iteruka

Dear Mauro, Sean and the Board   I sit here today typing this on a Sunday been my day off which is always a family day but I'm in such a annoyed mood I need to put this together so I can carry on the day in a much more pleasant way. First off the greyhound board playing burry your heads in the sand and say nothing to media is nothing new to me as have been in the code for coming up 12yrs. However your inability as a C.E.O. and the current board shows a complete lack of the feeling out there for the grassroots people up and down the country. Now greyhound racing in N.Z. usually follows Australia's lead with most matters and occasionally they try something of ours but you dropped the ball on this one. Weather Cole is guilty or not will sort itself in the future however how the board have handled it is piss poor. The thing that really grinds my gears and I'm sure plenty of people in the greyhound code is the way that live baiting in Australia was dealt with, disqualification and dogs deregistered with anyone been on site of that particular raid were gone burgers, fair or not. It showed some effort from the leaders of the code at the time to basically save face with the public and were prepared to take that issues on later down the track. Now the Greens have publically stated they don't want the greyhound code anymore, no real news there but if the next election is tight and push comes to shove regarding deals then where do you think we all will be ????? Don't take the example of greyhound racing N.S.W. as they all looked like a bunch of dicks for doing what the entire leadership structure of G.R.N.Z. is doing currently - NOTHING!. Grant and Baird went bye bye and the only reason for that wasn't great leadership from the people that are in charge of the sport it was because the grassroots participant got up in arms, there shit sorted, and the right people in their circles and saved the code in N.S.W. Hell even Rodeo N.Z. have a media spokes person and their are hammered every year by the anti's. I want all of you today to grab a cuppa, head outside by yourself and have a dam good think about what is happening to this beautiful sport. Because if nothing is done fast you all will be grabbing a cuppa, sitting outside and thinking to yourselves I should have done more .....   One upset grassroots L.P. from Timaru   Regards     Marek Dunne

Dear Craig.

In My Opinion: Collateral Damage.

Like most in this sport, I watched last nights news report with interest because the negative publicity that the sport has been subjected to for nigh on two years has a direct effect on us all.

When you first came to prominence in this industry I like many others thought that your appointment would bring positive change. A change in attitude, and a new pathway that would benefit all. Most were disappointed. What we got was a vision that facilitated the building of an empire, anyone who criticised that vision was labeled "jealous" or a "trouble maker." We also got a new CEO and with him came the "Gagging Rule" which I believe was introduced intimidate anyone who criticised the new regime, namely you. Your vision was never inclusive, it was always about domination with collateral damage.  We have been experiencing the fallout of that vision in recent years which has brought us to this point.  Your interview last night was cowardly, hiding behind your front door, again blaming "jealousy" for the position you now find yourself in.

Jealous, let's look at that word in context. Are those who form the collateral damage group jealous of your success? the answer to that is no. There are many successful trainers in this country who have earned the respect of our industry. Trainers who have been far more successful than you and your partnership. One such trainer currently sits atop the strike rate list and has done for many years. There are numerous other examples but most do not rely on a saturation model. Is it the money? Everyone dreams of winning lotto. Every trainer's dream is to train that one special dog, but that's not what it's about either. So do they want to be tied down to two or three hundred dogs so they too can have wealth and notoriety? most definitely not. That's about ego. Jealousy is just an excuse for a situation that has been manufactured by your vision.

What scares the collateral damage group is their fear of being forced out of the industry by a business model devised to do exactly that. These are people who in some cases built this industry, people who have dedicated their whole lives to the sport, people who have sacrificed much to continue on, people whose absolute passion and love of the greyhound keep them turning up each race day. They have no ego, no wish to be the "Bigtime I Am", no, they just want to retain the right to earn a living in the sport they love. Be honest Craig, you could care less and quite frankly the industry could do without your ego. It's all about respect Craig.

There have been a number of positive changes since your resignation and I applaud the GRNZ for their efforts. There will always be changes which members may not support, in those cases, I would hope that the GRNZ takes member concerns on board and engages in constructive conversation.

It looks like the SPCA case is going to proceed, in the meantime, we all suffer.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/04/greens-want-greyhound-racing-banned-after-live-baiting-scandal.html

Doesn't surprise me about Auckland but it is still disgusting.
I would like to point out to these people that if you look at the top trainer award for the Auckland and Waikato clubs  for the last 20 years you will not find many years where the Schofield name does not appear, if you trace back through  a lot of the pedigree's of successful bitch lines and some sirelines you will find the Schofields either trained or sourced many of them , if you look at the number of trainers who were introduced to greyhounds by the Schofield family you find many, if you look at the amount of people within our industry with short memories you will find many.
To all my friends who chose not to wear an armband remember let him without sin cast the first stone.
 

Disagree Pete,
                          Everyone acknowledges the need for rules around naming and most try to stick within them. Making rules with no apparent reason is a form of arrogance that just makes life harder for the members. Some people love to live their lives strictly within "the rules" and I sometimes wonder if they were faced with no rules if they would be able to think for themselves. I have respect for people who challenge unfair or uncalled for rules.  Remember the Nazi's made rules that everyone was bound by and look what happened when not enough stood up to them.
       As an example can you give me your educated opinion of why 'The' is allowed in the name of a galloper or trotter but not a greyhound.
You also draw a long bow with your comment about it is the fault of "some people" who do not bother to look up the rules before naming. Flabbergated has every right to be flabbergasted by that comment as he had just said he was aware of the rules. 
 
 When will the people in this industry ever learn that this sport is based solely around the members and without their buy in and goodwill, it will never flourish. It is now in a precarious position that can only recover from with the members behind it If you want to flood the members with rules that make no apparent sense and without explanation or a chance to have some input then don't expect the members or at least this one to kow tow without comment.
     
 
 
      

1. Trials on race day must be out of the closed boxes and must either be a 305m trial, 520m trial or a 520m box to 520 m box trial. These trials may also be able to be done on a trial day. You can run a limited fitness trial box to box for a middle to distance dog because they are coming out of the boxes, but no limited trials for sprinters? A box to box is a limited trial. 2. Hand slips are only permitted on a non race day. Hand slips must finish with the lure pulling up at the "pirates" club rooms and must not exceed one full track length. So handslipping is only safe on a Sunday??? Fitness trials, and breaking in have been reduced to one day a week? Am I reading that correctly? That is going to have a negative effect for any trainer setting a training program ie a limited trial Wenesday or Friday for a start on Monday.  
6. All dogs must be cleared to trial, without being on an injury stand down or have any suspected injuries. Unless all dogs are to be scanned and vet checked prior to trialing, how could that ever be confirmed? 13. During trials, there will be a limit of 2 dogs to one handler at all times. So this has now been changed from what was previously deemed safe, one dog, one handler. Why would that be?  
 

Someone being anonymous on the internet doesn't change the facts they have presented. The club have let the participants down and this incident is a direct result of the club in my opinion failing to do their job, and funnily enough, the court agreed with that stance

Sounds that way but I don't think so. At this stage it's more like who knows

I met Ian when I got into Greyhounds. I was lucky enough to lease Ciame Go, Mistress Honcho and Iteru Ka from Ian and Ron which gave me a great start.
He was always available to offer his support, advice and friendship freely.
He pushed me to become a lure driver at Auckland and helped with my breeding program for my dogs.
I will always be grateful to Ian for giving me a great introduction to racing and am honoured to have called him a friend.

Rest in peace Ian

Worst way and most painful way for a dog to die if it was heat exhaustion.....grnz need to stop greyhound farming and eliminate the numbers game right now if they are serious about welfare.....limit numbers breed per kennel and numbers trained before our sport is destroyed through greed...

I met Ian when I got into Greyhounds. I was lucky enough to lease Ciame Go, Mistress Honcho and Iteru Ka from Ian and Ron which gave me a great start.
He was always available to offer his support, advice and friendship freely.
He pushed me to become a lure driver at Auckland and helped with my breeding program for my dogs.
I will always be grateful to Ian for giving me a great introduction to racing and am honoured to have called him a friend.

Rest in peace Ian

The Abuse of Perception Part 1
By Dick Ciampa
I love greyhounds and support adoption of retired racers. I donate to adoption groups and toward hauls to move adoption-bound greyhounds where ever they need to go. I am a racing greyhound owner, and there are many, in fact most, who are just like me. We make sure our hounds are well cared for from birth to adoption.
Not long ago it looked like a failed adoption might go bad. When the racing kennel owner heard about the problem they moved heaven and earth to arrange to get the dog safely back. Ultimately the situation was resolved by the adoption group, but that owner knew, remembered, and cared deeply about the welfare of that hound. This kind of caring isn’t very newsworthy because it reflects the norm. Good news doesn’t sell.
Does any of this surprise you? Then you may know less about racing greyhound owners and caregivers than you think. What we think we know depends on the sources we depend on for information.
Who do you depend on? If you are skeptical regarding what I’ve just said, your source is probably an organization with a strong anti-racing stance, like Grey2K.
In spite of your skepticism, if you have an open mind, consider some of the following things.
Contrary to the perception carefully cultivated by self-interested fundraising campaigns, cases of wrongdoing are the exception. None are more outraged in such situations than those in the racing community itself. When a problem arises, those who discover it work with the proper authorities to ensure the situation is dealt with.
We do not simply lament the issue on the Internet, nor do we characterize an exception as the general rule. We take constructive action.
Since its inception 14 years ago, how many complaints has Grey2K, who constantly alleges abuse in their fundraising materials, filed with an animal control agency or with the National Greyhound Association? Ask them for a specific number.
If Grey2K is outraged by alleged mistreatment they claim to have observed, why haven’t they vigorously pursued it? After all, their organization’s president is a lawyer whose salary, along with her executive director husband’s is paid by donations from people who want to help greyhounds.
Have you ever considered why greyhounds in photos that appear in Grey2K material show little expression? Perhaps it is because they take advantage of how doe-eyed relaxed hounds look, or the sleepiness of a new greyhound mom.
Why are there no photos, among the many available, of pups being hugged and kissed by their owners, and held close by their children and grandchildren? Of pups growing strong, running and playing with their littermates, sharing common food bowls, jumping for joy when someone passes by?
Where are the photos of racers being massaged by their caregivers, being fed treats, and cuddled in their crates; photos of caregivers in tears when their hounds leave the kennel for another track or for a new life in adoption?
Those photos do not appear because they don’t work well with the endlessly repeated messages of greed and mistreatment that work so well in raising funds.
As a community we care about the welfare of animals, especially those we readily identify with, like the magnificent greyhounds so many of us have in our homes. The emotional bond that makes us to want to help a creature in distress leaves us vulnerable to impulse and manipulation by fundraising organizations. With emotions at the forefront, it is easy to discard the idea that we should do a little fact checking.
Most people do research before making a purchase or investment. Have you done any independent research about the lives of racing greyhounds, beyond what you are told by self-interested organizations with a Donate button on almost every website page?
Is the anti-racing organization you support confident enough to suggest you do some research of your own before sending them money?
It isn’t hard to do. Visit a farm or racing kennel. If you don’t want to go on your own, contact an adoption group that organizes visits, or can refer you to fact-based resources. Contrary to what you may believe, there are many adoption groups who work collaboratively with farms and kennels, and know first-hand how their hounds are treated.
If you can, visit a track, watch the post parade and see for yourself the magnificent condition of the greyhounds, then feel the exhilaration of watching them race for the lure. See the wagging tails at the end of the race, as the lead-outs come to collect them.
Eric Jackson, who is on the Grey2K Board of Directors, and indicated he had never been on a farm, was invited to visit one. The closest farm to him was a couple hundred miles away. He said it was too far to travel; however, he travelled from New Mexico to Florida for a Grey2K meeting.
I don’t know about you, but that leaves me shaking my head.
What those who take the trouble to learn will discover, is that people involved in racing are passionate, and driven by respect, admiration and love for their dogs. Contrary to the greed-motivated portrayal of organizations like Grey2K, racing greyhounds are not a primary source of income for most owners, and in fact for many it is a money losing hobby. Greyhound owners are as diverse as the folks reading this article. They are parents and grandparents, many are veterans, and they have jobs in all walks of life.
Many adopters discover their hound’s racing owner is thrilled to receive news of their retirees and happy to share information about their earlier lives. Friendships have formed starting with a simple enquiry, or a shared photo.
Before you condemn a group of people you don’t really know, please do a little research of your own. As a greyhound owner, I urge you to, I want you to. Does the organization you are relying on for information ask you to do the same? If not, doesn’t it beg the question, why not?

I have to agree with the original post, the dog did not chase.  Jimbob never said the dog marred, he said it didn't chase. It eased out of the boxes, spent half the race impeding the 6 dog, angling on the dog entering the home straight. It then gave up and cantered to the line. The 6 never got a crack.

Christmas Wishlist.

1. The construction of 2 straight tracks, one north, one south.

2. The reduction of field size to six runners.

3.The reconfiguration of existing tracks, repositioning of starting boxes to reduce bend tightening.

4. Better monitoring and maintenance of track surfaces, consistency, and cambers. Independently monitored on a monthly basis.

5. The removal of "The Act of God" rule with trainer compensation payable after the abandonment of any race meeting.

6. The establishment of an insurance type fund for all injuries sustained during racing.

7. The employment of dedicated kennel inspection officers that have no ties to any track or trainers. Checks to be truly random and comprehensive.

8. An overhaul of the current RIU contract.

9. Hair testing to begin at all tracks immediately. The introduction of random saliva swabs.

10. The employment of dedicated tracking staff who work in conjunction with kennel inspectors.

I have never been more disgusted with my sport than I am right now. If our membership doesn't unite to force the necessary changes, then others will make changes for us. I am tired of the buts, the blindfolded wishful thinkers, the denial brigade, the finger wavers, and the dinosaurs, our own attitudes, and actions are at the crux of this issue. No one wants to stand up and speak out, and when one of our members does, he is labeled a troublemaker and bashed. You pedestal those who don't deserve it and rubbish those who do right by there dogs, no matter how average their racers are. The people who train by legal means, who don't abandon their dogs because they aren't fast enough, who hold on to their dogs until a forever home becomes available, these are the heroes of our sport, not the mega breeding dumpers who talk themselves up at the awards. This will be our one and only wake up call, FFS Wake UP!

Once again I want to bring this up. I had an email conversation with Jim when he was in charge several years ago. He thought it was a great idea and why hadn't it been thought.of before. He said he would bring it up at a boardmeetong. Don't know if he did. Some time after that I thought I would given the new welfare officer a chance to give his opinion on my idea. Never got a response to my emails which made me very cynical about how genuine GRNZ were about greyhound welfare. Out of sight out of mind. I think we need a fund set up to cover vet bills for when a race dog injures itself during a race. They put their bodies in the line every time they.go.out there.  They deserve to be looked after when things go terribly wrong. As they do.. many injuries can be repaired I have about 4 retired ones at home that have broken hocks and one that snapped s front leg. All repaired. All now sound and most importantly.all happy.  If it means taking a percentage of the stake money to fund this so be it. It would be a tangible way.of showing the WORLD that we really do give a shit about our dogs.
 
 

With the current investigation apparently far from completed it seems to me that we need to have a look at the lures we use to train greyhounds.
The current investigation has shown that it is hard to tell what is actually  being used on a lure. That is my reason for calling the current half passed legislation stupid.
We need a system where it is easy to identify what the lure actually is. If it has been commercially tanned or not is impossible to tell until you have the lure in your hand and even then it could be debatable.
 My suggestion is that the NZGRA investigate the most popular lure amongst participants and get a standard lure manufactured. The only difference would be it would have distinctive colouring or markings that would identify it as a NZGRA or even ANZGRA lure. You would imagine a design manufacturer at Al Baba or the likes would be able to manufacture something with and without a squeaker for a fairly modest amount. The lures would be distributed amongst the participants and would be the only lures able to be used legally to train greyhounds in NZ. 
     There would be many benefits;  a level playing field, a lure able to be identified from a distance as benign, the same lure could be used at tracks so dogs were chasing the same thing as they do at home.
There would be calls of nanny state and it interferes with my methods but it would ensure there is a starting point for an investigation which would be very clear.
  I'll leave the design to the clever buggers but White with red polka dots or a Yellow bunny with green ears could encourage the ockkers.

This is what happens when money, greed, and 'professionalism' hijack a hobbie sport. These 'professional's' will ruin it for the hobbie trainers. I can't see a way forward with this industry at a pro level, maybe we just need to go back to racing for the love of the game and a ribbon...then the right people will stay in and the greedy undesirables will not!

Well considering I've never started a petition before why would I start now. And whoever you are that won't put your name to your post, what is wrong with asking a simple question without people like you turning it into a joke. Maybe you are one that doesn't want it to start?

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/5033341/dogs-trainer-banned-for-16-years-over-use-of-dead-rabbits/?cs=305

ENOUGH stop now or you will all be thrown out... what a disgusting bunch...I am tired of the shit that gets posted in here...shame on some of you... STOP NOW....disgusting talking about someones child in this way... I just hope it never happens to any of you that you.

Yes this is a sad read.  Without knowing what the incident was in Wanganui it still saddens me that maybe some of our Stipes in the industry are unaware of Autism Social interactions and Communications behaviors.  Maybe Autism New Zealand could send some form of information to the stipes that has done this to this young Autistic boy.  If you or anyone feels he was treated in an unfair manner may be phone 0800 273 463   to make a complaint on behalf of this Autistic boy.  Hope this can be fixed for all parties concern, for the best positive outcome.

It is a pretty sad state of affairs when a young autistic boy is banned from a track (for doing nothing wrong on the day) and forced to sit in his Uncles car on the main highway until the dogs have finished racing. The stipes involved should be ashamed of themselves.

You are the man that holds the ultimate code that runs our very being.  .You are what is happening to us ..you are in my opinion ruining the chances of us dogs being rehomed , you are  slimey .. Just my opinion....Clarkie   

Congrats to bill and kim for winning the advanced racing series...great effort from a nice bitch in nighthawk rose....steve