Greyhound Racing

Originally posted by manorboy@Sep 3 2005, 01:48 PM
My sources close to teh action tell me they're trying to do a deal whereby only part of the Wimbledon site is sold off for development with the track remaining.
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Regrettably, Manorboy, I don't see this happening. I think it'll be sell-all-or-sell-none regarding the entire site. And, though suspicious by nature I might well be, I think any talk of keeping the track part for racing is just a subterfuge by the current owners in order to keep the greyhound lobby "sweet" and on-side. Anyway, I cannot see that such an arrangement would be logistically or financially viable in the long run. A racetrack only ............... with no facilities or parking or access???

Agree with you that it is unbelievable that the situation has come to this. It is extraordinary that eighty years of greyhound racing in the capital could well be coming to an end. It isn't as if the sport is unpopular (Walthamstow is Britain's best-attended venue). Just that Big Money has all the power nowadays and the developers have had their eyes on these venues for quite some time now. Unfortunately, not much thought is given to the trainers and other staff and the 1,000 or so dogs that face an uncertain future if this comes to pass.
 
Looks as though the latest decision of the GRA reported in today's Racing Post to dispense with BAGS racing at Wimbledon is the first nail in the Plough Lane coffin :cry:

Without the hassle of a BAGS contract it will be much easier to close the track.
 
When Eastville Stadium (Bristol) was sold a few tears back similar stories were put forward about how Bristol would always have greyhound racing even though IKEA were going to build a retail out let on that particular site. Four years on - never gets a mention, no plans. So don't build your hopes up about saving Wimbledon.
Not that I would worry personally, I think it's a dreadful circuit for dog racing. They only got the Derby because of their location. Monmore's the future home of our Derby. You heard it here first.
 
As nice as Monmore is, surely it's nowhere near big enough Diver?
Also the Derby is sponsored by William Hills, and Monmore is owned by Ladbrokes, so I can't see that happening myself.

I'm another who won't miss Wimbledon one bit. Since their so called improvements the place has become a dump. Fences around the track, restrictment of movement once your in the poxy stadium, and the most expensive side has room for no more than about 300 people who are all forced to stand right in front of the bookmakers leaving not enough room to swing an ant, never mind a bloody cat. This makes it very difficult to get a bet on, as you have to fight your way through a crowd, many of whom have no intention of having a bet.
The last few times I visited Wimbledon I ended up watching the greyhound racing from indoors on a tv screen. Now I didn't drive 20 miles fighting my way through traffic to see the action on a bloody tv screen.
No wonder nobody bothered to go once it was on channel 425.
By the way, we on FF will be looking to home another of our greyhounds in the very near future, so if anyone knows anybody who might like to take him please let us know. :D
 
Ted,
My suggestion re Monmore was a bit tongue in cheek. However from a racing circuit point of view it takes some beating. Sheffield is a good galloping track too, but it's location would rule it out. Now that Pelaw Grange has gone 'official' it might come into the calculations( ........pause........while Trev stops p*ssing himself).
 
Hi Diver

I will put it to Jeff to put the stadium forward for consideration (lol)
Joking apart though the facilities put Sunderland and Brough to shame and the service in the bait cabin is superb, nice and friendly and very appetising.
Welcome one and all for a night out if anyone is in the area and the beer is on me.

Cheers
Trevor
 
I'll be up before Xmas to see my mother (East Stanley). I usually manage one night at Pelaw and one at Sunderland. Eee, when Ah wes a lad they wor both flappers ye nah.
Hope we can have a beer Trev. We'll both have enough to buy after Monday!
 
I found this map quite shocking. The working class seems unable to defend itself. Excluded from football by the sheer expense of it, and unable to sustain sports like speedway and the dogs. Darts seems to be the only thing left.


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How much does it cost to get into the darts these days?

When I first started going to Shawfield back around 1971 - it was also the home ground of Clyde FC at the time - there were spectators all the way round the track. I'm not even sure they still race there these days but I imagine they don't fill the main stand. The last time I went must be a good 25 years ago and it was quiet that Saturday night.
 
Surely the decline of the dogs isn't a cost thing ? You can get a box with table service at Monmore for less than 40 quid per head and that includes a 3 course meal which isn't fine dining but it's as good as any run of the mill pub. The rest of the tickets with or without meals are even cheaper than that. But either way 40 quid for a meal and a night's entertainment.

Where you've dragged this thread up from Grey, crikey ! I haven't read it all as I haven't had time but read a page or so and it seems to have come from a bygone day of decent discussion about a tough subject without anybody getting all touchy, upset or reducing it down to personal insults. I'll be back to read the rest at somepoint and if by page 3 they're all calling each other names and putting each other on ignore I will be disappointed.
 
So sad. I’m not sure whether it’s the anti brigade who have had this effect? Or just a general change in public opinion. I know the lady who trained my current greyhound gets a lot of online abuse but I have never seen such happy, well-looked after dogs.
 
I have two ex Romford dogs which we adopted in 2019, one was unraced due to his nerves and one was a low grade girl ( won 4 x A8 )
They make great pets, they are our second pair - our first male dog was pretty good - he won 10 x A1's and 5 x Opens, and once ran second in a first round heat of the English Derby to a hound that would win the Irish Derby outright. Regardless of their ability they are a wonderful breed of dog.
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Danny said:
Surely the decline of the dogs isn't a cost thing ? You can get a box with table service at Monmore for less than 40 quid per head and that includes a 3 course meal which isn't fine dining but it's as good as any run of the mill pub. The rest of the tickets with or without meals are even cheaper than that. But either way 40 quid for a meal and a night's entertainment.

Where you've dragged this thread up from Grey, crikey ! I haven't read it all as I haven't had time but read a page or so and it seems to have come from a bygone day of decent discussion about a tough subject without anybody getting all touchy, upset or reducing it down to personal insults. I'll be back to read the rest at somepoint and if by page 3 they're all calling each other names and putting each other on ignore I will be disappointed.
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I would baulk at paying £40 a head for 'run of the mill' food, to be honest. Presumably drinks are on top of that so you're talking about at least £100 total for a couple for night at the dogs when dog tracks have never been the most salubrious of establishments at the best of times, at least in the UK, before budgeting for betting. Ten races at a tenner a race per person is another £200.

You can get a week in Benidorm for that kind of money.
 
40 quid is not just for the 3 courses of food that's entry the box and table service. Booze is booze where ever you go. Drinking at the dogs is normal pub prices I can go drink anywhere down town outside of spit and sawdust establishments go anywhere nicer you can be paying 8 quid a pint and anywhere with table service is 12.5% on top. What do you compare it to D.O ? A night at the cinema ? A football match ? A night at the bingo ? Horse racing ? Theatre/ concert tickets ?.

Cost isn't the problem.
 
Rather than being unable to defend themselves, I'd suggest the "working classes" (even if they even still exist) have simply found other things they'd rather spend their leisure pound on.

The internet and social media have increased awareness and, with it, aspiration.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I would baulk at paying £40 a head for 'run of the mill' food, to be honest. Presumably drinks are on top of that so you're talking about at least £100 total for a couple for night at the dogs when dog tracks have never been the most salubrious of establishments at the best of times, at least in the UK, before budgeting for betting. Ten races at a tenner a race per person is another £200.

You can get a week in Benidorm for that kind of money.
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where at in a wheelie bin via paper airways?
 
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jinnyj said:
So sad. I’m not sure whether it’s the anti brigade who have had this effect? Or just a general change in public opinion. I know the lady who trained my current greyhound gets a lot of online abuse but I have never seen such happy, well-looked after dogs.
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It worries me that the demise of greyhound racing means that people will no longer have retired racers as pets. And greyhounds, as a breed, will die out apart from just a few show dogs ( who seem to have a different temperament to racing greyhounds). There’s no way that I would buy a greyhound as a pet; my whippets drive me mad for the first few months of their lives; I can’t imagine rearing something ten times bigger. But I wouldn’t hesitate to take on an ex racer.
 
moehat said:
It worries me that the demise of greyhound racing means that people will no longer have retired racers as pets. And greyhounds, as a breed, will die out apart from just a few show dogs ( who seem to have a different temperament to racing greyhounds). There’s no way that I would buy a greyhound as a pet; my whippets drive me mad for the first few months of their lives; I can’t imagine rearing something ten times bigger. But I wouldn’t hesitate to take on an ex racer.
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There will always be differences of opinions on the moral aspects of Greyhound racing, I am neither pro or anti in that aspect, I am simply pro welfare - and like you I worry about the long term survival of the breed. We used to have a Whippet also but '' upsized '' ...... we never buy - we always rehome. #AdoptDontShop
 
Ian_Davies said:
Rather than being unable to defend themselves, I'd suggest the "working classes" (if they even still exist) have simply found other things they'd rather spend their leisure pound on.

The internet and social media have increased awareness and, with it, aspiration.
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I think that is part, but only part, of the explanation. The same trend might also have impacted horse racing very badly were it not for the extra protection it receives.

Most racecourses are protected from going under concrete by planning restrictions. The horse racing people also have better access to government than the greyhound people. The kite flown a few years ago by the Jockey Club to close Kempton Park demonstrated this. The site was protected from development, and the attempt to get this changed was quickly seen off by a lively campaign.

To the best of my knowledge the greyhound tracks were not protected by planners and their urban locations became simply too valuable for other uses. Greyhound people had neither the money nor the political leverage to prevent this happening.

By the way your "if they even still exist" aside raises an interesting question.
 
Might And Power said:
There will always be differences of opinions on the moral aspects of Greyhound racing, I am neither pro or anti in that aspect, I am simply pro welfare - and like you I worry about the long term survival of the breed. We used to have a Whippet also but '' upsized '' ...... we never buy - we always rehome. #AdoptDontShop
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I don’t know enough about greyhound racing to know if it’s as cruel as many people think it is ( I’d like to find out more). All I know is that my whippets just love to run and there’s something joyous about seeing her running along the beach. I feel guilty that I do tend to wrap her up in cotton wool and she isn’t allowed to run as much as she’d like to. I keep a record of greyhounds I’ve met whilst out walking; I’ve met some that have done very well well on the track, including one who won the Scottish Greyhound Derby.
 
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