- This topic has 21 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 8 months, 3 weeks ago by
.
- Posts
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/greyhound-racing-takes-step-closer-26252299.amp
The Welsh Assembly has voted in principle to ban greyhound racing. This is after a petition signed by just 35,000 people in a population of around 3 million. Who knows how many of the 35,000 actually live in Wales?
I supposed we should be encouraged by the fact that the only recommendation in the Petitions Committee report not supported by the Minister was one stating “when considering a ban on greyhound racing, the Welsh Government should also look at other sports where animals compete”. But it still has to be a concern that the committee clearly wanted racing to be considered as well.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said “While once a sport deeply ingrained in British culture, the greyhound racing industry has been declining. This is a positive reflection of a modern and conscientious society, and the support for this Senedd petition calling for a ban on greyhound racing demonstrates the groundswell of public support against this sport too.”
Is it too fanciful to think that not long into the future, another RSPCA spokesperson might make the same statement but with the word “horse” replacing “greyhound”?
I would imagine the fact there is only one track left in Wales amid what seems to me to be a general decline across the UK renders it a soft target.
Never say never, though, in terms of horse racing becoming a future target.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Interesting definition of ‘groundswell’ there. I suspect there’s a similar ‘groundswell’ at the other end who are in favour. With a massive shrug of the shoulders from the vast majority.
I assume the Welsh venue must be a flapping track, never heard of it. My first reaction was ‘they don’t have any tracks anyway’ so that’s me told.
Yes Ian, it’s a far lower hanging fruit than horse racing. It’s been dying on its arse for a while now.
It is a flapping track. Somewhere near Caerphilly, I believe.
It is not just Wales. There is a campaign to ban the sport in Scotland as well. Like Wales, greyhound racing is in decline in Scotland. Shawfield, the premier track, has not raced since March 2020 when it had to close due to the lockdown. The only active track is a flap.
At least the relevant Welsh minister saw sense and rejected the committee’s recommendation, which looks like a recognition that horse racing is better supported, worth more to the economy and it would be unpopular to ban it. But the fact remains a committee in a British legislative assembly has recommended that a ban on racing at least be considered.
The track is at Ystrad Mynach. The senedd is a cosy cartel on most matters between Labour and Plaid Cymru who are able to outvote the opposition on any matter they are in agreement on. I don’t think there would be much support for the track from those parties.
The remaining track in Scotland is Thornton in Fife and this Saturday’s meeting has 29 dogs running in 6 races so a distinctly small scale operation. £5 admission so presume any money they make is via the bar and catering.
I haven’t heard of a campaign to ban greyhound racing in Scotland but it has withered on the vine anyway so that might not matter in the long term.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23214158.scottish-greens-call-greyhound-racing-banned-2023/
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Thanks Ian, not something that’s been particularly prominent. Scottish government have other things on their minds right now.
You’re welcome, Rob – and fair comment!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Greyhound racing near me (Belle Vue) closed down after lockdown (2020).
Cruelty in greyhound is something I never thought of but a little research produced this
Racing greyhounds endure lives of confinement, are subject to standard practices that are cruel and suffer injuries and even death. Greyhounds used for racing are kept in cages, barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around, for up to 23 hours per day.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.We have a greyhound rescue centre very near us and lots of folk have adopted them. The most amazing fact for me was how little exercise they need only around 20 minutes a day and they tend to sleep a lot which ties in with Rummy’s post about them being couped up in cages all day.
At Romford Stadium I noticed they have free admission on Saturday Mornings and also for Monday mornings and midweek racing. Generally admission is £7.
Walthamstow Stadium closed in 2008 and is now a block of flats and I wonder how much longer Romford and the few tracks left in the UK will survive.
Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Me and my mate once had a racing greyhound. Never won and nearly always last. We took it down the canal. Obviously we couldn’t go through with it so we ran off and left it
Greyhound racing is not going to be banned in Scotland. At least not yet:
The English Greyhound Derby commences tonight but you could easily be forgiven for not realising.
Times change of course but an event which used to have a high public profile, crowds of 100,000 for the final at the White City and live coverage on the BBC is now almost invisible, has meagre crowds at Towcester and is shown on Sporty Stuff TV. I wonder how much longer it will struggle on?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6l1xjnd6xo
Greyhound racing to be banned in New Zealand leaving just the UK, Ireland, Australia and USA according to the article.
I don’t think the anti-greyhound racing crowd need to do anything. The sport is slowly dying anyway. Crayford is due to close down soon.
Sporty Stuff, the channel I mentioned earlier in the thread, ceased broadcasting earlier this year. As far as I am aware, that has brought to an end the “Racing Post Greyhound TV” service, which had moved around several channels over the years.
Now Sky Sports Racing shows greyhounds, sometimes on the main channel but also behind the red button. But this is just a cursory service. It is not a dedicated programme full of the greyhound chat that Sporty Stuff provided.
I think a real blow to the sport was when it was dropped by the main Sky Sports channels. It was often shown on Tuesday nights, usually 8 races from an Open race meeting. It was a good programme with high production values. Unfortunately I don’t think Sky’s new American owners wanted to show the sport and what coverage remains is now nowhere near as good.
Something I have noticed recently is there seem to be plenty of races with vacant traps and also far more sprints. None of this is popular with punters.
Here is a good thread from the archives:
It’s a fair point, clearly the USA is ahead of us in the decline. There are apparently now just two active tracks left in the country, both in West Virginia. I’m sure there were far more than that even fairly recently.
Hard to see anything but a similar outcome here in the next decade or two.
Chepstow, Ffos Las and Bangor On Dee should be worried. Because it will be horse racing next:
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.