The Greyhound-Data Forum has been created to act as a platform for greyhound enthusiasts to share information on this magnificent animal called a greyhound.
Greyhound-Data reserve the right to remove any post that is off topic, advertisements or opinions they consider to be offensive.
If you answer then please try to stay on topic. It's absolutely okay to answer in a broader scope but don't hijack posts by switching to something off topic.
In case you see an insulting post: DO NOT REPLY TO IT!
Use the report button to inform the moderators so that we can delete it.
Ronald George Hunter Australia (Verified User) Posts 4314 Dogs 0 / Races 0 07 Aug 2021 10:38
(1)
(0)
Are the rumours true that the New Zealand Government is considering banning Greyhound racing there!
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19477 Dogs 15266 / Races 1860 07 Aug 2021 11:12
(4)
(0)
Like in Australia, in particular NSW, it will be the Government that has failed the industry by not having the requisite welfare and integrity controls.
A weak Government listening to the pack of lies from lobby groups will close the industry
A strong sensible Government will not and will look to correct what faults it has and better it so that the freedom of the people who live and work and those enjoy their greyhounds are protected
After all what is next after that, Harness Racing, Horse Racing, Sheep and Cattle Farming??
Arden I would hope would have more commonsense than to listen to the rantings of anti racing groups on the premise that they represent the bulk of the population
Mark Staines Australia (Verified User) Posts 4493 Dogs 70 / Races 14 07 Aug 2021 11:22
(5)
(0)
It all depends on how much pull the Greens have ? A.C.T. is a prime example where Latte sipping Green public servants hold the balance of power !!!!
Geoff Collins Australia (Verified User) Posts 2010 Dogs 291 / Races 30 07 Aug 2021 11:40
The article more leans towards there being reforms than banning
Paul Dicks Australia (Verified User) Posts 10281 Dogs 120 / Races 252 08 Aug 2021 09:18
(1)
(0)
Let's be honest, Greyhound Racing as an Industry is on borrowed time. It may take decades, but our days are numbered. I talk to my 12 and 14 year old nieces who have had exposure to the game in all the very best ways, petting new born pups, sharing a house with retired greyhounds, watching dogs we bred win races etc. Sadly even they believe it's a cruel sport and want it closed down. Why? Because their friends say so. All their positive experiences are washed away by peer group pressure and negative public sentiment.
Mark Wilcox Australia (Verified User) Posts 264 Dogs 1 / Races 0 08 Aug 2021 22:21
(15)
(0)
Paul i disagree i think the greyhound industry is going forward here in nsw and other states thanks to Tony and his team .You can not be worried about do gooders that spread false information not all people like all sports , who cares what they think good people know what progress that has been made just keep moving forward doing the right thing and things will work out ,as for your nieces if they are that easy to be turned around an believe in there friends that give them false information about greyhounds, well they must be easily lead seeing you have educated them well. cheers lets move forward.
Paul Dicks Australia (Verified User) Posts 10281 Dogs 120 / Races 252 09 Aug 2021 06:14
(3)
(0)
You make those comments and judgements with many more years on the planet than the girls. Of course we were all influenced by our peers at that tender age. I got into the dogs myself because my mates were into them, that and no other influencing factors.
I worked at a track a few years ago and one of the bosses there went to a meeting with the governing body around the time of the NSW Greyhound Ban. He came back looking very dejected and told me the industries days are numbered. He felt going by the tone of the conversations it didn't look good for our future.
I'd like to be more positive about the games future. But the reality is like myself, rusted on greyhound tragics are leaving the game in droves. Unfortunately the public sentiment hasn't improved, even with all the positive publicity and plenty of money poured into PR programs. We can choose to ignore it or like the frog in the pot not realise what is going on.
Grant Dunphy Australia (Verified User) Posts 742 Dogs 4 / Races 1 09 Aug 2021 12:46
(5)
(0)
You must attend different meetings to me Paul.All I see over the last 5 years is a procession of more new, young trainers especially young girls/ladies along with all the familiar faces still going strong.
The great thing is most are successful so will stick on.
I can only talk for NSW but if you are drawing conclusions from the way a track manager felt around the time of the ban let me assure you we all felt down but we fought hard & in the end it was Baird who lost everything & I believe every year since has seen big improvements in all areas of the greyhound industry in NSW.
Chin up Paul.
Paul Dicks Australia (Verified User) Posts 10281 Dogs 120 / Races 252 09 Aug 2021 19:05
(2)
(0)
I don't go to the tracks very often, but when I last did it was the same old dog bums I saw there a quarter of a century ago. Sometimes the children who were born into the game get into it. But they are few and far between. Going to the dogs is a bit of pathetic sight and uninspiring experience sadly.
Sandro Bechini Australia (Verified User) Posts 19477 Dogs 15266 / Races 1860 09 Aug 2021 21:31
(2)
(0)
Paul Dicks wrote:
I don't go to the tracks very often, but when I last did it was the same old dog bums I saw there a quarter of a century ago. Sometimes the children who were born into the game get into it. But they are few and far between. Going to the dogs is a bit of pathetic sight and uninspiring experience sadly.
I guess its the glass half full/half empty syndrome
I am not knocking you to get a bite Paul but unfortunately with that apathetic attitude it breeds that discontent
The half glass full view is that the sport is n its way to a clearer future with better welfare and integrity controls and more and more younger people getting involved
Here in NSW I have seen a lot of young people join the sport and are making a decent fist of it and quite a few are turning professional as well
We haven't seen that kind of take up for over 30 years which leads me to believe that the playing field and the prizemoney landscape has improved to the point where younger people can see a career path
Alas also like your nieces , I doubt my daughters will follow what I am doing in the sport but it doesn't mean that they are easily led by their peers or don't support the sport.
They rallied with me in Sydney during the ban and still support and defend the sport in their own way
Graham Moscow Australia (Verified User) Posts 1186 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Aug 2021 22:00
(3)
(0)
Late 50s early 60s with introduction of TV, Cinemas, Bingo halls, attendances at tracks dropped significantly. Doomers and Gloomers predicted the industry days were numbered. That was 60 years ago and we survived ok and always will survive NZ greyhound fraternity needs to be pro active NOW before government get poisoned by antis
Bruce Teague Australia (Verified User) Posts 2092 Dogs 0 / Races 0 09 Aug 2021 23:00
(1)
(0)
"Late 50s early 60s with introduction of TV, Cinemas, Bingo halls, attendances at tracks dropped significantly".
Not quite, Graham.
1963 also saw the arrival of TABs and an immediate improvement in finances. Tabcorp progressively improved and broadened their product range over the next 20 or 30 years. 1990 saw the introduction of SKY pictures and (commonly) a near doubling of betting turnover as a direct result.
But SKY, together with Pub and Club TAB outlets, also forced the the fans away from the track.
Consequently, the dog knowledge of the average fan declined. A fun night out for newcomers was a thing of the past, replaced by whatever the local club was putting on (ie plenty of popular entertainment plus pokies and an odd wager on the side).
Rubbing shoulders with learned folk was no longer possible and the TABs - mostly Tabcorp - joined in the fun by promoting mug bets to mugs. And still do.
Quality is no longer important to Tabcorp as they work on quantity alone. Aside from a tiny handful of feature events, takings are much of a muchness from race to race - whether maidens or top grade. Mugs bet on the numbers or the colours or from tips (which is why GRV's Watchdog influences prices these days).
How can the public get enthusiastic about a product which equates to a mobile poker machine? Great dogs or great trainers are no longer relevant, leaving little to admire about the sport or the huge efforts put into it by so many.
Governments are interested only in taxes or incidents which stir up voters. They have no idea how to manage the code yet still try to do it every day - directly or indirectly.
The gap today is in the public's knowledge of the breed. To progress, or even survive, that's where we should start. GAP programs are good but not nearly broad enough.
For example, one starting point would be mum and her pups - as Uncle Ben's caravan used to do years ago when moving around the big shopping centres. The public loved that.
In short, our team has to play better than their team.
Paul Dicks Australia (Verified User) Posts 10281 Dogs 120 / Races 252 10 Aug 2021 01:11
(2)
(0)
Sandro Bechini wrote:
Paul Dicks wrote:
I don't go to the tracks very often, but when I last did it was the same old dog bums I saw there a quarter of a century ago. Sometimes the children who were born into the game get into it. But they are few and far between. Going to the dogs is a bit of pathetic sight and uninspiring experience sadly.
I guess its the glass half full/half empty syndrome
I am not knocking you to get a bite Paul but unfortunately with that apathetic attitude it breeds that discontent
The half glass full view is that the sport is n its way to a clearer future with better welfare and integrity controls and more and more younger people getting involved
Here in NSW I have seen a lot of young people join the sport and are making a decent fist of it and quite a few are turning professional as well
We haven't seen that kind of take up for over 30 years which leads me to believe that the playing field and the prizemoney landscape has improved to the point where younger people can see a career path
Alas also like your nieces , I doubt my daughters will follow what I am doing in the sport but it doesn't mean that they are easily led by their peers or don't support the sport.
They rallied with me in Sydney during the ban and still support and defend the sport in their own way
I'm open to discussion and respect your opinion. I'm talking about the situation in Queensland. Having said that I was living in NSW for the last 5 years and have never been to a meeting. But when I look at the fields for the Wagga Dogs, I see the same names I saw decades ago. You can look at things on the sunny side as much as you like. The reality is the Greyhound industry is on the wane. I heard a recent NSW audit showed the average age of a greyhound racing participant is 50+, that doesn't bode well for the industry.
Grant Dunphy Australia (Verified User) Posts 742 Dogs 4 / Races 1 10 Aug 2021 02:03
(7)
(0)
I'm in the Hunter Paul-have a look at the trainers names for Maitland/Gardens/Gosford/WP/Taree & Wauchoppy---- a lot of the same ones which is good but all getting older & maybe also a lot of names you probably don't know-that's those youngsters Paul- mind you I'm 76 so a youngster to me would be up to about 40. I've got a litter by the Feral out of Lulu Forty at present-come get one-its still good fun & keeps you young.
Rodney Newell Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 10 Aug 2021 14:11
(1)
(0)
paul...those kids are on tic toc snapchat and have got nothing between the ears.....last time I checked hundreds of new punters have found greyhound racing...it's all good news to the government's ears....however...if we do not improve certain tracks quickly....the anti's will be talking about our death numbers and that's the real issue. Grass tracks are not the solution and need to be dissolved quickly.....
David Plumridge Australia (Verified User) Posts 411 Dogs 563 / Races 127 10 Aug 2021 20:39
(8)
(0)
Victoria - a trainer for over 40 years recently said to me he couldn't believe the amount of new trainers that have entered into greyhound racing over the last year or 2 - maybe covid has helped with new participants coming on board.
Chris Morson Australia (Verified User) Posts 43 Dogs 0 / Races 0 14 Aug 2021 05:59
(1)
(0)
Maybe over there they are wack jobs Jacinda Ardern movies. In Aus betting turnover is through the roof. Money will always talk. No political leader will ever touch us after Baird got the punt.
Bruce Teague Australia (Verified User) Posts 2092 Dogs 0 / Races 0 15 Aug 2021 22:09
(0)
(0)
Not for the first time, they are having a review of the industry - this time by the Minister.
Many improvements have already been implemented.
The usual tiny but vocal minority stirred the pot. Guess who?
Graham Moscow Australia (Verified User) Posts 1186 Dogs 0 / Races 0 15 Aug 2021 23:45
(2)
(0)
Paul Dicks wrote:
Sandro Bechini wrote:
Paul Dicks wrote:
I don't go to the tracks very often, but when I last did it was the same old dog bums I saw there a quarter of a century ago. Sometimes the children who were born into the game get into it. But they are few and far between. Going to the dogs is a bit of pathetic sight and uninspiring experience sadly.
I guess its the glass half full/half empty syndrome
I am not knocking you to get a bite Paul but unfortunately with that apathetic attitude it breeds that discontent
The half glass full view is that the sport is n its way to a clearer future with better welfare and integrity controls and more and more younger people getting involved
Here in NSW I have seen a lot of young people join the sport and are making a decent fist of it and quite a few are turning professional as well
We haven't seen that kind of take up for over 30 years which leads me to believe that the playing field and the prizemoney landscape has improved to the point where younger people can see a career path
Alas also like your nieces , I doubt my daughters will follow what I am doing in the sport but it doesn't mean that they are easily led by their peers or don't support the sport.
They rallied with me in Sydney during the ban and still support and defend the sport in their own way
I'm open to discussion and respect your opinion. I'm talking about the situation in Queensland. Having said that I was living in NSW for the last 5 years and have never been to a meeting. But when I look at the fields for the Wagga Dogs, I see the same names I saw decades ago. You can look at things on the sunny side as much as you like. The reality is the Greyhound industry is on the wane. I heard a recent NSW audit showed the average age of a greyhound racing participant is 50+, that doesn't bode well for the industry.
Many young trainers under 40 yrs old in Sth East Queensland Susan Harris Jemma Daley Jedda Cutlack Casey Dargusch Erin Cameron Barry Kitchener Matt Bourke Adrian Gates Andrew Clark Dylan Turtle Greg Yarman Jamie Hosking Josh Priest Shane Topping Brent Kline Matt Evans Thats off the top of my head. No doubt there are more than I have listed Queensland going forward with young trainers.