Interesting.

A key point in greyhound racing is BETTING! If you took gambling out of the equation the general public would quickly lost interest, attendance figures would fall and all licensed tracks would eventually be forced to close. In my opinion the general public “go for a night at the dogs” to bet. They generally don’t understand form, follow the dogs racing career or how it’s bred. They just want a night out and stick a fiver on Trap number two cos they like the name. The only people who don’t do this have an interest in greyhounds. The same can be said of Horse Racing.

If there was no betting you would still be left with people who race dogs or horses as a hobby but the amount of prize money you say is available at flapping tracks doesn’t sound enough to even keep them going for long.

If you took betting away the “shady” owners and trainers, and there are many, trust me, people on this forum and other greyhound rescues have first hand experience of the appalling conditions some dogs are kept in and the subsequent health problems they incur. Unfortunately all greyhound trainers are not like you. You say the only people who make money are the bookies, sponsors but some trainers make substantial amounts of money through owners syndicates etc.

I started off by saying that I’m not opposed to licensed greyhound racing, which technically I’m not, but I would like to see the bad trainers forced out of racing by whatever means necessary. By enforcing stricter rules it should make it “not worth the hassle” for them as they are fined for not adhering to them.

I used to work with showjumping horses. There is no betting involved in this sport (with the odd exception for very big shows a couple of times a year down South involving the big names). These events are almost always well attended by horse owners and horse lovers but very rarely by members of the public, the exception being the agricultural shows held during the Summer where the dog classes, beer tents, ice cream vans, fairground rides provide a good family day out.

Dogs and horses love to run and jump but money means nothing to them, they don’t care if they’re first or last.

Betting is the main reason greyhound racing is so popular.

Regards.
Hazel.

im a sports man
my son a pro sports man

any compition you care if your 1st or last or you would be compeditive
these dogs do care if win or not
chasing a eletric hare its a game to them
please horse jumping is one most cruel sports their is i like to see the amount lame and killed jumping fences
its no diffrance from other sport it animals used for public entertainment
full stop

Showjumping is a safe sport, perhaps you’re thinking about National Hunt Racing? Anyway, we’re getting way off the track here. My only reason for mentioning it was to reinforce the “Betting” issue.

Of course you want your dog to win to recoup some of the £7000 you spent on it.

ive spent millions on greyhounds not just saying but millions
i had my own retirement kennel for 80 dogs 7 acres land dedicated to retired greyhounds i spent more money in the the sport than any rescue centre .its cheap shot to target me I’m the anonymous benefactor of all big rewards in cases greyhound cruelty in Scotland
ive re homed 100 of greyhounds
but unlike others i pay for all that my self i never ask for donations

i pay over 80k a year in wages for staff in retirement home in edinburgh
its all closed now as ive said I’m not involved in greyhound racing now i know the truth .
a horse is carrying a 10 to 15 stone man on its back was designed to take that pressure on his spine nooooooooo does greyhound need to be encouraged to chase no
dose horse need to jump no is it more dangerous for horse to jump or greyhound run on the flat of course it is
i can understand people total against all animals used for human entertainment but not the ones to think OK for then to abuse a horse then attack some one who runs dogs
ive seen vidio of that incompetent rider total abuse hose with him jumping up and down on horses back

My posts were never intended to be a personal attack on you, but you have to understand ALL greyhound trainers are not like you and this is the point I was trying to make.

I agree that greyhound rescue organisations need to work alongside the industry irrespective of their views on greyhound racing, in my opinion, it’s the best way forward.

As I’ve already said, the only reason I bring horse racing and showjumping, two separate things entirely, into the equation was to reinforce the issue about BETTING!

Also I would just like to say that these are my own PERSONAL opinions and not necessarily that of GAL. I welcome greyhound trainers like yourself on this forum.

You should speak to the more senior members on this forum with regard to campaigning for change.

Good Luck.

Hazel.

Hey, I’m new to this site so sorry if i get the wrong idea. im also studying animal management at our local college so sorry if i babble on a bit.

Well I’m COMPLETELY against any kind of animal racing, especially greyhound racing. we have been studying the welfare issues surrounding greyhound racing, and personally i have found it appalling the way in which these animals are treated.
through my own research and the education being taught in our lessons, i have discovered the condition’s in which greyhounds are treated whilst in training, racing, living, their diet and the way the “owners” treated the animal ie beating.
Is this what other people have seen?
during the first 12 weeks more than 2,000 greyhounds, out of the 5,000 born, “vanish” which is most likely they are killed because they don’t meet the vigorous conditions in which the trainers have classified as suitable racing greyhound racing condition ie strong joints.
once the animal has passed the 12-14 week mark the greyhounds are then submited to crue conditions in which the are living and treated. many animals live in cramp, dirty, dark and crowded condition’s, in which they are kept in until the are either taking to a race or a being “gotten rid off”. whilst the greyhounds are being trained they are beaten if they dont run fast enough or if they don’t run at all.
whilst the greyhounds are racing the bend in which they have to run put an extreme amount of pressure on the greyhound joints mostly resluting in an injury or even death.
Once the greyhound have reached the end of their racing careers they are killed, most dogs have both of their ears cut of as to remove the form of identifying them, as they have tattoos in their ears, which they are then burned, shot, starved, beaten, buried alive, and even put to sleep by vets as most will pay to put a healthy dog down.
I found that nearly all greyhound are treated this way so that the “owners” can make money and then killed them to save money. what i have found disgusted me too the max. what im hoping to do with the help of friends, family and people like yourselves is to try and discourage tv channels like sky sports from showing these kind of programmes which i feel will discourage people from going as they will be less exposed too these kind of discusting sports.
i would be highly grateful for all of your support and maybe in the near furture we can ban greyhound racing all together.
i would be grateful for any advice, help and surport from everyone if u would like to contact me my email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).