Greyhound racing has been Carly Philpott’s life for the past 22 years as a trainer, kennel hand, re-homing campaigner, and now as a GBGB Stipendiary Steward. As a greyhound racing veteran, Carly highlights the important role that the sport’s tracks play in their local communities.
I love greyhound racing because of my dad and grandad. They were both trainers and I have fond memories of living with their dogs – they were like my own siblings.
Although the industry has come on leaps and bounds since I was a child, the one constant is the industry’s family roots.
The tracks unite communities and is where many people’s love affair with the industry starts – whether as a punter or a trainer. Still to this day my local track at Romford regularly comes alive with so many families mingling with and cheering on the dogs.
This generational magic, is however, under threat because many trainers are struggling to afford the costs of upholding the high standards of greyhound welfare that the industry has been accustomed to.
In my role as a Stipendiary Steward, I split my week between visiting kennels and tracks to ensure all procedures are being followed to uphold high standards of greyhound welfare. This includes making sure they look well, their teeth are clean, their coats and nails are well cut, their bedding is clean and good quality – and that the dogs look happy.
I spend a lot of time with trainers, and the cost of racing is their number one worry.
The cost of feed and bedding has doubled since I started out – but trainers’ income and the financial support made available for greyhound welfare has stagnated; and that’s without even taking into account veterinary treatment.
Trainers dedicate their lives to greyhound racing because they do it for the love of it – but they need to start seeing a rise in financial support for the top-class care that they give to their dogs, who are treated like a member of their family.
A key barrier I feel needs to be broken down in order to generate more support for trainers’ current situation is by educating those who aren’t familiar with greyhound racing.
I regularly attend public events where I talk to the general public about rehoming a retired greyhound and I’m often met with comments about how they are mistreated – and that could not be further from the truth in this day and age.
Dogs are now tracked throughout their lives – and the Keep Welfare On Track campaign has an important role to demonstrate that greyhounds are cared for and are loved just as much as any other pet.
People who aren’t familiar with racing tend to hold a negative view of the sport that reflects the distant past, but we need society to face up to the present and future – which is that we have a historic British sport that is loved by so many that is in need of financial support to uphold high greyhound welfare standards – while protecting its long-term future.
From a kennel and trainer point of view, if the financial support isn’t there then we lose that link of children wanting to follow in their parent’s or grandparent’s footsteps – and bookmakers have it in their gift to ensure this longstanding tradition continues.
A statutory levy is so important for the future of greyhound racing, its tracks and supporters, which is why I am urging you to join me in signing GBGB’s upcoming petition to force a parliamentary debate on the issue.
