aquaman

Today we learn that big bad Brendon has incurred the wrath of Greyhounds NZ. They have finally decided to pull their collective heads out of the sand and have had him warned off from all race tracks in NZ. After weeks of outrage from the news media, and calls for the banning of Greyhound racing in all forms, the board have finally acted and hit the Cole empire with a wet bus ticket. The rule the board have invoked is 21, d. Powers and duties of the Board. Under this rule, the board may vary the conditions of the warning off as they see fit. On one extreme they can go the whole 9 yards, and effectively shut him down, or they can go the other way and vary the conditions to make it selective on what he can do or can't. They appear to have chosen the latter in Brendons case. They also appear to have not applied the same sanctions to the licensed trainer Lisa Cole whom is married to Brendon, thereby allowing the kennel to have the least disruption possible. You can read from this what you want, but from where I sit, it looks like the board are creating a smoke screen in that they appear to being harsh, when in reality they are doing very little. It is a snow job, designed to appease a howling public, putting the fire out with heavy breathing. When the news media, and animal welfare interests digest this insipid attempt by Greyhound NZ to douse the fire, you will find it back firing on them. They would of been better to do nothing. This only reinforce's the view that the Board of Greyhound NZ are only concerned with the least disruption with dog numbers in the CD, rather than their responsibility and DUTY to protect the reputation of Greyhound racing in NZ. This has been so badly managed from start to finish, it defies belief, and the miss management continues. I will be most surprised that when it features on 3 News next, that they are not awake to what is going on here, that they the NZGRA are attempting to put out the fire by doing a claytons sanction on Brendon, but allowing business as usual at the Cole kennels. The Greyhound people, by that I mean the honest folk that love their dogs and do things right are being poorly led by a bent dysfunctional Board. They need to be cleaned out, you deserve better.

Not sure about the trots weasel, other two yes.

Here's the reality of the situation. Brendon is only a handler, he is warned off. The Cole operation do not need Brendon the handler. He is perfectly expendable as far as the kennel goes, it will be business as usual after a few adjustments are made. A new licensed handler will replace Brendon. They will work covertly under the direction of Brendon. Between the new handler and Brendon the new director, dogs will be fitted out for Lisa to carry on training winners. This can carry on like this for years, as Brendons defense will be the Lisa Cropp method off appealing every decision through to the Supreme Court. It could drag on for years. Meanwhile, business as usual at Cole headquarters just minus Brendon the handler. The thing I find staggering is the fact that the NZGRA must know this is how it will pan out through their not warning Lisa off, or using the power to REVOKE which they have under the rules. So if this is the sum total of the NZGRA's response, then it is nothing more than a wet bus ticket, as warning off a handler is hardly decisive stuff in protecting the image of Greyhound racing.

Does this mean Lisa gets to stay on?.

He certainly sounded like an employer, not an employee. I was under the impression he was nothing more than a handler.

They are not breaking the rules. If they are, I have not seen a rule that specifically prevents trainers from living off the property. As pointed out earlier, many trainers are living off the property, and rightly so. It is up to the trainer to set up their properties, and staff them accordingly. Thats how I see it.

Very sad to here this news, one of the pillars of the sport. Many fond memories of staying with Max and Janet at their home in Lichfield on my northern journeys. Trainer of the champion Miss Cutie, and many others. My thoughts are with Janet and family. RIP.

This is how its done Mario. https://screenshots.firefox.com/1wPmcMJRu3wlGfgJ/outlook.live.com

Correction, that should be Ballyregon Bob. World champion Greyhound.

I remember reading a book written by George Curtis famous English Greyhound trainer. He was 3 times national champion trainer UK. Also trainer of the legendary Bally Reagon Bob. One thing that always stood out in my mind from reading the book was his opinion on what was the worst injury in racing Grehounds. He said without doubt, wrist injuries, and in his opinion wrist sprains can effectively put a dog out for 6 months. They take a long time to heal, and in many cases end racing careers. And thats just sprains, ligament damage etc never mind fractures.

Wrist injuries are the worst to deal with in the racing Greyhound.

Still yet to find out whether Goldstar Hudson is still alive. He was sent to the dog farmers at Homebush for advanced training in chasing, and we all know what that entails.

Add Homebush Conner.

Winston is worse than the NZGRA. There is only one thing in Winstons brain, votes, at any cost. I am afraid Winston may make a deal with his coalition partner, the Greens. In return for shutting down and ending Greyhound racing in NZ, Winston will get the support of the Greens on a policy that he is pushing. This is how MMP works. Winston is a rat, his only interest is Winston. He will shut you down before you can say Jack Robinson, if he can cut a deal with the Greens. And you all know what the Greens want. If not, let me remind you, THE END OF GREYHOUND RACING IN NZ. I would not trust Peters on anything.

The rules are clear. 21. Powers and Duties of the Board. 21.2 General Powers: The Board shall have the following general powers and duties. d Subject to Rules 91 to 97, to Suspend, Deregister, Disqualify or Warn off as it deems necessary in the best interests of Greyhound racing or its related activities in NewZealand. Also Rule 107. Power to Revoke 107.3 then go to b and f. Just a load of crock, they have many rules to Warn off or suspend. They are complicit in this case with the Coles, there can be no other reason. I think its called corruption.

mike.godber@riu.org.nz

Do what I did, send email to Head of RIU Mike Godber, and request an update on the status of Goldstar Hudson. Ask is the dog alive or dead. If dead, they would of had to notify the NZGRA if put down. He answered my request promptly and honestly.

Get of the grass, Ben Vane King was owned by one of McInernys workers. We all new it was a lie when they stated Ben Vane King would be retired from racing when ex rays confirmed a broken hock. What they meant was he would be retired from life. Fu#ken lowlife assholes. The dogs would of gone down the offal pit without a second thought.

Get real, to little, to late. Do everybody a favor and follow your Welfare Officer on leave.

Update on Ben Vane King and Homebush Conner. Received reply from Mike Godber this morning via email that both are now dead, and there will be a report concerning Ben Vane King in Stipes report this afternoon from Addington. I commend Mike Godber for his honest and quick reply, unlike the NZGRA that just stay silent. Sad day for these two dogs that had to be trained and owned by uncaring dog farmers that will sink Greyhound racing just as surely Cole and Rendle will.

I must say, I am surprised the Coles have not been warned off. I am surprised to see they are still running at Waikato tonight. To my mind, I would of thought the legal ramifications could take a back seat in light of this situation and what it poses to the entire industry. If as has been reported, they are facing 7 charges of animal cruelty, I would of expected the entire Cole operation to be shut down pending the outcome of these serious charge's. It is as if the entire Board of Greyhound Racing NZ are complicit in this entire saga. Their inaction in not front footing this with the public by remaining silent, and appearing to do nothing with shutting down of the Cole operation, has only served to reinforce the perception the NZGRA are complicit. Over the last few years, the NZGRA have been building staff members at an alarming rate. We now have a dedicated Welfare Officer, where is she, you guessed it, gone on leave. We have a Head of Marketing and Communications, where is she? silence, no communications. We have a Head of Racing, where is he, why the silence, and of course, we have the CEO, why hasn't he been reassuring the LP'S and public that things are moving and action is taking place. This all looks very bad for all LP'S, the entire racing industry and especially the dogs themselves. I really fear for the future of Greyhound racing in NZ. We have a very unsympathetic Government in power, one which will close down Greyhound racing without a second thought. The NZGRA have been very poorly led, and the Clubs must accept the blame for allowing this once great industry to sink to the level it has.

Yes, he was sent above emails along with the CEO, and the so called Welfare Officer whom has now decided to go on leave.

I HAVE HAD NO REPLY EXCEPT FOR THIS. From: Mairi Stewart <mairi@grnz.co.nz> Sent: Wednesday, 10 April 2019 11:07 AM To: johnnygoode56@hotmail.com Subject: Re: Ben Vane King alive or dead. Thank you for your email. I am on leave. For any imports or urgent matters please contact Greg Kerr, Head of Racing, Ph 0278397152. Kind Regards Mairi Mairi Stewart, PhD Head of Welfare

Follow up this morning RIU, and NZGRA. n goode Wed 10/04/2019 11:07 AM Have you followed up whether this dog is still alive. The dog was over raced until breaking down last week. The RIU stated they would follow up on the status of this dog. Have they sighted the dog?, and I do not mean picking up the phone and asking about it. Stewards report dated 4th April Addington stated they would be monitoring this situation. I expect this to happen. And while we are at it, check on the whereabouts of Homebush Conner. I expect Ben Vane King to have his broken hock repaired, and when recovered put into GAP. I know this is a tall order with the type of people that train this dog, so its important it is followed up. I will not allow this to be swept under the carpet. No more business as usual for you people, I intend to stay on this until answered. John Goode.

Letter i sent to NZGRA Friday last week. john goode Fri 5/04/2019 11:23 AM To whom it may concern, I write this email after reading the Stipes report for Addington on the 4th April. To be more specific the greyhound Ben Vane King. This dog is trained by John McInerney. This dog was having its 5th start in 10 days over distances ranging from 457mtrs to 645 mtrs, being trekked to 3 different venues around the South Island to achieve this. last night it was carried off with a suspected broken hock. It was seen to falter not long after the start and drop out in its 2nd 645 mtr race in the last 10 days, the other 3 being middle distance races. Now I do not know what you think of this type of behaviour being perpetrated on these poor dogs by this kennel, but from my observation, I find it distressing and cruel with little or no empathy towards their charges. Ben Vane King was not the only dog subjected to this outrage, Chunk springs to mind along with others. Now I know, that under your rules dogs can race every 48 hrs. Therefore these dogs are legally entitled to line up. But to have unscrupulous uncaring trainers forcing dogs to race as Ben Vane King was is downright greedy and cruel, and this needs to be addressed urgently. I do not expect change from this kennel, this is how they operate, and always have, but I do expect your Association, along with the RIU, to behave in a professional and caring manner when policing your sport. This situation should not be happening in this day and age. I think what should of been done in light of these dogs being subject to multiple racing over a condensed period of time, is that somebody should of alerted the oncourse Vet to apply a rigorous vet check to these dogs. Somebody should of made a list of these over raced dogs, and sent the list to the oncourse Vet. If this had occured yesterday, then Ben Vane King may well have avoided this tragic situation. There needs to be rule changes regarding this cruel uncaring racing till you drop, from happening in future. It is so bad that I suspect some trainers are doing this to break the dogs down at the track, so as to avoid them putting them down at home, where it is becoming difficult and expensive. Much cheaper and less messy to have it done on track. My view is 1 race per week per dog. But until sanity returns with new rule changes regarding this terrible situation which is allowing the dog farmers the legal right to line up 5 times in 10 days, then I expect oncourse Vets to apply the most extreme vetting of these poor animals before allowing them to race. You need to act, and very quickly on this one. It is welfare in the extreme. Kind Regards John Goode.