THE BRITISH GREYHOUND RACING BOARD

The BGRB are the promoters of the greyhound racing industry. They act as the sales people, who market and sell greyhound racing to the public, sponsors and investors. The BGRB’s Chairman is David Lipsey and it is he who is largely responsible for much of the media surrounding the industry today. Awarded the task of having to sell the use of live animals as a betting medium, Lord Lipsey constantly struggles to say anything original apart from his 2008 stock phrases in an attempt to manipulate the media and the public.

“Less than 10,000 greyhounds are now coming into licensed racing each year”

What Lord Lipsey conveniently forgets in his enthusiasm to portray the ‘whiter than white’ industry image, is that over 17,000 greyhounds were either imported from Ireland or bred in the UK to produce the 10,000 greyhounds, fast enough to perform on the industry’s tracks during 2007. Amounting to a surplus of 7,000 greyhounds which were not fast enough to compete on NGRC tracks and which the industry accept no responsibility for.

 “Almost 4,500 are re-homed annually by the Retired Greyhound Trust”

The RGT have reached an all time high in allegedly re-homing this number of greyhounds, an increase of just 15% on the previous year. As the RGT is funded largely by the public, then in reality the industry can only claim to have financed the re-homing of less than 2,250. Clearly unacceptable for an industry that demands the importation and breeding of 17,000 greyhounds to supply its tracks.

“Approximately a further 3,500 find homes either with their owners, their trainer or through other re-homing charities. Some of the others will continue their careers on independent tracks or will return to their native Ireland”

Approximately? Some? Bizarre that the NGRC are in possession of these exact figures but prefer not to disclose them and absolutely incredible that Lord Lipsey suggests greyhounds are being returned to their native Ireland, where an estimated 16,000 greyhounds were destroyed last year alone. As euthanasia is subsidised by the Irish authorities, costing only €30, then perhaps this is the very reason why ‘some’ are being returned to Ireland.

“Some are euthanased, because, for example, they are temperamentally unsuitable for re-homing or for health reasons"

Lord Lipsey has access to these figures but prefers to white wash the extent of the slaughter and euthanasia with the word ‘some’. Yet again the industry does not even grace these wonderful creatures who have unconditionally served their masters, the gratitude and worth of being 'named' upon their death.

But behind closed doors, what does Lord David Lipsey really say?

“But welfare will not go away. There are a lot of people lying about us and the problem is that the public at large believe their lies. We will have more spending and more focus on combating them in future.” Lipsey, who was speaking to invited members of the Greyhound Writers' Association, went on to highlight the three audiences that greyhound racing has to appeal to. “Firstly there are the aficionados, then there are the bookmakers to whom we must keep providing whatever product they require otherwise they will go more and more down the virtual route, and finally there are those just looking for a jolly night out"

So there you have it, straight from the horse's mouth.  The industry must supply whatever product the bookmakers require and welfare is only an issue because of the lies that are told about the industry. The All Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare is lying, the RSPCA are lying, the Sunday Times are lying, Greyhound Action is lying, we are ALL lying.