GBGB Stories Episode 3 - Running or racing?
The third episode in the GBGB Stories series talks to Professor Richard Payne who discusses the claim that greyhounds like running not racing as is so often quoted by the antis.
Professor Richard Payne talks running or racing
The claim that greyhounds are suited to running but not racing comes under scrutiny in the latest episode of GBGB Stories, featuring Professor Richard Payne of the University of Nottingham.
Professor Payne explains that there is no distinction between running and racing from the dog’s perspective, bringing scientific understanding to a frequently repeated argument about the sport.
The episode also explores the importance of evidence-based regulation: how research and veterinary knowledge can inform decisions about greyhound care, guide standards and support improvements in welfare.
An Associate Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and scientific and veterinary adviser to GBGB, Professor Payne brings more than two decades of experience working with racing greyhounds, alongside his work in research and education.
Abbie MacGregor, Director of Corporate Affairs at GBGB, said:
“'Greyhounds love to run, but not to race’ is a line we hear repeatedly, but while repetition gives a claim familiarity, it does not give it a scientific basis.
"Professor Payne addresses that argument directly, explaining that the distinction people draw between running and racing is not one the dog makes. This matters because claims like these are being used to influence decisions about the future of an entire sport, and they deserve proper scrutiny.
"He also explains his contribution to the evidence-based regulation that underpins our entire sport.
"Understanding how greyhounds move, what they need and how their care can be improved gives us a basis for making decisions and assessing whether those decisions work.
"This is exactly why we created GBGB Stories: to give people access to expertise and experience that too often gets drowned out in the debate.”
The third episode follows earlier conversations exploring greyhound racing’s place in British social history and the employment opportunities it provides.
Watch GBGB Stories Episode 3 - The Science of the Greyhound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oplz2Fsd9xg&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbgb.org.uk%2F
