NZ: Trainers boycott club after dog's death

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From www.stuff.co.nz

Trainers boycott club after dog's death

MATT MARKHAM
<mailto:matt.markham@press.co.nz?subject=Trainers%20boycott%20club%20after%2
0dog%27s%20death>

Last updated 05:00 07/09/2012


18




Canterbury greyhound trainers will boycott Southland Greyhound Racing Club
unless future meetings are shifted to a different venue, after a series of
equipment malfunctions this year that culminated in the death of a top dog
this week.

The Craig and Di Roberts-trained Badja Bale was sent crashing into, and
over, the running rail on Tuesday when the lure, which the dogs chase,
suddenly stopped after 200 metres of the race.

The injuries sustained during the incident were so severe Badja Bale had to
be destroyed by the on-course vet, leaving trainers and greyhound
enthusiasts from around the country angry.

Badja Bale had won 17 of his 79 career starts, picking up a further 21
placings for stake earnings of more almost $50,000, and was on the cusp of
retirement.

After the malfunction, trainers with dogs entered during the remainder of
the meeting were given the option of withdrawing their runners without
penalty, and several did so.

The incident follows issues with equipment on six other occasions this year,
and trainers have had enough.

The boycott was instigated following an urgent meeting held to Wednesday
night to discuss the issue. It was attended by 40-45 trainers from around
the Canterbury region.

"It was really pleasing to see such a strong turnout of trainers," Craig
Roberts said.

"We as trainers are really concerned about the safety of our dogs and their
welfare.

"But this has also gone on way too long, and everyone is getting really
frustrated with the lack of attention that seems to be getting given to
providing a remedy to the situation."

The meeting, which Roberts organised, resulted in a letter with 37
signatures being forwarded to Greyhound Racing New Zealand board, stating
that they would not be nominating greyhounds for any meetings held by the
club unless they were shifted to either Dunedin's Forbury Park or Addington
in Christchurch.

The letter also said the trainers would continue to refuse to nominate until
the problems were fixed and a delegation of trainers was satisfied with the
improvements.

"Everybody was of the same opinion that again this has gone on too long and
that the board haven't acted strongly enough. Personally I would like to see
the meetings shifted to Otago.

"What happened to Badja [Bale] on Tuesday was a catastrophe and it is a real
shame that it has taken something like this to really get things into
action."

In a statement on their website, Greyhound Racing New Zealand said that they
and the Southland Greyhound Racing Club were taking the malfunctions very
seriously.

Following an incident in August when the lids on the starting boxes opened
too early, Greyhound Racing New Zealand employed an independent consultant
to inspect the lure and evaluate the club's maintenance and testing
procedures.

The consultant was satisfied that the club were being proactive in their
maintenance and that the new lures which had been installed were functioning
well, with extensive testing undertaken.

Now, following Tuesday's incident, the national racing manager will visit
the track to evaluate all track facilities before reporting back to the
board.

The Southland Greyhound Racing Club's next race meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, September 18.