DONCASTER STADIUM - TRACK STATS / FACTS....

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TIME CONVERSION SYSTEM - BRITISH AND IRISH TRACKS


greyhoundstats.co.uk/track_comparison_all.php

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Taken from the gbgb calendar:

Doncaster Stadium – John Watson and Andrew Watson. This adjourned inquiry concerns the behaviour of John Watson, a former official at Doncaster stadium, and his brother Andrew Watson, a kennel hand. It was originally scheduled for the end of April 2020, but had to be adjourned due to the Covid crisis. Today’s hearing was conducted by video link.The GBGB case is that on 7 April John Watson acted in a manner which delayed treatment and caused unnecessary suffering to HONOUR FOX, a greyhound owned and trained by professional trainer Adrian McPherson. It is further alleged that on the same day both John and Andrew Watson assaulted Adrian McPherson in the car park at Doncaster stadium and later the same day threatened him at his kennels, which are premises licensed by GBGB.Neither John nor Andrew Watson attended the inquiry. They were not represented. John Watson was unable to attend as he is a serving prisoner. By a letter dated 7 April.

Andrew Watson indicated he would not be attending the April inquiry. John Watson failed to respond to the initial calling in letter. GBGB sent letters dated 23 October 2020 informing John and Andrew Watson of the date of the rescheduled inquiry. The company secretary of Doncaster stadium responded on behalf of John Watson stating that he could not attend but could provide statements. A further letter dated 12 November confirmed that John Watson was aware of the inquiry. He has been afforded the opportunity to provide any written materials he considers relevant to the inquiry, but nothing has been received. Andrew Watson was chased for a response by a further letter dated 25 November 2020. There is no doubt that he received that letter. He has not responded in any way.Louis Weston, counsel for GBGB, urged the Disciplinary Committee to proceed in the Watsons’ absence. The committee agreed to do so. There was no doubt that both brothers were aware of the inquiry and had simply chosen not to engage or play any part therein. In particular there was no application by John Watson for an adjournment. Had there been the committee’s task might have been more difficult, but as it was the committee was completely satisfied that both John and Andrew Watson had wilfully refused to engage with the process. The committee was also mindful that the alleged breaches took place more than 18 months ago. A delay until John Watson was released from prison would push the inquiry back to late 2022 or early 2023. Such a delay might cause evidence to be lost or degraded as the witnesses’ memories faded. Further, the committee had no confidence that such a delay would achieve any useful result given the Watsons’ refusal to engage. In those circumstances the committee agreed to proceed in their absence.Louis Weston submitted that in the absence of the Watsons or their representative there was no challenge to the GBGB evidence, and the committee could therefore rely upon the witness statements and other documentary evidence which had been prepared. The committee largely agreed with that approach. It did however hear oral evidence from Adrian McPherson and Francisco Botet who was the track vet at Doncaster on 7 April 2019, both of whom it considered to be honest witnesses doing their best to help the committee.Based on that evidence the Disciplinary Committee made the following findings on a balance of probability. On the morning of 7 April 2019 Adrian McPherson took a number of greyhounds including HONOUR FOX to an unlicensed track at Askern near Doncaster to school them. During the schooling session HONOUR FOX broke a wrist. The greyhound was in severe distress and obviously needed veterinary assistance. Attempts were made to telephone a vet but without success. The person in charge of the unlicensed track then reminded Mr McPherson that there was a meeting that morning at Doncaster stadium. Mr McPherson had been attached to Doncaster stadium and the circumstances of his departure had caused some ill feeling between him and the Watson brothers which led to him being banned from the stadium. With the benefit of hindsight, he accepted that his decision to go to Doncaster was unwise.Once at Doncaster stadium he drove in past security without authority, the gates having been opened to let another trainer out. He then went to the vet’s room. The vet administered painkillers, although these seem not to have been particularly effective, and advised that the greyhound need to be euthanased. At that point a track official reported to John Watson that Mr McPherson was present. John Watson came to the vet’s room where he demanded that Mr McPherson remove the dog from the premises. He also instructed the vet to cease treating the greyhound under threat of not being employed again. The vet told Mr McPherson to take his dog to his van. He did so and as soon as he was able the vet came and euthanased the greyhound.Following the euthanasia of the greyhound Mr McPherson was instructed to return to the vet’s room. He did so and there was a scuffle between him and John Watson in the course of which John Watson said, ‘you’ll be leaving Doncaster tonight and we will be down at your yard later.’ Mr McPherson then left to go to his van where Andrew Watson appeared and started shouting at him. He was then grabbed by John Watson and punched in the face. Then Andrew Watson joined in and also started punching him. He was forced to the ground and the attack continued until Terri Leech, a trainer at Doncaster, intervened allowing Mr McPherson to get into his van and leave.At about 6.00pm the same day Mr McPherson was at his yard when the Watsons appeared at the end of his drive. Mr McPherson drove up to them. John was calm and said he just wanted to speak, but Andrew was very agitated and threatened to kill Mr McPherson, who picked up a pitchfork and told them to leave. Andrew Watson then put on a ski mask and grabbed a baseball bat from their pickup and climbed over a wall towards Mr McPherson. They then threatened him and told him to “go back to Scotland” before driving off. Based on the above events the Disciplinary Committee found John Watson to be in breach of rules 152(i) and (ii) and rule 174 (xi) of the GBGB rules of racing. His actions significantly delayed the treatment of HONOUR FOX subjecting the greyhound to unnecessary and completely avoidable suffering.The committee did not find any breach of rule 2 (ensuring the needs of a greyhound for which they are responsible are met) because John Watson was not ‘responsible’ for the greyhound within the meaning of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.The Disciplinary Committee found both brothers to be in breach of rules 152 (i) and (ii), 174 (xii) and 174 (xiii) of the GBGB rules of racing by deliberately beating up Mr McPherson at Doncaster stadium and later travelling together to his yard and threatening him.The least penalty the Disciplinary Committee felt it could impose was that John Watson and Andrew Watson be warned off for an indefinite period. John Watson’s indifference to the suffering of HONOUR FOX was extremely serious. Greyhound welfare, which should be the first consideration of any licensed person, played no part in John Watson’s thinking or behaviour that day. Someone who shows such a callous indifference to a suffering animal and indeed significantly prolongs its suffering has no place in the sport of greyhound racing.Likewise, both John and Andrew Watson’s behaviour towards Mr McPherson both at Doncaster stadium and at his yard was inexcusable is totally intolerable. A greyhound stadium should be a safe place where racegoers can enjoy themselves. Physical violence, threats, and intimidation, especially on GBGB licensed premises, cannot be allowed. The Disciplinary Committee is mindful that these are the first breaches recorded against John and Andrew Watson, but they have showed absolutely no remorse for their behaviour. Indeed, they continued to deny any wrongdoing in the face of the evidence, which necessitated this inquiry. In those circumstances the Disciplinary Committee order each of them to pay £7,000 towards the costs incurred by GBGB, a total of £14,000.

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Racing office direct number tel: [phone]

Click on the link below
for the official track website..


www.doncastergreyhoundstadium.co.uk/

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:::CONTACT DETAILS:::

www.doncastergreyhoundstadium.co.uk/contact

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DONCASTER GREYHOUND STADIUM OFFICIALS

Director E. Watson.

General Manager J. Wrenn.

Company Secretary K.L Cheadle.


Head of Racing M. Smith

Racing Managers N. Sheppard, A. Morley.

Deputy Racing Manager S. Saunders, J. Saunders.


Hare Controller S. Pitts, J. Wrenn, R. Watson, N. Sheppard, J. Saunders, A. Morley.


Veterinary Surgeons H. Smyly (MRCVS), A. Simpson (MRCVS), C. Savage (MRCVS),
V. Wilson (MRCVS), H. Washbrook (MRCVS), N. Shaw (MRCVS),
C. O’Neill (MRCVS), F. Botet-Gomez, D. Hollinshead, L. Turner,
H. McHale-Owen, A. Stauffer, S. Widdowson, S. Herron, J. Saunders.



Local Stewards J. Wrenn, K. Cheadle, J. Haver, C. Chorlton, M. Lee, S. Saunders,
J. Saunders , A. Morley, J. Hinchliffe-Covel, J. Tobin.


Paddock Stewards J. Wrenn, S. Newman, R. Nurse, T. Watson, S. Saunders, J. Saunders,
J. Hinchliffe-Covel, J. Tobin.


Security Officers R. Nurse.

Head of Security R. Nurse.

Starters J. Wrenn, S. Saunders, J. Hinchliffe-Covel.

Welfare Officer K.L. Cheadle.

Rehoming Officer J. Moody.


Judges R. Watson, N. Sheppard, S. Saunders, J. Saunders, A. Morley.

Timekeepers R. Watson, N. Sheppard, S. Saunders, J. Saunders, A. Morley

[SALFORD GIRL]

LOCAL INQUIRIES
Doncaster Stadium...


At a local inquiry held by the Area
Stipendiary Steward on 5th May
2021, Doncaster Stadium were
cautioned and fined £100 for a
breach of Rules 108 & 152 (i) in
respect of the running of OPTIC
JIMMY on 6th March 2021 without
the previous Irish formlines shown on
the racecard




OPTIC JIMMY
At a local inquiry held by the Area
Stipendiary Steward on 5th May
2021, professional greyhound
trainer Mr G Foot’s explanation was
accepted in respect of the improved
performance of the greyhound OPTIC
JIMMY at Doncaster Stadium on 21st
March 2021.

Opening at 10/11 and starting at
4/6, the greyhound had won a 450m
race recording a calculated time of
27.53 seconds as compared with its
best recent time of 28.08 seconds
recorded in a Trial on 21st February 2021.

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[SALFORD GIRL]

::DONCASTER STADIUM - Track Records
Distance - Dog’s Name - Time - Date::

275m - Pinpoint Mo - 16.51 (31.07.17)

480m - Farloe Verdict - 28.94 (13.07.04)

483m - King Eden - 28.87 (28.08.17)

661m - Frisby Figo/Black Pear - 41.00 (01.09.04/04.09.04)

705m - Gaba Gabba Hey - 44.40 (17.11.09)

868m - Flying Winner - 55.82 (24.06.08)

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:RACING AT DONCASTER GREYHOUND STADIUM:

::LIVE ON RPGTV::

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DONCASTER, ASKERN, AND SO MUCH MORE
FOR THE WATSONS

TAKEN FROM THE GREYHOUND STAR — NOVEMBER 1, 2022



Askern will be mothballed for a year. Look's pretty good though!

We are just 14 months away from one of the biggest greyhound industry shake-ups in decades. On December 31 2023 the media rights deal that broadcasts racing from the four Entain tracks to SIS, and onto the betting industry, will come to an end. Racing from Crayford, Hove, Monmore and Romford will switch to the ARC service. To put that into some perspective, at present SIS broadcast 53 greyhound meetings per week, including four from Central Park which will cease at the end of next month. Roll on a year and SIS/RPGTV also lose the 22 Entain meetings including many of the most lucrative slots in the racing week – notably Friday and Saturday night.

The recent opening of Oxford will fill some of those slots but there is still a significant shortfall. It is the industry’s worst kept secret that the Watson family are, or have been expanding their portfolio, to add the last independent/flapping track in England, Askern.

It is also true, and by their own admission, that the Watsons are a very private family ‘we do our own thing’ and do not court media exposure. Fortunately, Doncaster boss Robert Watson agreed to update us on the latest development

So what exactly has happened? – asks Floyd Amphlett of the Greyhound Star.....







The major story is the confirmation that the deal to buy Askern, less than a ten minute car journey from Doncaster, was completed back in September, and Robert has a firm timetable for the return of racing in almost exactly a year’s time.



Rather that just talk about his plans, we took a drive to where the old stadium is firmly behind lock and chain. I hadn’t visited the place since it was run by Douggie Flint with an inside hare with the starting traps in chutes. But it was a pleasant surprise; the track itself looked in good nick. The circuit had also changed since I was last there but it looks fair, despite its slightly flat bends.

Robert said: “To be honest, the agreement to buy it was reached a long time ago, but the deal was only completed a couple of months ago. I have spoken to Richard Brankley (SIS) and we will be looking to re-open roughly next November, to enable us to be ready for the January.

“It is only a small track but very safe and was popular with the local dog men. The track is very wide, perhaps too wide, so we may bring the hare rail in a small amount. We will also move the winning line, at least 20 metres, possibly more, depending on where we locate the judge’s box. We need to bank the bends and I think it will be quite similar to Romford and a great option for dogs who find the Doncaster 483m too tough.”

Rather like the situation at Henlow and Suffolk Downs, the Askern model is based on not being open to the public. Apart from the bungalow on site, all the other buildings will be flattened and a new GBGB specification kennel block built.

Robert said: “We will have a canteen area for the greyhound trainers and the gates will be open but the bigger meetings, and the evening meetings, will take place at Doncaster where we can accommodate a crowd.

“If we control the areas that are visible to the cameras for the betting shops, we can make it look quite smart. But at the end of the day it will mainly be the track that will be visible and that will be completely rebuilt with new running rails and double bar outside fences, fresh sand, and a new hare rail.





Robert Watson stands between the construction work on new kennels and the stable blocks which are due to be converted.



But Askern is only half the deal. As is also common knowledge, the Watson’s have also bought Ron Thompson’s yard, which is an immediate neighbour of the Doncaster track and here too the plans are spectacular. (Ron is still on site with half a dozen horses with an agreement that he can stay as long as he chooses).

Robert said: “It is 28 acres and as I think Ron would be the first to admit, it is looking a bit tired. But the scope is fantastic. We already have Ken Bowman and Lee Macmanus training from Analese’s old kennels. But there are immediate options, within the next couple of months, to convert other stables for upto 104 greyhounds, plus scope to build more. There are virtually unlimited paddocks that just need to be tidied up plus a gallop and a pool to swim the dogs that Ron used for his horses.”

At this point it might be worth explanding a little more about Robert Watson.

At 33, he is the youngest track operator in the country, but spend five minutes in his company and it is obvious that the guy knows his stuff. As a kid, he was being taught the intricasies of the racing office by the late great Barbara Tompkins. He left school (several years before he ought) to work with well known flapping man Trevor Evans training Ted Watson’s greyhounds. Between then and now, there is nothing about running a greyhound stadium that Robert hasn’t mastered.

Of course, Robert is part of a bigger dynasty. Dad Ted has owned a string of high quality hounds over the year, one of the best known being the Lister trained Northern Puppy Derby winner Redbrick Stuart. Robert’s mum still has a kennel at the track and nephew Jimmy Gaskin is making inroads as one of the bright young open race trainers on the circuit. Even Robert’s seven year old twins already have their chores in preparing for a race meeting.

Make no mistake, Robert Watson is a grass roots dog man and his eyes light up when he explains his real passion about the stables site.

He said: “I want to breed ten litters a year there eventually. We’ve had a couple of litters recently and we’ve got some potentially good brood bitches. There is more than enough space for all the paddocks and also a huge gallop.

“There is a list of greyhound men who are keen to train but just don’t have any kennels. We will have openings here for Doncaster and Askern with some trainers already asking for dual attachment. I also plan to build a block for the retired dogs so we can keep the whole thing in-house.

“This is a massive project that will take a lot of time and money, but I really believe in what we are doing. I don’t agree with the people who say that greyhound racing is finished. My plans are based on racing still being around in 15 years and am prepared to invest towards that.”





At the stables showing some of the land to the right which will be converted to rearing paddocks plus the horse gallop which will be converted.



So what of Doncaster? Like most modern tracks, it ticks over nicely. They stage four meetings per week, and although only two of them would be attended evening meetings, everything was absolutely spotless for public consumption with a healthy whiff of cleaning fluid and disinfectant. It is the track though that takes priority.

Robert said: “That is my responsibility. It isn’t an easy track to keep right because the water table is so high. We had to get a sand that is very good at draining and it has worked. We’ve had a few heavy downpours recently and the track has taken the water no problems at all. In fact we had an inspection by the STRI people and the guy told me that it was one of the best surfaces he had seen.”

Over the years, there is no job within the stadium that Robert hasn’t mastered, including grading. But with RM Andrew Morley currently on compasionate leave, it is Jack and Sarah Saunders, formerly of Belle Vue, who are running racing matters. Their tutor was a certain Bob Rowe (you might have heard of him!).*

Robert said: “Some of Jack’s grading has just been outstanding. There is so little crowding at the bends and lots of tight finishes. You wouldn’t always realise that the grading is as tight as it is if you were to look at the betting. I really don’t understand how these industry odds work. We’ve had instances recently of two dogs running against each other. One has beaten the other, and for no reason I can see, when they meet again, the bookies want to make the beaten dog favourite. It makes no sense.”

On the track, Doncaster welcome back the open racers this month with the BGBF British Bred St Leger starting next Wednesday.

Which leads to the question, why was there no Doncaster St.Leger this year?

Robert said: “I applied to run two £8,000 competitions at the same time with the supporting card to be a full card of £1,000 finals. But we didn’t even receive an acknowledgement from GBGB.”

*The track are still looking for someone with racing office experience to add to the team both in the short and longer term with Askern.



Some of the kennel blocks that are already in use on the left. “This will be fantastic when we have have finished” says Robert. It is hard to argue.