In a year where major strategic issues, such as the future of the Sky Sports coverage and Fund contributions from a key player such as Betfair should have been everyone’s main focus, that in-fighting has meant he found himself trying to solve an impasse between the Greyhound Trainers’ Association and the Greyhound Board. He does not mince his words over the issue.
“Both sides, quite frankly, have let themselves and the sport down. There were times I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and positions have been allowed to develop which, while I can see why they have occurred, are also simply unacceptable.
“It is a major mistake for the GBGB not to engage with an important stakeholder principally because the GTA chairman tends to be a tad aggressive.
“This is not what greyhound racing needs, and what the sport needs should be the priority. The GBGB have done a genuinely good job as a regulator, less so as the governing body. I don’t think they are doing enough, they need to lead – and I’m sure Lord Donoughue [in his Review] expected much more than has so far resulted. While these things can take time, it is reasonable to expect more to have happened and be happening.”
KELLY may understand the frustration of GTA chairman Rick Holloway, but he also describes him as requiring a new SatNav this Christmas – “to give Ricky a route to commonsense!”
He admits to a liking for the enthusiasm of Holloway, but adds: “His habit of insulting everyone has become self-defeating. If something isn’t working, you change your route and your behaviour.
“The GTA includes some impressive people, the likes of Jim Reynolds and Mark Wallis, and people of similar quality now need to step up to take a role in moving things forward.
“I understand that a meeting between the GBGB and the GTA has been arranged for early in the New Year and I believe it is incumbent on both parties to put personal issues to one side, come to an agreement on GTA representation, and put greyhound racing first. I’m exasperated by the excuses both sides have found, up until now, for what is nothing else than futile failure.”
More positively, this week sees one of the highlights of his year, the third Bags Track Championship finals at Sheffield, funded by income generated by the overseas sales of Bags racing. “It has served a purpose in contributing to the morale and enthusiasm of the sport,” says Kelly, “delivering something that has captured the interest of betting shop customers.
“Having a showcase finals day, when there is no UK horseracing, is particularly important. Punters have favourite tracks, trainers and dogs, and the concept of seeing just who’s best is what racing and betting is all about. It’s also great fun.”
Even more importantly for the sport this year, Kelly has been the prime mover in rescuing the Sky Sports coverage of some 30 major events – vital for both the profile and the encouragement of owners, sponsors and breeders, all areas which have been in worrying decline.
He says: “Clive Feltham [GRA managing director] came to see me and wondered if there was anything that Bags could do about the problem of losing the Sky broadcasts.
“Sky had been paying tracks a significant facility fee as well as the sizeable costs of broadcasting, but decided their commitments elsewhere meant they were only prepared to offer the sport airtime – in itself a valuable asset.
“But the funding of the shows had to come from somewhere else. We looked at the problem creatively, and by turning the fixtures into Bags meetings gave betting shops a direct interest in the solution.
“George Irvine at SIS generously agreed to cover the production at no profit to SIS, which reduced the costs burden significantly. Punters responded by coming into the shops to enjoy and bet on the programmes and we managed to help fund the prize-money initially through the Fund. Next year we have found a route where Bags and the Fund put in £3,000 apiece towards the each night’s prize-money, with SIS contributing £1,000.
“It’s been mutual self-help and although we run to a very tight budget, the sense of giving an important showcase for greyhound racing has been maintained.”
HOWEVER, it has not all been positive, and a particular disappointment in Kelly’s year has been the decision of Betfair to cease their payments to the Fund.
“I do understand the pressures all companies are under, but there is a direct benefit to Betfair in the Fund’s support of welfare and integrity,” argues Kelly, “and I still hope they will reconsider their position. It cannot be right that one important player ends up getting a free ride on the backs of everyone else – and that is what is happening here.
“Betfair, indeed the entire betting industry, does need greyhound racing. It’s an attractive and straightforward product, and at a time when there is so much emphasis on the market share of the machines and virtual, I’m pleased to see punter interest is being maintained in an exciting opinion-based product – which in many ways is just so much more satisfying.
“But while everyone should pay their fair share, those who argue bookmakers should pay more are also mistaken. At the Fund my role is to be impartial, but I am conscious that bookmakers have their own problems and pressures with a Point of Consumption tax about to be brought in.
“My belief is the price for the product is about right, but the Fund offers vital extra income which needs to be spent wisely to deal with core issues such as the long-term breeding crisis and finding routes to improving prize-money.
“Such problems aren’t easily solved. This is why I believe enlightened self-help is the way forward, and promoters do need to find ways to do more to actually promote their own product and, in the longer term, improve conditions and facilities.
“This is something where we all need to be proactive, for instance ensuring sponsors are genuinely appreciated. I have personally been startled on at least two occasions this year to see what I considered to be disappointing treatment – not for myself, I should explain, but ‘outside’ sponsors.”
Racing Post Greyhound TV is another bone of contention within some quarters of the greyhound industry, and Kelly concedes: “I have understood the concern of some promoters over what RPGTV might lead to, and a potential negative effect on attendances.
“However, two years on and the reality is different. I’ve been impressed by the way it’s helping develop new interest. Television and new media offer many different opportunities. It’s something that if we all work together could be harnessed far more effectively – the key element is working together. We all need to be flexible and open-minded. Greyhound racing has so much going for it, and things shouldn’t be allowed to get too complicated.
“Let’s keep it simple, and be determined to make progress. I’d like to retire, in a couple of years, and hand over something in significantly better shape than when I arrived. I feel that I cannot say that . . . yet.”
source : www.racingpost.com
