Lithgow president says air conditioning essential for all tracks
THE Lithgow greyhound racing track will be ready to race throughout summer, with a brand new split-system air conditioner being installed in the kennels this week.
It comes as the non-TAB track had its meeting abandoned last Saturday after the temperature in the kennels exceeded 26°C, the maximum temperature permitted for race kennels as outlined by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) in its revised hot weather policy.
Lithgow President John Brain said while it was a shame to lose the meeting, the welfare of the greyhounds must come first.
“I have been in the game a long time and if you go back 30 years they didn't worry about anything like this,” Brain told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“Obviously there is science behind this decision which has found it is better for the animal to race with these conditions.
“Without the animals there isn't a sport. If they get too hot they can get crook or even die and we can't have that.
“At the end of the day it is looking after the animal.”
Brain said given the scorching temperatures many parts of the state reach throughout the summer months, all clubs, even the smaller non-TAB tracks, need to invest in air-conditioning if they want to race.
“Change comes and people have to adjust to it. It might take a while, but they adjust.
“We all know what the weather conditions are like in Australia – it gets very hot in the summer.
“You have got to have the appropriate facilities to be able to keep the temperature down in the kennels.
“Clubs are instructed what degree the kennels have to be and if you can't get your track to meet those temperatures then you don't race.
“You have got to abide by the rules or you don't race.”
The new temperature rules came into effect on November 1 as a part of the revised hot weather policy.
Other key changes include the ability to withdraw greyhounds without penalty when temperature is forecasted to be above 32°C. Stewards can also abandon a race meeting when the temperature exceeds 38°C or is likely to rise above 38°C.
The new policy also requires greyhounds never to be kept in non-air-conditioned vehicles or trailers when the temperature rises above 22°C.
The hot weather has also been causing problems down in Victoria, with Monday's meetings at Shepparton and Traralgon pushed back to night meetings to avoid racing in the heat of the day and afternoon.
Australian Racing Greyhound contacted both Greyhound Racing NSW and Greyhound Racing Victoria for further insight into their hot weather policies, however neither controlling body had responded at the time of publication.
Alter the ICA for our fair share and the infrastructure problems would be addressed and this Government keeps kicking our arse on welfare issues and don’t want to help. Addressing the ICA and the Tax Parity would be no cost to the Government and would go a long way to addressing many issue associated with Greyhound Racing here in NSW . God help us, its not Rocket Science
I look forward to my grant from GRNSW to buy an air conditioned trailer.
Otherwise there’ll be a procession of hobby trainers calling it quits.
What a lovely thought ,sorry but i don’t think that will happen ,but it should ! Maybe the GBOTA can tap into their Millions also ,its the Hobby Trainers that have always carried the Industry at all levels and its about time the looked after the major stakeholders.
Why would you expect a grant it’s going to be good for the dogs and it will only cost you 2 tab wins
Why not race some non tab meetings in the cool of the morning?. Taree got one of its biggest crowds on a meeting on Sunday morning previously. If the non tab’s had a circuit on Saturday morning and Sunday morning they could get a corporate interested and broadcast on U-Tube for no cost. This is one proposal being put forward and it “trumps” tracks writing articles on their bragging rights. PS I am not a fan of kennels anyway I think that both the greyhounds and connections should be in hospitality areas (air conditioned) together with an option to kennel… Read more »
John Tracey John a leading Greyhound Vet has advised us ,that Air Condition Trailers can cause health problems for the dogs.
BobWhitelaw John Tracey There can be problems particularly with dehydration, it pays to travel in the trailer to see what is going on. It is amazing that with all we have gone through a scheme for Mad Dogs and Englishman to race in the midday sun for no reason is a headline topic backing a more of the same vision. How about racing in a period when the pubs and clubs are not open and how about a tour to Vietnam to tie up an internet connection between them and the country clubs. Here are some initial approaches on a Vietnam… Read more »
This is certainly an example of a good news bad news situation. The good news is air conditioning will be provided for the greyhounds and Mr. Brain is to be commended for seeing to that. The bad news is, while the climate may be controlled in the kennels, the dogs will still have to race in whatever weather is outside of the kennels. If the racing stops when the temperature reaches 26°C in the kennel, what is it on the outside then? Additionally this will mean more races overall for the dogs. More chances to be injured or killed on… Read more »
Bluestone Hi Bluestone I note that both greyhounds and horses come from dessert areas, do horses now have to travel in air conditioned refrigerated trucks. In my time horses were most comfortable in floats where they could see out of them and if a number of horses were in the same float an attendant travelled with them. Hobby trainers in the greyhounds often used to go to race-meetings together in their transport and share a trailer between them. The trailers were often obtained without cost as one of the party owned the trailer and donated it to the group. The… Read more »
BobWhitelaw God helps those that help themselves and this does seem to be Rocket Science to some, Apply for something in the next two months while the greyhounds are topical because most people will forget they exist in the near future. You cant run a sport totally by asking others to think for you but if I am wrong I will donate a couple of rolls of twenty cents to you to ring someone to fix all our problems. If you are 80% active and spend 20% giving comfort to people who have given up, then you cant be invited… Read more »
BobWhitelaw God helps those that help themselves and this does seem to be Rocket Science to some, Apply for something in the next two months while the greyhounds are topical because most people will forget they exist in the near future.
Bob do you have a special diet requirement for the trip to Vietnam?.
John Tracey BobWhitelaw Australian Grown Rice !