Floyd Amphlett: My 54 years in greyhound racing

How the industry has changed in the last half a century

In what will be my final comment article for this website, I thought I might reflect on the changes in this industry since I first engaged in it, 54 years ago, writes Floyd Amphlett.

In all honesty, I was a kid at the time, and only put the pieces together as I grew older. I now know, for example, that even back in the early 70s, the industry was a quarter century into its decline.  

Based on all sorts of parameters, its peak was probably 1947/48. It was probably a false high, given that it was a post war Britain when most things were on ration excluding entertainment.  

That said, the punitive tax system wiped out an industry that had shown continuous growth, setting aside the war, in its first 20 years. 

‘Where might we have been now’ is a question that I have asked Greyhound Star/GRUK readers on numerous occasions. 

Having fallen in love with the sport, I was more deeply smitten still with greyhounds. The vast majority were kind, affectionate animals. There were a few with an unpleasant streak, though mainly towards each other, rather than people. 

Over the years, the breed has changed colours, lots of brindles and fawns with trackers, ‘white and anything’ with the dual purpose stock in the early days. The Australian influx saw blacks and blues take over with the American lines bringing back a wider range of colours. 

Their temperament has changed too. The imported breeding has led to the loss of ‘prey drive’.  

The huge benefit of this has been the significant increase in the number of genuine chasers (without the need for as many ‘walks in the countryside’) and in turn the percentage of non-chasers has plummeted. 

The industry tolerates more ‘dodgy’ dogs than it ever did, though at least they have careers, instead of being what the antis describe as ‘wastage’. A hugely misguided and dishonest view of racing. 

And yes – it is true that large numbers of greyhounds were put to sleep at the end of their careers. Society considered that acceptable at the time, and the complex reasons for euthanasia have been discussed in previous articles. 

Any suggestion that greyhounds are still randomly destroyed is pure ignorance.  

As for the people, it was a bigger industry back then with probably 200 greyhound tracks split between NGRC and flapping.

The people that the industry attracted was diverse too. The lure of lucrative gambling opportunities meant a significant number of schemers and chancers occupied the industry.  

They would do whatever it took to land a gamble and the industry’s reputation for skullduggery was not without some fact, though entirely exaggerated in my opinion. “If it was that crooked, it would be the trainers not the bookies who drove the Mercs and Bentleys”. 

Holding the industry together though were the owners, trainers and kennel staff who were involved for the sheer love of animals. 

That is the only group that has remained. As the betting industry developed various countermeasures to prevent cheating, it was the decent folk who survived. 

In fact, the greatest injustice of them all is the antis suggestion that greyhounds are exploited. NO – it is the greyhound fans who have been exploited. The tracks and bookmakers have taken full advantage of their love of the sport and the breed. 

As for the industry as a whole, only an idiot would suggest that it is in anything beyond a continued decline. 

In my early days, greyhound racing was rightly known to attract the second largest number of spectators of any sport. The figure was significantly skewed by the fact that tracks raced two or three times per week and for 52 weeks a year – give or take some extreme weather. 

Just how far greyhound racing has disappeared from the public consciousness can be found on the BBC sports website. 

There is no section for greyhound racing, unlike such obscure passtimes as: Archery, Artistic Swimming, Fencing, Handball, Modern Pentathlon, Rugby Sevens, Surfing and Water Polo to name but eight. 

I wonder how many people, nationally, watch artistic swimming over 52 weeks to compared to those attending Romford or Sheffield dogs every weekend? 

Is anyone or any group to blame for the decline of the sport?

I would argue ‘no and yes’ in that order. 

The greatest single reason for the decline – in my view – was unavoidable. Society’s interest and options have moved on. 

I am reminded of a conversation with Eddie Lesley when he considered re-opening Swaffham, a quarter of a century following his association with Rye House. 

I remember saying to him at the time: ‘The people at Rye House never fell out of love with dog racing Eddie, they just dropped off their perches’. 

Furthermore, when I was a kid, most adults, faced with three or four channels of TV chose a night out once or twice a week. The pub, the bingo hall, dogs, speedway. . . 

Most Millennials and GenZ do not venture out midweek. 

The vast majority of entertainment options have declined since I watched my first dog race – which was actually on a school night! 

When anyone asks about my career and I mention greyhound racing, the usual response is ‘Is that still going?’ 

Could anything have been done to arrest the decline?

Absolutely. 

For my entire time in this sport, with a few exceptions, the thought process has always been ‘short term’. 

Track owners have waited to cash in on their valuable building land, not invest in the future. 

Greyhound racing has never moved with the times. 

The opportunities to adapt to a digital future, where greyhound fans didn’t venture out but followed their sport via TV, or the internet, have long since disappeared. 

Greyhound racing has slipped lower and lower as a betting product, even in the shops. It would have been worse still but for the banning of FOBT machines. 

And the future?

Personally, I don’ think that the abolitionists will prevail. 

The weight of evidence demonstrating that greyhound racing is safer and kinder than other activities involving animals is significant. 

The bigger question is, will I still want to be in an industry that attracts 15 runners for a St.Leger or regularly stages uncompetitive three runner races? 

And if I do continue to write in one forum or another, are there enough people still interested in what I have to say?