Why I love greyhound racing

To celebrate Valentine's Day, we have spoken to people within the industry about why they love greyhound racing.

Lorraine Hyde-Banning

I Love Greyhound Racing … nothing beats the adrenaline of watching your pride and joy take to the track for the very first time and watching them mature in front of your eyes. To see their personality develop and their desire to chase, be that a grader or open racer the adoration is the same. 

The look in their eyes and wag of their tail before and after racing is priceless. A certain special lady who needs no introduction had and still shows it now and then, the best swagger and sassiness ever. Love your dogs first and the sport because of them!

Karen McMillan

My love for greyhound racing started in the early 90s. Living in North London, myself and a group would enjoy nothing better than jumping on the 34 bus from High Barnet all the way to Walthamstow and being dropped off outside the track. 

I always recall the glamour, it was like the Vegas of greyhound stadiums something I will never forget. Not having a lot of money, it was a fairly cheap night out and if I won a few pounds it made it even better. Win or lose I always had a good time. 

At the end of the evening we would decide on whether to pop along to Charlie Chan’s before getting the night bus home. The cheering, the noise, the excitement absolutely made the evening it was amazing every time I went there.  

Upon having my daughters they would ask why they could not go racing with me. This is when I found Rye House, a small track whereby I could take my daughters and keep an eye on them. 

I would drive over on a Sunday, buy my daughters burger and chips and we would wait for the first race. My girls would be so excited and would jump up and down cheering on which dog they would want to win having so much fun.

After about five races they would be tired and would sleep in the car on the way home asking the following morning how many sleeps until they could go back. It was fun times and something I could do with my girls as a single parent.

Working in betting shops, I was always drawn to greyhound racing over horse racing. I believe it was the short bursts of excitement and the speed of these wonderful animals. Roll on 25 years and my love of greyhound racing still lived on. I was given the opportunity to put my passion to the test. My company took a gamble offering me the role of Stadia Manager at Romford and I recall saying the day I got the call “You will not regret this”. 

It was now I saw a different side. It certainly is not a glamorous role and non stop trying to please everyone. Upon a recent outburst from an owner after his dog lost one of my team said I would not want your job for all the money in the world, however, I still love it. I look back to my Walthamstow days and while I know I cannot mirror that, I try to make sure everyone leaves Romford having a good evening, wanting and looking forward to their next visit. 

The music, the food, the staff, the fun it's what makes it a great place to be for our customers. For me though, it is watching an ex racing greyhound giving birth to her pups and watching them grow, following their journey then seeing come out onto the track for the first time. Only they can decide if they want to race or not and if it is not for them we look for their new home BUT if they want to run and race, the next chapter starts here. 

I feel we grow with our racing greyhounds they become part of us and on many occasions I will get in from work and my husband will say “You’ve been with the dogs today haven’t you?” There is nothing better than a cuddle at the end of the day with one or 10 greyhounds. I never mind coming home smelling of dog.

The buzz when watching a race, especially when I have seen them grow from pups, and visited them in the trainer's kennels, watching them get their own personality then independence when starting racing. I remember someone saying to me this is not a job, it is a way of life. I did not quite understand it then but now totally agree. 

Although I may have been a late starter in the industry, it is definitely in my blood. 

Often I receive messages, stories and photos of our retired greyhounds in their forever home with their families seeing how happy they are. Nothing gives me a greater pleasure than seeing this.  

If asked for one thing on why I love greyhound racing apart from the dogs of course, it has to the people. We are one big family brought together by the love of the sport.

Mark Burridge

 There are two major loves in my life away from my other half, my Dad and my work and those are greyhounds and football. Both bring joy in different ways and a wonderful escape. With two of our retired racers now living at home and bringing unbridled joy on a daily basis, my love and admiration of the incredible breed is boundless.

Overall I have an interest in 10 racing greyhounds and going to watch them race is an enormous buzz. From the moment you see the forthcoming race  announced it becomes a battle of the mind, trying to work out the chances and assess the other runners.

Is it a trophy race? A chance for the syndicate to get a nice memento of a win. On the day of a race I will look forward to watching, hopefully with a chance to have a night in the stadium restaurant.

Chats with the trainer plus other owners and racegoers make the night even more special and there is a mutual respect with others who are going through similar emotions pre race.

As the race gets closer the heart starts to beat faster and I'll just want to be outside, with the chance to give the greys a cheer. Post race, It's down to the paddock to see our pride and joys, win, or lose.

The greyhounds have put their everything into the race, they adore the chase and always look like it has been great fun. When the greyhounds win it is sheer elation, particularly when sharing this emotion with other co owners. The thrill lasts days.

I will go and see the greyhounds almost every Sunday, armed with streak. They deserve it. Needless to say, the greys appreciate the treat. Get lots of selfies and shamelessly flood my social media pages with photos of the greyhounds. Showing the love we have for our dogs is a natural and enjoyable emotion.

Greyhounds are the most handsome creatures I know. From the moment you buy a greyhound the process starts, from the thrill of when you first see them, the trials, matching expectations with reality and then just enjoying watch them run.

The greyhound in full flight is an awesome sight to treasure, a privilege to own. Love is a powerful word and an even stronger feeling. Yet it perfectly describes the way I feel about greyhound racing. All of it. From buying your dog, to taking them home post racing to enjoy a long and happy retirement.

Us greyhound people are truly blessed🥰

Kelly Searle

💙 My Handsome Valentine 💙 I’ve loved him since the moment I saw him 🩷 He took my breath away on the track and now he melts my heart at home 🩷 Such sensitive, loyal and laidback dogs 🩷 How can anyone not love these gorgeous hounds 🩷

Darren Driver 

“What do I love about greyhound racing ?” … For me personally it’s the dogs themselves. Their own personalities and little quirks that generally nobody ever sees, no dog is just a trap number. Personally, I’ve always owned greyhounds and known them all personally away from the track. 

What you see on race day, that’s their professional face. It’s what they do and love and at home, the switch is turned off and you see the real fun loving canine desperate for love and more importantly the odd treat. Originally from the commentary box I viewed the race and all six dogs equally. Since I became an owner many years ago and more recently as my partner Suzi became the latest professional greyhound trainer contracted to Sheffield and we opened our own kennels, you see a completely different side of the game.

Walking in the kennels at 7am, seven days a week win or lose saying “good morning” to the whole team and seeing their reaction is more enjoyable than winning any race. It’s important that all greyhounds totally enjoy what they do and I can honestly say all mine do. When they don’t then that’s the time to stop racing and go home like Luna and cuddle Cleo the Caterpillar. 

Racing is sport, it’s heads, and working daily with the dogs themselves is tails and completely the opposite side of the coin. What do I love? I have a full tattooed back full of greyhounds, one tattoo says “The thrill of the chase” .. it’s important to inform people the greyhound genuinely love what they do and they get everything they all need to be successful. 

What do I really love? Seeing the dogs smile and rolling round in the snow like with Aggie and Jesse (pictured) on a non race day having some down time recently. Everybody in this game does it because they love the dogs and certainly not for any financial benefit. So for me “What do I love” ? The amazing breed of dog and the only dog in the bible “The Greyhound”

Scott Harvey

Greyhound racing is a constant reminder of my late father. I couldn't have asked for a better start thanks to growing up around the dogs at home I’ve been able to pass that on and share in this great pastime with my own son. Nothing will ever beat going racing and being in the conpany of good friends. it’s the very heart of the sport.

Tony Brealey

The thing I most love about greyhound racing is the relationships you develop with the dogs.

Nothing is more exciting than seeing a pup come into the world and following their progress through rearing ,schooling then onto racing. Dogs are like humans, you bond with some more than others. They make you laugh with their antics when growing up learning to play and interact with other pups.

It’s been a great journey with Coppice Mary, picking her from a quality litter, frustrated with seeing her pick up a career ending injury. The journey started over again after breeding a litter of Tommy Shelby pups from her. Falling in love with some stunning little pups.

The journey is like any love affair you’ll smile, laugh, cry but wouldn’t swap any of it. The few highs you get are incredible.