GREYHOUND DERBY BLOG: Julie Collier

THE GREYHOUND DERBY BLOG: Julie Collier with all the latest news from the world of greyhound racing with updates on the postponement of the Star Sports #GreyhoundDerby2020

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➡️ As we expected, the sad news came this week that the 2020 Star Sports Greyhound Derby has been postponed. As well as that, in a fast moving situation, open racing will end after Saturday night and although graded racing will continue, it will be behind closed doors. This led Hove to the decision to cancel the Regency, due to start on Saturday and Sheffield also cancelled their Queen Mother Memorial Final, due to be run on Sunday. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ I’ve been catching up with a few key stake holders this week to find out their thoughts on the situation; Ben Keith was philosophical saying ‘it’s heart breaking news for greyhound racing but we’ve all got more to worry about at the moment. As always, the greyhound family will pull together, we’ll get through this and by the autumn I’m sure everything will get going again.’ LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ Mark Bird is giving daily updates on RPGTV. Wednesday night he told viewers that there is money at the GBGB, previously set aside for other things, that will be used to help ensure that greyhound welfare is a priority through the crisis. He has set out the importance of greyhound racing continuing, albeit behind closed doors and, interestingly, he told us that once this is all over, he will be making it very clear to those he would like more funding from, that greyhound racing kept going through the tough times, providing an income, whilst other sports closed down. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ Nathan Corden was understandably, very disappointed to have to delay the Derby, his track’s big event. He did however, tell me that everyone has been ‘very supportive and in complete agreement with the decision.’ He went on to say ‘it is impossible to say when the Derby will be re-arranged as nobody knows how long the COVID-19 crisis will continue for. But rest assured that once we are in a situation to look at new dates, we will work closely with the Open Racing Planning Committee at the GBGB, along with our sponsors, to find a solution’. Rachel Corden also said, ‘at this time, our main priority is to maintain the health and safety of our employees and those that care for the greyhounds attending our sites to race behind closed doors’. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ Ian Smyth talked to me about the wider impact on the sport of greyhound racing. He is concerned that the government might impose a lockdown for London which would effectively close Romford and Crayford, as they are in London Boroughs. He said, ‘we are doing everything we can to keep greyhounds active and racing to generate an income for our trainers, allowing them to look after their dogs properly. My biggest concern is that without the ability to race, trainers are put under extreme pressure and some might not be able to sustain that. We as an industry need to do what we can to help the situation and make the wider public aware of what’s going on’. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ Champion trainer, Mark Wallis believes that suspending open racing is the correct decision, albeit a massive blow. He says ‘the fact we are still graded racing is of major importance, otherwise the financial implications are horrendous.’ He hopes that once we are through the crisis, open racing can pick-up quickly and open-racing competitions, on hold for now, will be rescheduled. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ In the meantime, take advantage of some of the brilliant offers we have at Star Sports. We will lay any dog racing on RPGTV to a minimum of £2500. All forecast and tricast winning bet payouts will be rounded up to the nearest pound. And, have a forecast bet and if you lose but the trap numbers of the dogs that finish first and second add up to seven, you’ll get your money back as a free bet up to £20. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ Some more good news that has broken today, The Director of Regulation after discussions with senior members of the GBGB has decided with immediate effect to grant dispensation from Rule 63 iii a, this will enable trainers with open class runners to run in Invitation races at tracks providing the following conditions are met: Trainers must be attached to the relevant track and prize money must be a minimum of the stadiums A1, S1 or D1 payments. Great news for those who have been worried about their star dogs being stuck on their beds! Once again, common sense has prevailed. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

➡️ As far as your ante post Star Sports Derby bets are concerned, these will all stand until such time that we know more about what is happening with the competition. Here’s hoping there will be a faster resolution to this that we fear. Stay safe everyone – humans and hounds. LATEST STARSPORTS.BET GREYHOUND MARKETS

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