AU: Struggling greyhound industry wants bigger share of TAB

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From express-advocate-wyong.whereilive.com.au

Struggling greyhound industry wants bigger share of TAB profits

20 Jul 12 @ 05:26am by Terry Collins

Description: Greyhound trainer Troy McDonald is concerned about the future
of the sport. Picture: WAIDE MAGUIRE

Greyhound trainer Troy McDonald is concerned about the future of the sport.
Picture: WAIDE MAGUIRE

THE Central Coast greyhound industry is going to the dogs.

Trainers are leaving the business, which employs hundreds of people, in
droves because the returns from the TAB are simply not enough.

Industry members from all over the coast will meet on Sunday to lobby for a
change in legislation to give them a fairer percentage of TAB profits.

Bobby Whitelaw, who trained at Lake Munmorah for 20 years and now operates
at Cessnock, said a third of the state's greyhound trainers were on the
Central Coast and in the Hunter.

"Some years ago we entered into a three-code agreement put together by the
government of the day on percentage of return from the TAB," Mr Whitelaw
said. "But there was a lack of consultation and the agreement saw the
greyhound industry receive 13.5 per cent of the profits, with trotting
receiving 16.8 per cent and thoroughbred racing 70 per cent.

"Even then, greyhounds were earning 16.5 per cent for the TAB," Mr Whitelaw
said.

"Today it is over 20 per cent, but being the minor players, we were treated
poorly."

Mr Whitelaw said the meeting on Sunday, under the banner Our Fair Share,
would agitate for a more equitable distribution of profits.

IT'S ONLY FAIR

TROY MacDonald has been training since 2008, when he married the daughter of
prolific Jilliby trainer Lorraine Atchison.

He helps train Ms Atchison's 15 race dogs.

``I think it is only fair trainers get a fair share of the profits,'' Mr
MacDonald said. ``There are a lot of greyhound meetings each week and we
work just as hard as trotter and thoroughbred trainers.''

Mr MacDonald said a huge amount of money went into training greyhounds if it
was done properly.

``Feeding, trialling, racing _ it adds up,'' he said.

PLAN OF ACTION

Central Coast and Hunter greyhound industry members will meet at
Doyalson-Wyee RSL Club at 1pm on Sunday to lobby for a change in laws.

Details: 4991 3739.