|
Upwards of 30,000 greyhounds are on the racing strength at NGRC tracks
across the country at any one time. An unknown number race at 'flapping'
tracks. |
Three quarters of greyhounds racing on
UK tracks are imported from the Irish Republic. |
| 10,000 greyhounds become surplus to
racing every year. |
| The industry-controlled
Retired Greyhound Trust homes only 4500 dogs a year. |
Racing life is short
-2 to 3 years. |
|
The total gross profit
of bookmakers is calculated to
be £2.34 billion. |
|
There is approximately £2 billion bet on greyhounds each year with off
course bookmakers. 97% of the total is bet on the Bookmakers Afternoon
Greyhound Service shown in betting shops between horse races. 16 tracks
take part in BAGS - 6 of them are owned by bookmakers. In 2002 16,000
races were run for BAGS, an increase of nearly 300% on the preceding
year. The trend is accelerating and summer meetings are lengthening. The
dual role of bookmakers has the effect of depressing the market price
for BAGS contracts, impacting on returns for owners and trainers.
|
| Bookmakers pay £13.5 million to tracks
for BAGS meetings, in some instances paying themselves, and derive £92
million in net profits through betting plus the contract payments back to
their own tracks. |
Under sustained pressure from welfare
campaigners the amount devoted to the industry-controlled charity, the
NGRC Retired Greyhound Trust, has risen from £138,550 to £850,00 in 10
years. |
| Most
bookmakers pay a voluntary levy of 0.6% of their gross profits to the
greyhound industry. Last year this was £7 million. This funding is used
mainly for infrastructure improvements at tracks (including those owned by
bookmakers). The racing industry decides how much can be allocated to
greyhound welfare. |