NEWS FROM HOVE GREYHOUND STADIUM...

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WEDNESDAY 21-9-22:::

Following a lengthy campaign by the greyhound media and grass roots,

ARC and Entain have reversed their decision to require trial
form for all their open race entries.

Press Release

Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) today confirm the removal of the requirement for greyhounds to complete a satisfactory trial prior to acceptance in open races at the group’s five tracks, Central Park, Newcastle, Nottingham, Perry Barr and Sunderland.

Rachel Corden, Greyhound Operations Director for ARC, “The requirement has been the subject of recent debate with some open race trainers, which we have been following.

“Taking various views into consideration and also pending the GBGB Welfare & Veterinary Committee’s full review of a requirement to trial for open racers, we will be removing the requirement. The WVS Committee currently ‘recommend’ that open race greyhounds trial and therefore our requirement will change to a recommendation.”

“Having a positive impact on greyhound welfare is something that all stakeholders should be able to collectively agree on and we hope that trainers will follow the recommendation. In our experience, over the last year, most trainers do want their charge to have had a recent look at a track prior to entering it in an open race or competition, which we will continue to welcome. All tracks run differently and there can be only be a benefit in a greyhound having had an opportunity to experience a track prior to running it in a race situation.

“Where a trainer is seeking a seeding change we reserve the right to ask for a preparatory trial to back up any intended change of seeding, so trainers are advised to plan ahead.

“We will keep the change under review”.



Press Release

The four Entain tracks have today announced the removal of the requirement for greyhounds to complete a satisfactory trial prior to being accepted into an open race at their tracks.

Ian Smyth, Director of Stadia at Entain said:

“We introduced the requirement for a greyhound to have trialled or raced within a reasonable timeframe at our tracks in January this year following a number of concerns raised by high profile trainers and owners and a small number of racing incidents towards the end of 2021. The requirement to trial was introduced solely with the best interests of greyhound welfare at it’s heart. The large number of open race greyhounds who continue to trial elsewhere before entry into competition would suggest that the majority of trainers believe this is the right approach.

“We planned to complete a review of it’s impact towards the end of summer. This review included assessment of track injury data from both 2021 and the first seven months of 2022. In addition I have spoken to a number of trainers, based both at my own tracks and elsewhere, to seek their views on the need to trial and have also considered the public comments made by owners and other trainers.

“It is clear from that feedback that the majority of trainers and owners would like the choice of whether to trial before open racing at a track the greyhound is unfamiliar with. The review of the data shows that any variation is minimal in the number of races where incidents take place. It also shows that there is no discernible difference between graded and open racing despite graded racers requiring a number of trials before being able to race. This is balanced by the accepted fact that open racers are naturally able to show more track craft which would allow a for a potential reduction in those injury rates.

“When assessing these facts and considering the GBGB Welfare committee position which recommends but does not enforce a trial before acceptance into an open race we have taken the decision to remove the requirement for a greyhound to have either raced or completed a satisfactory trial to enter into an open race at our tracks. We do fully endorse the GBGB recommendation that a trial should be completed prior to entry but this will ultimately be the decision of the owner and trainer.

“We do retain a responsibility for the welfare of all greyhounds who race at our stadia and where a request for a seeding change is received for any greyhound without recent form at the track in question or where there are no form lines to support the request we reserve the right to ask for a trial to take place before confirming that revised seeding. Trainers are asked to consider this when planning entries and should contact the individual racing office in good time where they wish to request a change of seeding.”

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