or any of the people supporting & maintaining the industry up there, but the tracks themselves seem to be past their use by date in terms of design and safety

A more modern facility with TAB & Feature prizemoney would be a real boost to the area and slot in nicely between Newcastle/Northern Rivers, in my humble opinion

Times change even if greyhound racing doesnt and it is always very slow to do that. It seems to enjoy living in the past.

I mentioned live baiting only because it generated yet another major turning point for the industry particularly a huge drop in breeding numbers. People were turned off even more so than usual. It did not help that a few trainers objected to change, claiming that their old men said this was what they should do. Some still object to the ban on the use of skins. Culture again.

If you dont look at history you are destined to repeat past mistakes.

Over the last two decades I have campaigned for first prize money to move up to $2,000 for good solid provincial 5th Grades (it was half that at the time).

I have campaigned for severe cuts for feature events so as to provide more cash for ordinary racing.

I have pointed out the huge costs of track works that offered nothing more than what was there before.

I have objected to common-rating 300m prize money with proper racing - ie 450m and longer.

I have relentlessly campaigned for stronger breeding to enable decent distance racing. And for longer breaks between races for those or any dogs.

I have repeatedly campaigned for better track design to reduce interference and encourage more betting.

I have routinely pointed out that the majority of the general public do not like greyhounds and therefore will never become owners/trainers/punters. This is also a political risk.

All these objectives have received minimal or no attention from the authorities or from GBOTA (the latter being part of the problem).

And please dont tip at windmills SEQ prize money is much the same as that in Northern Rivers on a like-for-like basis. Besides, both Casino and Lismore tracks have substantial design faults (mind you, so do the two remaining SEQ tracks).

As for tracks disappearing not really. Well, some have gone because they could not hack the temperature in the kitchen. Others have combined with nearby tracks. Still more have got promoted to full TAB status presumably because GRNSW thinks it can make more money that way. But there is still a helluva lot left too many for the available dog population.

On Why would people buy a dog if they can't get a good return? Its sexy. The hope of a good return is the short answer. The thoroughbreds have found that the average owner gets back less than 60% of what he invests. It has always been thus.

Anyway, what we need is business management, not administration. That means some will win, some will lose. Thats life.

Hi Gavin

GWIC is now funded by the State Government

GRNSW is able to keep all its current distributions for prizemoney increases, track upgrades and rehoming

The aim of the industry is that every dog that is chasing successfully should be able to find a place to race and earn its retirement for the owners who have invested their funds into developing that dog regardless of what level it is

Obviously better dogs have the opportunity to earn a lot more but there should be an adequate grading system and prizemoney allocation to allow lower class dogs to race competitively and earn

Honestly, who cares if the mugs or the pro's are betting on them

Its all revenue that flows in and should be used accordingly and judiciously to assist the sport to not only maintain the participants in the sport, but also to ensure that our dogs are treated with the greatest care and respect available to them

We continue to have many evil eyes on our sport with an aim to end it and cannot afford to be complacent in any area

These standards need to be maintained and a better funding model will only come about if we can show that responsibility to the Government and the general public

Our sport really has to work for every dollar it gets

Seem

Go and have a look. Theyve done plenty of good work at two of the three tracks. Used by date you dont know what youre writing.

What are the changes apart from the safety rail?

It was only announced 3 or so months ago

Wasn't long ago that short coursers around the State were running for $900, now they all run for a minimum of $1500 around the whole of the State

Thats a pretty decent change

I saw the maidens just went up.

The regional TAB meetings have been racing for $1500 minimum for about a year now

Qld flying at the moment, hopefully our Board approves such progressive moves for unplaced runners and appearance money also a lift in prizemoney for longer races in the lower grades to keep the racing pool of these dogs growing

GRNSW is run by a commercial board, they have to balance the money they earn, which they are now fully in control of.

GWIC is the regulatory body run by the public service, they just put their hand out when they need more

More progress is required on all fronts