Industry

In the UK, the Greyhound Racing Industry can be divided into two areas; licensed (of which there are 29 tracks) and independent “flapping” tracks (of which there are 14 tracks). 

The licensed greyhound racing industry involves three key bodies; National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC), British Greyhound Racing Board (BGRB) and British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF).

The NGRC is essentially the regulatory body of Greyhound Racing.  This non profit organisation is responsible for; ensuring discipline and conduct of the licensed industry, framing and amending its “Rules of Racing” (after consultation with the BGRB), licensing racecourses, trainers, owners, kennels and officials (after consultation with the BGRB) and collecting fees related to such licensing.  It also keeps a register of owners and all greyhounds racing at racecourses which it licenses.  The NGRC claims to be an independent body operating within the sport, to ensure the integrity of greyhound racing.  However, by its own admission it “is a small organisation, punching way above its weight in what it does for the greyhound industry” (APGAW Report). The Chief Executive is Alistair McLean.

The BGRB is in essence the governing body of Greyhound Racing with responsibility for all aspects of the industry and represents stakeholders; racecourse promoters, greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and greyhound breeders. It takes lead responsibility for all issues relating to the political and commercial interests of greyhound racing and all rule changes, licence and registration issues must be discussed with the BGRB.  The chair of the BGRB is Lord David Lipsey.

The BGRF has responsibility for collection of contributions from book makers in addition to providing management and oversight of the BGRB budget.  It distributes funds to the NGRC for drug testing and research projects and to BGRB for capital grants, welfare projects, Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) and marketing.

The independent (or “flapping” tracks as they are sometimes referred to) are entirely unregulated.  This means there are absolutely no rules for racing on these tracks.

Greyhound Racing is big business in the UK.  It is estimated in 2007 off course betting turnover was £2.5bn (Donoghue Report).  The Greyhound Racing Industry is self regulating and believes that this arrangement should continue.  However the Board (BGRB) takes a close and according to the NRGC, a sometimes negative, interest in the Club’s (NGRC) proposals for rule formulation and rule changes.  Moreover the Board’s influence over finances enables it to constrain the Club’s activities.  Consequently there is an inevitable perception by the Club that the Board is interfering in what the Club believes is - or wishes were - its own unique regulatory responsibilities (Donoghue Report).  This undermines the claim that the NGRC is an independent body and ensures integrity of the sport.  One of the primary functions of the BGRB is to promote greyhound racing and therefore the main focus of the industry is financial considerations, rather than concern for the welfare of racing greyhounds.  The greyhound racing industry is one led by pursuit of profits and financial gain.