MERLIN SAYS 'SPORT OR INDUSTRY?'
WITH GREYHOUND RACING IN FREE FALL AT PRESENT IS IT NOT PARAMOUNT THAT ALL THOSE INVOLVED PULL TOGETHER TO STEM THE TIDE? THIS WEEK ALONE WE'VE HEARD THAT SWINDON TRAINER JOHN PETERSON IS TO CALL IT A DAY AND THAT ONE OF THE COUNTRYS LEADING HANDLERS KELLY FINDLAYS IS TO TAKE AN ENFORCED SABATICAL. WITH COVENTRY LOSING ITS SUNDAY NIGHT RPGTV SLOT AND THUS FAR NOT OBTAINING A BAGS CONTRACT (THAT THEY LOOKED 'NAPPO' TO GET!) WE MUST ASK HOW LONG ITS ENTUSIASTIC PROMOTER HARRY FINDLAY CONTINUE TO SUBSIDISE THE RUNNING OF THAT GREAT TRACK? THIS FOLLOWS THE SAD DEMISE LONG ESTABLISHED TRACKS WALTHAMSTOW, READING AND OXFORD IN RECENT YEARS. THESE PEOPLE AND THESE TRACKS REPRESENT ALL ASPECTS AND BACKGROUNDS TO THOSE CONNECTED WITH GREYHOUND RACING AND THEY HAVE ALL STRUGGLED!!!
AS MERLIN SEES IT THIS AN ALTOGETHER TOO FAMILIAR PROBLEM. WITH LITTLE OR NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FILTERING DOWN FROM THE TOP TO THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL OF GREYHOUND RACING. WE NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE STILL AN INDUSTRY OR IF WE ARE GOING BACK TO BEING A SPORT WHERE ONLY THE ESTABLISHED OR THE MOST AFFLUENT THRIVE! THERE IS NO WAY FOR NEW TRAINERS OR NEW OR STRUGGLING TRACKS ARE TO EXIST IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN TO COME IN TO GREYHOUND RACING AND MAKE A LIVING UNLESS THEY BRING PLENTY OF MONEY IN WITH THEM!! THIS BEING SO ONLY LIMITED NUMBERS (IF ANY) WILL ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH GREYHOUND RACING AND THIS WILL SURELY JEPORDISE ITS VERY EXISTANCE?!!
WHY HAVE WE LET IT GET TO THIS??IS IT A CASE THAT THOSE AT THE TOP WILL OFFER NO LEG UP TO THOSE THAT STRUGGLE? IS IT A CASE THAT THOSE WITH PLENTY HAVE NO DESIRE TO SHARE A LITTLE?? OR IS IT A CASE OF A DELIBERATELY ORCHESTRATED CULL TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPORT??? MERLIN DOESN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS ..... BUT HE FEELS THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY OF THE PREVIOUS REASONS TO BE ACCEPTED. IN MOST SPORTS IN ORDER TO HAVE A PREMIER LEAGUE YOU MUST HAVE A GRASS ROOTS LEVEL AND OUR SPORT IS NO DIFFERENT.MERLIN FEELS THAT THE POWERS THAT BE (WHOEVER THEY ARE NOW?) SHOULD DECIDE IF WE ARE A SPORT OR AN INDUSTRY? DOES GREYHOUND RACING HAVE TO DOWNSIZE TO SURVIVE?? IF SO IT'S BETTER THAT WE ALL KNOW SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SAY IN OUR OWN DESTINY AND NOT BE TAKEN ALONG, OR EVEN WORSE TAKEN DOWN CLOTH IN THE TRANSISITION. AT PRESENT WE CERTAINLY SEEM TO BE IN LIMBO!!
WHY HAVE WE LET IT GET TO THIS??IS IT A CASE THAT THOSE AT THE TOP WILL OFFER NO LEG UP TO THOSE THAT STRUGGLE? IS IT A CASE THAT THOSE WITH PLENTY HAVE NO DESIRE TO SHARE A LITTLE?? OR IS IT A CASE OF A DELIBERATELY ORCHESTRATED CULL TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPORT??? MERLIN DOESN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS ..... BUT HE FEELS THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY OF THE PREVIOUS REASONS TO BE ACCEPTED. IN MOST SPORTS IN ORDER TO HAVE A PREMIER LEAGUE YOU MUST HAVE A GRASS ROOTS LEVEL AND OUR SPORT IS NO DIFFERENT.MERLIN FEELS THAT THE POWERS THAT BE (WHOEVER THEY ARE NOW?) SHOULD DECIDE IF WE ARE A SPORT OR AN INDUSTRY? DOES GREYHOUND RACING HAVE TO DOWNSIZE TO SURVIVE?? IF SO IT'S BETTER THAT WE ALL KNOW SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SAY IN OUR OWN DESTINY AND NOT BE TAKEN ALONG, OR EVEN WORSE TAKEN DOWN CLOTH IN THE TRANSISITION. AT PRESENT WE CERTAINLY SEEM TO BE IN LIMBO!!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, Where do we start!!!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps starting at the bottom may be best place and work the way up.
Breeders are cutting back drastically or Giving up which then means we have a problem with numbers, shortages then put pressure on the racers as they are asked to be raced more often than they should, this in turn leads too them being burnt out much sooner and so the cycle begins.
Owners, Often treated with complete contempt by Tracks (Not all I may add ) and they wonder why so many Owners are going out of our " Sport" / " Industry ", Perhaps if We rewarded Owners a little bit more it may lead too more staying in and more coming in, this then leads too less dogs having to be Owned by Trainers, More revenue coming in for Trainers and more revenue for Tracks from visiting Owners and so that Cycle begins.
With a thriving sport/Industry it would then allow Trainers too ask for a little bit more for their Kennel Keep which means more stability leading too less Trainers leaving and More competition, yet again The cycle begins.