Carton Of Bear emerged from the 2023 Listed Ipswich Derby heats on Saturday night as the fastest qualifier heading toward next week's final.
Trained by Brent Kline, Carton Of Bear started his 520m heat as the +160 race favourite with online bookmakers.
Jumping from box five, he got out fast to take the lead, dictating terms dominantly for the entire trip to the joy of favourite punters.
He beat Fancy A Scotch by 7.5 lengths in the fastest heat time of 30.28.
2023 Listed Ipswich Derby Heat 3 – Carton Of Bear (30.28) T: Brent Kline
The winning time smashed his previous best time of 30.51, clocked on April 22, in a heat of the Anniversary Cup.
Trainer Kline was glad to see his chaser salute after a run of bad luck of late.
“Clearly happy with the run,” Kline said.
“He needed that.
“He's had a lot of bad luck at Ipswich, so we were happy to see him get a clear run.”
The son of Hooked On Scotch and Shilo has now had 12 wins and eight minor placings from 31 career starts and has earned $48,460 in prizemoney.
He will now line up in the $30,000-to-the-winner final next Saturday night, with Kline saying he would prefer an inside draw, but is not optimistic of a favourable draw.
“You watch; the box draw will kill me, though,” he added.
The other heat winners were the current track record holder, Blue Hornet, who won in 30.54; and the Jedda Cutlack-trained I'm Peakin' who won in 30.92.
2023 Listed Ipswich Derby Heat 1 – Blue Hornet (30.54) T: Ray Burman
2023 Listed Ipswich Derby Heat 2 – I'm Peakin' (30.92) T: Jedda Cutlack
With just three heats of the 2023 Listed Ipswich Derby run, the three winners and runners-up, plus the two fastest thirds will progress to next week's final.
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Bear's Bullet will carry the hopes of Queensland on her shoulders in the National Sprint Championship after she took out the state final at Albion Park on Thursday night.
After saluting in her heat as a $1.70 favourite last week, the Travis Elson-trained chaser was sent out at $5 odds in the 520m final.
Jumping from box four, Bear's Bullet got out to the lead as the field turned the first corner and ran on into the straight to stamp her ticket to the big dance.
She beat home All Natural ($17) and Fernando Grand ($101) by 1.75 lengths, clocking a time of 30.16.
Queensland National Spring Final 2023 replay – Bear's Bullet
Trainer Travis Elson was impressed with the performance, although it came as no surprise.
“We are very stoked in her run,” he said.
“We knew she would give herself every chance with how she begins.
“We thought Jay Is Jay, if he got a clean run, would be too strong for her.
“Lucky for us, he didn't get the dream run and we snuck the win.
“To be honest, I thought I'd be going to Townsville next week with her.”
Before she took out the state sprint final, Bear's Bullet was second favourite in the all-in market for the Townsville Cup, with heats starting next week.
She now has bigger tasks and greater prize money in sight, with a shot at the $75,000-to-the-winner prize in the National Sprint Championship on August 26 at The Meadows.
After kicking off her career with a win over the Albion Park 395m last November, Bear's Bullet has gone on to take out the QGOLD Rookies Final with runner-up finishes in the Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns and Listed Brisbane Cup Prelude this year.
The Fernando Bale x Mumma's Hope bitch has 13 wins and 11 placings from 32 career starts and has banked $165,890 in prize money for connections.
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Obliging Travis took the win on Wednesday night at Albion Park, beating out his kennelmate over the 395m trip.
The Cyndie Elson-trained chaser was sent out in the fifth-grade final as race favourite, paying $1.50 with online greyhound bookmakers.
Last week, he took out his heat from box five to win by a length.
His kennelmate Obliging Warren lined up at $9.50 odds in the final after he jumped from box one last week to lead all the way in the fastest of five heats.
The Elson pair set the pace from box rise in the decider, with Obliging Travis saluting by four and a half lengths with Swift Rascal ($5) in third.
Obliging Travis – Albion Park, August 9
The winning time of 22.59 shaved a good chunk off his previous best of 23.00 at the track and trip.
With a career that started on the right foot with a win over the Albion Park 331m on April 2, he went on to finish third in the Listed QGold Rookies Final.
The Fernando Bale x Abby's Magic dog has seven wins and four placings from 13 career starts, banking $26,525 in prize money for connections.
Obliging Warren also started his career off with a victory, saluting over the 395m at Albion Park on March 13.
The full brother to Obliging Travis (Fernando Magic x Abby's Magic) has five wins and seven placings from 15 starts and has banked $15,595 in prize money.
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The Jason Thompson kennel scored a double at Healesville on Sunday, with two of its stars bouncing back into the winner's circle.
Got Attitude served up a strong run down the 350m Healesville straight to salute once again.
The Jason Thompson-trained chaser was sent out as race favourite, paying $1.80 odds with online greyhound markets.
Out of pink box, he got out to travel wide well before he moved into the middle and ran on well to win.
He beat home Master Zorro ($6) and Rex Mania ($15) by two lengths, in a time of 19.44.
06/08/23 Healesville Race 6 (350m) – Got Attitude (19.44) T: Jason Thompson
Handler Luke Thompson said the team was happy with his performance.
“He went about his business nicely,” Thompson said.
“He'll continue to race around the country circuits for the time being.”
Last start he finished third when beaten by the speedy Cybertruck.
Got Attitude had not won since July 2 when he took out the Mark Hughes Foundation Prospector heat before finishing second in the Listed final a week later, behind the Anthony Azzopardi-trained Renegade Cochise.
The Bernardo x Sunset Senorita dog has eight wins and five placings from 16 career starts, with $31,885 banked for connections.
Unleash Collinda is a superstar and got his redemption with a win after going down to Maybe Yesterday last week in the Healesville Members Trophy.
On Sunday, he was sent out as a $1.20 favourite with online greyhound bookmaker sites and stormed home to win.
He won by two lengths in front of Quinlan Bale ($21) and That's Ivy ($15), in a time of 18.83.
06/08/23 Healesville Race 8 (350m) – Unleash Collinda (18.83) T: Jason Thompson
Handler Luke Thompson said it was great to see the kennel star return to winning form.
“It was good to see him bounce back after last week's defeat,” he said.
“It was a nice win going into the straight championship heats next week.”
His career highlights include runner-up honours in the Group 2 Shepparton Cup and Group 2 Ballarat Cup, along with taking out the Sportsbet Emerald Final in March.
The Beast Unleashed x Audacious Bell dog has 31 wins and ten placings from 48 starts and has cracked $160,000 in prize money for connections.
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Australian individuals seeking to distance themselves from online gambling will have the option to do so for their entire lifetime. In line with recent government actions prohibiting the use of credit cards in online betting and following the inquiry into online gambling, BetStop is set to launch on August 21. This national self-exclusion register aims to assist problem gamblers in blocking themselves from betting on sports and racing, becoming the final component of the national consumer protection framework for online wagering.
By enrolling in the register, individuals can exclude themselves from wagering services for a period ranging from three months to a lifetime. Once registered, they will be unable to create accounts with online gambling providers or receive any promotional or advertising materials. Notably, online and phone-based wagering service providers are obliged to prevent listed individuals from opening accounts or placing bets during their self-imposed ban, and they must refrain from sending any marketing materials to these individuals.
READ: Racing & Sport revenue at risk with gambling ad ban
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth expressed that the government's efforts, implemented within a short timeframe, are collectively reducing the harm associated with online gambling. She emphasised the ongoing commitment to minimising this harm and the collaboration with state and territory counterparts to sustain positive change.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland highlighted that safeguarding Australians from the adverse impacts of online gambling is a crucial priority for the Albanese government. She described BetStop as a groundbreaking initiative that facilitates easy self-exclusion for vulnerable consumers from online wagering services. Furthermore, BetStop represents the tenth and final measure under the National Consumer Protection Framework, reinforcing consumer rights for Australians.
Online Bookmakers are required to promote BetStop on their platforms, including websites, apps, and marketing materials. Additionally, the government plans to introduce mandatory customer pre-verification, compelling online gambling providers to verify the identity of customers before their initial bet.
Regulation of BetStop will fall under the responsibility of the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Individuals seeking to revoke their self-exclusion period cannot do so within three months of registration and must provide a statutory declaration confirming that they have received counceling or advice from a qualified professional regarding their decision. Moreover, any support persons associated with the individual will be notified of the application to remove themselves from the register.
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Townsville is set to host 12 races on Tuesday night from 6:55PM local time. There's three cracking heats of the 2023 “Townsville Young Guns” set to be run over the 380m. The key attractions in these heats include Senor Yogi, Lush Ice, Mr O'Sullivan, Good Odds Rascal and More Peaches. All of the dogs listed above have made brilliant starts to their respective careers and have a bright future ahead.
Best Bet: More Peaches (Race 6)
The second of three cracking young gun heats arguably carries Central and North Queensland's fastest dog in More Peaches who was undefeated up until losing her first race in the 2023 group 3 Rockhampton cup. Since then, she has only had two starts in the past month resulting in a sharp win over the 407m at Rockhampton and a shock defeat as an odds-on favourite in the 2023 Rockhampton young guns over the 510m. Reportedly trainer Michael Boody took his charge to Townsville last week to trial and that will hold both his runners in good stead for these heats. More Peaches faces arguably the weakest of three heats and from the low draw can find a prominent spot in the early stages. She draws particularly well with I'm A Dancer inside who has shown she can jump and run which will allow More Peaches the perfect cart into the race. Eyes On Meg on her outside will offer no grief as she's a tarty beginner who likes to use the track and will push off on the first turn. Given More Peaches can stay out of trouble on the first turn, she will be too strong in the back half of this race.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
More Peahces (2)
Form: 111715 | Career: 9: 7-0-0 | Trainer: Michael Boody
Next Best: Flash Fever (Race 4)
Flash Fever is coming off the biggest win of her career scoring in the $10,000 to the winner QGOLD Final over the 380m last week and will be looking to carry that momentum up to the 498m. She has been a model of consistency in recent months over the 380m scoring many wins and gathering a placing in almost every run. Stepping her up to the 498m now is the perfect decision as she's sizzled over this distance in the past and there's a lack of depth over the longer trip currently in Townsville with Winlock All Over arguably the top dog. She is ineligible to race in this 3rd/4th grade contest now being a second grade dog which opens the door for Flash Fever to score successive victories. Flash Fever has produced her best runs in the past over the 498m when being first up and that would be mainly due to the fact that she is fresh in the legs and can find the arm. From the low draw tomorrow and with two slow starters either side, expect this to eventuate once again on the way to recording her sixteenth victory.
Next Best
Race 4 – Flash Fever (2)
Form: 324321 | Career: 50: 14-12-8 | Trainer: Bradley Belford
Best Value: Bag The Cash (Race 2)
Bag The Cash has been racking up the frequent flyer points in recent times; however, has found a new home with local Townsville trainers, Mark Partland. The former South Australian chaser had recorded some good times over the 342m at Angle Park before finding himself relocated to New South Wales. He passed a stewards trial at Richmond over the 401m in 23.25 and strangely enough was never sighted on race day in the state. Two months later he was accepted in a 380m novice at Townsville where he was brutally unlucky not to have finished closer. Beginning on terms from box three, Bag The Cash appeared to be going well before being the recipient of a bad squeeze heading into the first turn. This halted all his momentum and his race instantly over. The eventual winner of the race, Warbel Tony clocked 22.23 and given the way Bag The Cash stuck with him over the first 150m, it's safe to say he would have recorded a similar time. That time would be good enough to take out tonight's race. Red Ricciardo is the current favourite and lines up for his first start in Townsville. He is sure to benefit from the run. Rose Target scored on debut in 22.22 and draws worse off for that run in a tougher grade yet she is shorter in current betting than Bag The Cash. Expect a minor boil over in the second race with Bag The Cash doing just that for punters.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
Bag The Cash (1)
Form: 320225 | Career: 13: 1-4-2 | Trainer: Mark Partland
The Townsville quaddie tips for Tuesday, May 30
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2023 QGOLD Winter Chase winner Jimmy The Singer will target the the forthcoming Group 3 Carnival Chase series at Albion Park.
The decision came from part-owner and trainer, Corey Mutton, after witnessing the commendable performance by Jimmy The Singer, who hails from the Fabregas-Pennybacker lineage.
The dog demonstrated an astounding pace, blazing through the first section in 9.76 seconds, which ultimately led him to a resounding victory over rivals, Hara's River and Adulate.
Corey, who co-owns the greyhound with Tony McGrath, a Leeds-based Irishman, was confident in Jimmy's potential.
“I knew as soon as he drew the rails he could win,” said Corey, reflecting on the event.
2023 Listed QGOLD Winter Chase (Albion Park, 600m – Jimmy The Singer (34.98) T: Corey Mutton
Jimmy The Singer's victory marks his 12th win in 31 starts, bringing his stake earnings to a total of $78,000.
He is part of an impressive litter that also includes multiple Group finalist, De Ferran, who is also co-owned by McGrath and Darren Leeson.
Reflecting on Jimmy's abilities, Corey added, “Jimmy could break 30 seconds for 520 metres but never in a race,” said Corey.
“But, his early pace was always going to be his plus over 600.”
Indeed, Jimmy's first trial over the 600m distance saw him clock a first section time of 9.85 seconds.
Mutton and McGrath have amassed a diverse collection of 20 dogs in their partnership, ranging from pups to educated youngsters ready for the tracks.
McGrath, a passionate lover of the sport, even spent three months at Corey's place on the Gold Coast over the Christmas period.
“He never misses an opportunity to watch his dogs race.
“His enthusiasm is so infectious that he's seriously contemplating moving here to become more deeply involved,” shared Corey.
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Albion Park is set to host 12 races on Thursday night from 6:42pm local time. There are two feature races on the program – including a cracking fifth-grade final and the Legacy Classic Final, where Group 1 Gold Bullion winner Hello Mike will battle Tomahawk Hayze and recent Ipswich 520m track record holder Blue Hornet.
Best Bet: Hidden Agenda
Despite Hidden Agenda's terrific record, it is safe to say he is an enigma as he runs his races in patches and often only does what he needs to do. Going through his form, it is evident he likes to chase other dogs as he has run faster off the lead rather than on it multiple times. His run last Thursday was super; he only began fairly and was quickly checked toward the rear, then made a long, sustained run before being left out on his feet and ultimately losing by less than five lengths. You couldn't ask for a better scenario tonight with only three other competitors and the perfect bunny in Oh Oh Range, who hasn't been racing at his best but should be able to cross and lead. Expect Hidden Agenda to track him throughout and make his move heading into the second half of the race, putting him to bed comfortably.
Best Bet
Race 3 – Hidden Agenda (1)
Form: 1223 | Career: 48: 19-8-7 | Trainer: Anthony Short
Next Best: Tungsten Miss
Tungsten Miss enjoys her wide boxes and will be out to make it five wins from six starts. Since returning from a 70-day spell, she has turned in chalk-and-cheese runs. She could not have been more impressive returning when leading for the best part of 500m before being nabbed late from box six. Last week she found herself in the Listed Winged Runner, where she was unable to lead and had no hope from where she settled. This week's race sets up well as it is devoid of speed and she will have an eternity to cross and find the front. Showdown has turned back the clock and is racing in fantastic form; however, he and Refulgent are moderate beginners. Both competitors will require luck, while Tungsten Miss could scoot away and steal it from the front.
Next Best
Race 6 – 
Tungsten Miss (8)
Form: 8626 | Career: 42: 15-8-5 | Trainer: Jedda Cutlack
Best Value: Barefoot Cowboy
This open novice event offers value across the board. Barefoot Cowboy resumes from an 82-day spell and has his first start at Albion Park under race conditions. The lightly raced son of My Redeemer would have shown connections ability early doors as they decided to give him his first start in a heat of the Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial, which attracts some of the best maidens in Queensland. The Cowboy qualified for the semis, where he copped a major check on the first turn. After this, he disposed of a maiden over the same track and trip by upwards of six lengths. How this race has turned out, all of the 331m-395m starters have drawn the five, six and eight boxes, which should see them fight to cross their competitors inside. Under this scenario, look for a dog drawn low who rails hard and can take a position behind these competitors. Barefoot Cowboy ticks that box, and given he can hold the rails and is positioned third or fourth, he will be coming home at a rate of knots.
Best Value
Race 2 – Barefoot Cowboy (1)
Form: 381 | Career: 3: 1-0-1 | Trainer: John Thompson
Thursday quaddie tips for Albion Park races
Albion Park is set to host 12 races on Thursday night from 6:42pm local time. There are three cracking heats of the Listed Winged Runner Trophy with the likes of Hara's River, Hara's Skye, Tungsten Miss and Cincinnati Lana set to headline the series. Dogs that run top two in their respective heats and the two fastest thirds gain entry into next week's final.
Best Bet: Mahuika (Race 11)
Trained by Angela Brown, Mahuika has mixed her distances in recent weeks; however, stepping back up to the 520m appears her go. Mahuika was excellent in early March when running second to the talented Inevitable in a solid 30.22s. Since then, she had no luck in the fifth-grade final which was won by the above greyhound and has had three consecutive box-one draws over both the 395m and 520m. Mahuika faced key market rival Atomic Len two starts back over the 395m when running fifth, beaten upwards of four lengths. Interestingly, Mahuika carried a far shorter SP profile, going off as a $2.90 favourite versus Atomic Len at $23. Len makes the step up to the 520m for the first time, and it's fair to assume the more experienced and stronger campaigner in Mahuika can beat her main market rival en route to a smart victory.
Best Bet
Race 11 – 
Mahuika (7)
Form: 228153 | Career: 15: 4-5-1 | Trainer: Angela Brown
Next Best: Jen's Joy (Race 1)
We are expecting steep improvement from this Jamie Hosking runner set to face the starter for the second time over course and trip. Jen's Joy began her career out of the 395m boxes at Albion Park, recording a second and a win in 22.79s. After this win, she was unraced for three weeks, which would indicate Hosking trialling her over the longer trip she faced for the first time last week. Jumping from box four, she didn't ace the start and was forced to work to find a position. Once she did, she got caught up in mid-race traffic which led to Ninetymile Rose being off and gone. Jen only recorded a slow 30.76s but is open to plenty of improvement. This appears an awful novice, and given Jen can run around the 30.30s mark, this isn't out of her grasp.
Next Best
Race 1 – 
Jen's Joy (4)
Form: 212 | Career: 3: 1-2-0 | Trainer: Jamie Hosking
Best Value: Little Critter (Race 7)
Little Critter, a two-year-old daughter of Fernando Bale, appears well and truly over the odds in the second heat of the Winged Runner Trophy. She has struck a golden run winning five of her last 11 races and, more importantly, three of her last five. Last fortnight she had the red box and was able to score by upwards of five lengths, breaking 30 seconds in a terrific win. Last week she was severely dragged down after finding a nice position from an awkward draw. The current favourite in this race, Cincinnati Lana, was excellent last week against Springtime Jet and is the dog to beat; however, she does want to get off the track heading into the first turn, and with Alpha Princess drawn directly outside her, she could find herself in some trouble early. Little Critter will require some luck early, but if she can find a nice spot, she has the strength and class to cause the blowout.
Best Value
Race 7 – Little Critter (7)
Form: 711317 | Career: 36: 10-4-6 | Trainer: Leanne Hall
Thursday quaddie selections for Albion Park races
Hobby greyhound breeder Jason Bolwell is so concerned about over-regulation in an industry he loves that he now questions why anyone would want to become a trainer.
Bolwell – who has spoken out against the NSW Government's Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) during the ongoing select-committee inquiry into its operations – has grave concerns about the sport's future.
His concerns are wide-ranging, including the following:
- GWIC stewards entering the properties of trainers with body cameras for routine inspections.
- What Bolwell believes is unnecessary taxpayer expenditure in the way GWIC operates on occasions.
- Strict rules on kennel sizes and what other animals are allowed to be kept on the properties of trainers and breeders.
- Hefty suspensions handed out to trainers for minute amounts of drugs found in dogs.
- Hundreds of pages of rules to abide by as the main deterrents for greyhound conditioners, among others.
“Why would anybody want to now be a trainer?” Bolwell told AustralianRacingGreyhound.com.
“You can see what you want to see in the industry, in my opinion.
“If you want to find bad things, you'll find bad things. If you go into it with open eyes, you'll see that 99 per cent of dogs turn up in brilliant nick, and they're looked after well.
“I've been to three or four of these inquiry sittings, and they keep talking about how the sport's attracting young people.
“But all I've seen is a lot of people getting out because the older people just don't want the hassle.
“It's like you're constantly scrutinised on everything you're doing.”
As well as Bolwell's above concerns, he now believes greyhounds are losing their natural instincts – to chase prey.
After the Four Corners investigation on live baiting shook up the industry in February 2015, conditioners are no longer allowed to use animal matter of any kind – and that includes cooked meat from the supermarket – on their lures while training their greyhounds.
“You can get dogs to do anything, but they're natural-instinct animals. That's where it starts,” Bolwell said.
“By us using a dead rabbit, or rabbit skin or a kangaroo skin on the arm – those animals are already dead.
“I could drive past a dead rabbit, and if I was to pick one of them up and get caught – that's a life ban.
“You're not allowed to use meat. I couldn't buy a barbecue chicken from Woolworths and put it on a lure.
“That's the rule. Ugg boots are also illegal. If they talk about welfare – that's detrimental to a dog's welfare.
“I'm not saying everyone is squeaky clean. But I'm saying I don't do live baiting, and the people I know aren't doing it either.”
READ: What Australia has said about live baiting
Bolwell said greyhounds now only being allowed to chase toys or non-animal matter is damaging to their mental wellbeing.
“With the new lure rules – that's hurting the industry. Dogs chasing a tennis ball – after a while they get sick of it. Greyhounds are the same,” he said.
“There's no reward or simulation. I don't know why once a rabbit's dead they can't be used as bait.
“You used to be able to put a dead rabbit on the lure and the dog would get to finish onto it. It wouldn't eat it, but the dog would come off the track happy to catch it thinking ‘look at me – I did my job'.”
As part of its responses to a number of questions asked by Australian Racing Greyhound, a spokesperson for GWIC said trainers ran the risk of breaking the law if any cooked or dead animal matter were to be used on a greyhound lure.
“Apart from being against the rules of racing set by Greyhounds Australasia and adopted by the Commission, to do so is an offence under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017,” the spokesperson said.
“These rules are developed on a national basis by Greyhounds Australasia and adopted by the Commission.
“The luring and baiting rules were adopted by all Australian jurisdictions following extensive consultation.”
Bolwell said he felt spooked on one occasion when GWIC stewards attended his property for an inspection of his greyhound kennels while wearing body cameras.
“The first time I had stewards turn up, they turned up with these body cameras,” he said.
“I don't think they're using them as stringently now, but it's daunting.
“They got out of their car and two of them came over reading me my rights saying ‘this will be filmed'.
“And I said ‘look, why has it got to be filmed? I'm here, you're here and there are three of us'.
“You just get the impression that you're guilty of doing something wrong.
“You have to declare what other animals reside on your property. And I declared we've got chickens.
“They gave me permission to have chickens on my property. I thought that was really big of them to tell me what I'm allowed to have on my property.
“It's like they're treating everyone as being guilty, and that's the sad part about it.”
But GWIC said it was happy with the processes it has in place regarding the way it communicates with conditioners and breeders.
“Yes (we review how we communicate with trainers and breeders). The Commission is committed to improving the way that it supports and services the industry,” the GWIC spokesperson said.
“The Commission has an ongoing process of surveying its customers and has surveyed over 2000 participants over the past 18 months to obtain their feedback.
“The Commission also established the Greyhound Industry Participant Advisory Council (GIPAC) in 2020, comprising trainers, breeders, owners and race club officials. GIPAC meets monthly with the Commission's CEO and Executive to provide feedback about the Commission's performance, including that of its stewards.
“As we indicated at last (June 30) hearing before the NSW Upper House Select Committee, the Commission has acted upon much of the feedback it has received either directly from participants or via the Select Committee hearings.
“The Commission is implementing a local regional approach to the management of race conduct matters similar to that used in thoroughbred racing.
“The Commission's chief steward implementation of this new approach is beginning to bear fruit with stewards holding inquiries and determining many matters quickly and efficiently so that participants can get on with their jobs.”
GWIC said engaging the services of veteran steward Ray Murrihy was a positive step forward in better engaging with greyhound trainers and breeders so they would not feel intimidated or bullied.
“The Commission has engaged Ray Murrihy to assist in training the Commission's stewards and inspectors in the proper conduct of inquiries,” the spokesperson said.
“The Commission's chief steward is continuing to recruit and train the Commission's stewards with a view to ensuring that they engage with participants in all the decisions that they make regarding racing operations to ensure that they have appropriate input into those decisions.
“Further, the Commission imposes penalties for matters that are aligned to the Commission's published Penalty Guidelines but importantly are based on precedents from similar matters.”
Bolwell believes it is time for all trainer discipline and greyhound welfare matters to now be dealt with under the one banner – Greyhound Racing NSW – as was the case before the live-baiting scandal.
He believes this for two main reasons: the amount of trainers receiving longterm suspensions for minuscule amounts of drugs found in their dogs – some of these cases due to unavoidable contamination – would decrease; and having one regulatory body – like Racing NSW in thoroughbred racing – would reduce state-government expenditure.
“There are a lot of grey areas. This money is government money and they're wasting it, especially when you see two stewards turn up in a separate car and they don't turn up in the one car,” Bolwell said.
“They're all new cars, and a lot of them don't live in the areas they go to, so there are accommodation costs.
“It's an ongoing battle, but it's one worth fighting for because it's a good sport.
“I can't speak for 100 per cent of trainers, but I just think there's a time and place for a lot of things and at the moment we're not getting the best representation we need.
“We need people who are telling facts and how it is, whether it's damning or too upfront.
“Stop sugar-coating stuff and saying ‘we'll agree to do that, but we'll try to find a nice way of putting it'.”
GWIC believes its funds are spent wisely, while being monitored by the state government.
“Last year the NSW Government changed the way the Commission is funded,” the GWIC spokesperson said.
“The Commission no longer receives funding support from GRNSW and is now fully funded by the NSW Government.
“The Commission benchmarks its cost against other jurisdictions and, given the number of tracks operating in NSW and the Commission's larger welfare remit, it compares very favourably.
“The Commission's budget is monitored by NSW Treasury.”
GWIC listed a number of reasons why it should continue to operate in its current form, rather than being absorbed by Greyhound Racing NSW.
“Much of the previous concern relating to how the Commission's operations are funded that gave rise to this view have been resolved,” the spokesperson said.
“There are several substantial benefits to the industry in having a government agency responsible for the welfare and integrity of the industry.
“Apart from the McHugh Inquiry, one only has to look at the report into the 2013-14 Select Committee Inquiry into regulation of the industry by GRNSW.
“Participants before that Committee labelled the relationship between GRNSW and participants as toxic.
“As a result, that Select Committee recommended taking integrity responsibilities away from GRNSW and creating a racing integrity commission across all three racing codes – as is the case in Queensland today.
“One of key benefits to participants of GWIC being a government agency is that its conduct is overseen by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the NSW Ombudsman, the NSW Audit Office, NSW Treasury and is subject to privacy and other legislation.”
GWIC believes the animal welfare processes and systems in place for aggrieved trainers are the best they have ever been.
“Unlike the previous controlling body, if participants are aggrieved about the conduct of the Commission or any of its staff then they have these oversight bodies to go to investigate their concerns. This is something that participants are yet to appreciate the benefit of,” the GWIC spokesperson said.
“Finally, having the regulatory oversight of the industry provided by a government agency also provides the community with greater confidence that the sport's welfare and integrity is of the highest possible standard and not influenced by commercial aspects of the sport.”
The Picton-based breeder and others in the greyhound industry believe Andrew Bell's 16-month disqualification handed down by GWIC was excessive.
Bell, who last November was crowned NSW Trainer of the Year for 2020, was charged and subsequently disqualified following a positive swab returned by King Reed at Dapto on December 16 last year.
A routine post-race urine swab revealed traces of amphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine and methamphetamine.
GWIC stewards charged Bell with a breach of rule 83(2)(a) for failing to produce King Reed free of any prohibited substance.
Bell pleaded not guilty to the charge, therefore forfeiting the standard 25 per cent penalty reduction.
“I've spoken to a lot of prominent trainers who I won't name without their permission, but they've said ‘it's not about if I'll get caught, it's about when I'll get caught',” Bolwell said.
“The young trainer (Karina Britton) who had Wow taken off her (for a minuscule amount of cocaine detected in his system) – she got disqualified. She had her licence taken off her and she had to get rid of every greyhound on her property.
“You could not administer a drug at such a low level. Dr Derek Major said it couldn't come out of the air in Sydney – that's how minute the reading was.”
Bolwell says he has also been affected by GWIC's strict zero-tolerance policy on drugs found in greyhounds.
“There used to be thresholds. One of my trainers got given 22 months disqualification. It happened nearly two years ago,” he said.
“He was trying to fight it so that he wouldn't get rubbed out. His solicitor's advice was ‘you can't win, and I very much doubt you'll get a reduction, but you can try. You're wasting your own money'.
“He administered a drug which before 2016 was perfectly legal. It was to keep the bitches from coming into season, and a lot of my bitches raced on it.
“It was a testosterone and a banned substance. And when it's a banned substance you face disqualification.
“They did an out-of-competition swab on the dog and they just wanted one dog – that was the dog they wanted.
“They did a hair sample and not a urine sample. Apparently it was positive. They were going to get all his bank and mobile-phone records.
“In the GWIC laws you're allowed to do that to find out if he's bought it online or from overseas.”
GWIC defended its zero-tolerance policy on drugs found in NSW greyhounds.
“The penalties issued for prohibited substances matters are in line with other jurisdictions and precedent cases dealt with by the previous controlling body,” the spokesperson said.
“As indicated at (the June 30) Select Committee hearing, the Commission, in consultation with key industry stakeholders, has developed a penalty guideline which is published on its website.
“The penalties issued as consistent with the published guidelines and with decisions from the independent Racing Appeals Tribunal.”
Bolwell now believes the issue of greyhound welfare has gone past the health of racing dogs.
Rather, he says it is now a matter of control over an industry with a question-mark over its future in NSW, with the amount of animal welfare groups now pushing for the sport to be permanently halted.
“It's supposed to be about welfare, but I think it's gone further than welfare. It's more about them (GWIC) wanting to be in control of you,” Bolwell said.
“You've got no avenue to complain because unless you sign up you don't get a licence.
“Once you get a licence, then you've got to abide by whatever rules GWIC puts in place.
“You shouldn't have to bring out your tape measures to measure the size of a kennel, and be told you're a centimetre short, or your fence isn't high enough.
“They turn up to your place with a steward without a veterinarian.
“We have vets go to all race meetings. We should have (the presence of) a vet.”
Bolwell believes GWIC is being too heavily influenced by animal welfare groups calling for an end to greyhound racing.
“You think ‘hang on a minute – if they're employing people who work for the Animal Justice Party, is that for the betterment of the industry?'” he said.
“I've spoken to Abigail Boyd (from the NSW Greens), and we offered to her ‘come to a race meeting. Come out to our place and have a look'.
“I don't know how you make a judgment on something when you haven't seen it yourself with your own eyes.”
GWIC is satisfied with the team of stewards it currently has in place, strongly defending criticism that it hasn't employed enough people with greyhound-industry experience.
“Yes, the Commission is more than happy with the experience and expertise of its people,” the spokesperson said.
“People making these comments fail to mention that when the Commission started four years ago, 15 of its stewards and three of its on-track veterinarians came from GRNSW with years of experience behind them.
“Over the past four years the Commission's staff have gained invaluable industry experience and, more recently, the Commission has recruited more staff who have worked in the industry.
“When the Commission recruits veterinarians, they receive training from leading and highly regarded greyhound industry veterinarians. As a result of recent hires, training and now having four years under its belt, this notion no longer has any validity.”
“I haven't had bad direct experiences with them (GWIC), but if you read all their rules and you go through all their stipulations it's just a minefield,” he said.
“Years ago, on 30-40 degree days you could take your dogs to a meeting and it'd be hot, but you didn't hear about any dogs dying on the way to the track.
“Horses still go in horse floats which aren't air-conditioned, and you think ‘hang on a minute – we (greyhound trainers and breeders) have got to have an air-conditioner and it's got to be at this temperature'.
“My in-laws must be pushing 90, and they still live in a house without an air-conditioner and they still survive our summer.”
GWIC does not believe the greyhound industry is currently over-regulated.
“No. The Commission adopted all the national greyhound racing rules Mr Bolwell refers to,” the GWIC spokesperson said.
“These are set by Greyhounds Australasia (GA). The Commission merely administers the GA rules.
“There are a very limited number of local rules made by the Commission, but these are mostly complimentary of the national rules.
“The NSW Government made amendments to the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 in 2017 and commenced the Greyhound Regulation 2019.
“Again, this legislation and regulation was not developed or set by the Commission.
“The Commission's role is to administer the legislation it is obliged to under the Act.
“Greyhounds Australasia recently completed an extensive review of the National Racing Rules, which came into effect on 1 May, 2022. These changes follow a comprehensive review of the rules by Greyhounds Australasia, with streamlined and updated Greyhound Rules introduced in all states and territories.”
However, this is why Bolwell believes many trainers have simply opted to cop hefty suspensions on their chins – because they don't know who to turn to if they feel their industry is being over-regulated.
“Greyhounds Australasia look after all the drugs, so they (GWIC) adopted whatever GA put in place,” he said.
“You can go to Greyhound Racing NSW and they'll just blame the federal body. It's really, really difficult.
“Why would a bloke with five winners knowing he was going to get swabbed still enter a dog into a race knowing that he put something in its food?
“It's (accidental) contamination.
“It lacks logic. They're like speeding rules – if you get 20 people speeding through an area, do you ban everyone from going through there?
“I just think the structure is wrong.”
Bolwell believes enough is enough in the name of greyhound trainers quickly losing interest in the sport due to the strict and lengthy rules and regulations they now have to abide by.
He has called for a Royal Commission into how GWIC monitors trainer and breeder misconduct.
“There needs to be another Royal Commission like the McHugh Report, and set another set of rules on where we're at, and not the 122 recommendations that (former NSW premier) Mike Baird adopted,” he said.
The passionate greyhound man believes his peers can affect change via the ballot box ahead of the NSW state election next March, in order to save an industry from losing so many already-disillusioned participants.
But right now, it seems a steep mountain to climb to affect that change.
Bolwell said the NSW industry would continue to suffer “unless we get a change in government at the next state election, and we get more upper-house support through One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party”.
He continued: “For the government to get high items through they've got to get approval from the upper house.
“But I can't see that happening. (One Nation's NSW leader) Mark Latham has been one of our saviours, and he's gone hard at GWIC at the inquiry.
“I'd vote for One Nation or Shooters, Fishers and Farmers tomorrow, but not much is going to change I think whether Labor or Liberal gets in.
“It'll all depend on the upper-house vote.”
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