👀 GENERAL NEWS in 2024 👀

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BRITISH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK......

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Entain announces closure of Crayford

By Paul Brown {Racing Post} 3:00pm 20 NOV 2024

ENTAIN yesterday announced that it intends to close Crayford Stadium, ending 38 years of greyhound racing at the track since it opened on its present site in place of the previously closed Crayford and Bexleyheath, which first saw racing in 1932 and was shut by Ladbrokes in 1985.

The news was revealed by Entain UK communications director Simon Clare. He said: "We are saddened to announce the intended closure of the Crayford greyhound track.

"We have been exploring various avenues to avoid this decision for some time but, ultimately, it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site.

"The dwindling support for the venue has led to insufficient trainer interest/ to fulfil our schedules, fewer competitive racedays and, therefore, lower attendance which has sadly driven our decision to close.

"Ladbrokes have a long history in greyhound racing, helping to build and open the Crayford venue in 1986, so the decision has not been taken lightly./

"Impacted colleagues have been informed of our intention to close the track and we will shortly commence individual consultations with colleagues to discuss the support/options available to them.

"We will/ also continue to/ support all trainers impacted by the disruption and hope that many of them will continue to race their dogs at other UK greyhound tracks.

"We remain committed to the highest levels of animal welfare. As such, every affected greyhound will be cared for through an enhanced investment and rehoming strategy.

"We are looking to expand our infrastructure to rehome dogs, develop new rehoming partnerships in the UK, the US and Canada and support trainer and greyhound transition to other tracks in the UK.

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GBGB Chief Executive Mark Bird (centre) with trainer Jason Gray and kennel hand Jess Hubbard

GBGB LOBBY FOR STATUTORY 1% LEVY

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain have been in Westminster today lobbying the

Government for a statutory 1% levy to support greyhound welfare

This is what they had to say:

Campaign launched to force betting industry to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds

Greyhound racing regulator, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), launches campaign to introduce a statutory levy on bookmakers to contribute to long-term greyhound welfare
Funding from bookmakers through voluntary levy contributions, between 2008/09 and 2024/5 have decreased by 67 per cent in real terms
Keep Welfare On Track campaign calls for all betting companies to pay a minimum percentage of turnover from greyhound racing towards greyhound welfare – replacing a voluntary levy that sees bookies pay 0.6 per cent if they opt into the scheme
Public urged to email their MP now via co.uk to support the campaign, ahead of a petition launching to force a debate on the issue in Parliament
A campaign has been launched to force the UK betting industry to better protect the welfare of racing greyhounds through the introduction of a compulsory statutory levy.

The campaign – Keep Welfare On Track – has been initiated by the regulator for licensed greyhound racing in the UK, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), and will see a public petition launched in an effort to force a debate on the issue in Parliament.

The regulator argues that the current voluntary levy, which sees bookmakers able to opt into a payment of 0.6 per cent of their greyhound racing turnover, is inadequate to uphold existing high welfare standards in the long-term.

To highlight this point, the British Greyhound Racing Fund, which receives the voluntary levy contributions, states that it is only set to receive an estimated £6.7 million in the year to March 2025 – £5 million of which will go towards funding greyhound welfare and integrity according to GBGB.

The amounts paid by bookmakers has decreased significantly since the GBGB came into being, with levy contributions falling by 67 per cent based on CPI rates. This is despite the introduction of key welfare programmes by the sport’s regulator to optimise greyhound wellbeing both on and off the track. The call for a statutory levy comes as bookmakers had a turnover of £800 million on licensed greyhound racing in 2022/23, according to the British Greyhound Racing Fund.

Mark Bird, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said: “As long as the current levy remains voluntary and non-negotiable, with some bookmakers failing to play their part, the strides that we as an industry have made to uphold the highest standards of welfare for racing greyhounds will remain under threat.

“Our Keep Welfare On Track campaign seeks to provide a more equitable approach which ensures that all betting companies pay into the levy, at an appropriate rate to ensure sustainable and long-term funding to protect these wonderful animals for years to come.

“We strongly urge anyone who cares about greyhounds, and the greyhound racing industry, to sign this petition so we can present this vital campaign directly to Government and force them to take action.”

Under the GBGB proposals, the new compulsory levy would see financial contributions from betting companies rise from 0.6 per cent of revenue to resemble other best-practice schemes, as seen in British horse racing. As part of any new levy system, a final contribution figure would be negotiated between the bookmakers and the sport.

It would also ensure that every betting organisation supports GBGB’s comprehensive welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life For Every Greyhound’, which aims to further enhance welfare across all stages of a greyhound’s life.

This includes initiatives to assist with the costs of veterinary treatment during their racing careers, and GBGB’s new homing initiative for retired athletes – called ‘With A Greyhound’ – which connects potential pet owners with more than 100 accredited greyhound adoption centres across the UK.

To find out more about the Keep Welfare On Track campaign, and to email your MP and sign the petition to force a debate in parliament, visit keepwelfareontrack.co.uk

Key facts

The amounts paid by bookmakers has decreased significantly over the period of guardianship of the GBGB, with levy contributions falling by 67 per cent based on CPI rates.
The British Greyhound Racing Fund states that for the year to March 2025 the voluntary levy is set to raise an estimated £6.7 million, with £5 million allocated to welfare and integrity according to GBGB
The remaining money from the levy goes towards supporting other areas of the industry, including improving the tracks themselves, and prize money which is often reinvested by owners back into the industry
The current voluntary levy is set at 0.6 per cent of all greyhound racing revenue, and contributed approximately £6.9 million to the British Greyhound Racing Fund in 2023/24, and £7.3 million in 2022/23
Out of the total number of bookmakers involved with licensed greyhound racing, 95 per cent are currently paying the voluntary levy (based on LBO numbers alone). About £500,000 remains uncollected from bookmakers who do not pay into the sport
There are approximately 12,000 greyhounds involved in greyhound racing in the UK*
Greyhound racing employs 5,400 people and contributes £164 million to the UK economy*
GBGB has 20 licensed tracks across the UK
*Data taken from The Economic Impact of Greyhound Racing in the UK – a report for GBGB prepared by Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates Ltd – which can be viewed here.

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The 2024 Boylesports Irish Derby Final..
at Shelbourne Park, Dublin...
Saturday 23-11-24