"Let’s all give this a final push" - the Welsh Racing Petition
There are just six weeks left to sign the petition to challenge the greyhound racing ban in Wales. Although the 10,000 to have it considered for debate has been reached, the more signatures the better.
A positive response to the petition
Martyn Kitt, the organiser of the petition to challenge the ban on greyhound racing racing in Wales, says the recent spotlight on gambling taxes and the effect any rise in the Budget might have on horse and greyhound racing funding, is indirectly putting the spotlight on the efforts of him and others to spotlight the need for signatures still.
"I think some people thought that once we got to 10,000 signatures that was over, but far from it,” he said. “We want to keep pushing the message and the envelope before closing the petition on December 1.”
Kitt says he’s been happy with the reaction to his efforts and those of his greyhound racing-loving friends, particularly Andy Parry, Terry Hibbert and Brent Yoxall - fellow enthusiasts who joined Kitt at Towcester on English Derby final night last year when the idea of starting a petition to save Valley and greyhound racing in Wales was hatched.
“Generally you’d have to say the response has been really positive,” he added. “Even when they tried to move the goalposts and removed names of our supporters abroad, we went again and got to 10k signatures, and we’ll try and get as many more as possible in the next month or so.”
Kitt also believes the GBGB's proactive stance on the proposed ban and related matters - Abbie MacGregor, its director of corporate affairs has been particularly effective of late on this and other issues - has also had a positive effect, as was the attendance of two Senedd members at the recent final of the Star Sports Welsh Derby.
“That got a great response,” said Kitt. “Seeing Catherine Cullen and Cai Parry-Jones enjoying the racing and taking away with them only positive messages about the sport and the value of the track to the local community was fantastic.
“Let’s all give this a final push. There are still folk out there whom we can get the message too. Let’s do it.”
