Lifeline for greyhound track
NEW REPORT GIVES ENNISCORTHY TRACK TIME TO ADDRESS ISSUES
ENNISCORTHY Greyhound track has been given a lifeline by the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) in the wake of an independent report based around a strategic review of the Irish greyhound sector.
The report by independent consultants Indecon made a number of key recommendations, resulting in the IGB deciding to give the Enniscorthy track a fixed period of time to address challenges and issues it faces.
A spokesperson for the IGB said the new Indecon report confirmed the main conclusions and recommendations contained in the original report.
The report follows on from an open consultation process conducted by the IGB in the wake of the initial Indecon report being published, during which 48 submissions were received.
The IGB spokesperson said the Enniscorthy track management, along with those running the Youghal track, have been contacted with regard to engaging with the IGB.
‘It’ is intended that the matter will be further considered by the [IGB] at its July meeting,’ said the spokesperson.
There are currently 16 greyhound stadiums in Ireland, nine of which are run by the IGB with the other five being private entities – including Enniscorthy.
In its report, Indecon said there were ‘strong emotions’ expressed which it said was inevitable ‘in the context of a restructuring of a sector’.
The consultant firm said it was ‘very aware of the economic and social role played by stadia and the industry’ adding that its analysis was ‘designed to ensure that the footprint of the commercially focused sector supported by IGB has a sustainable future’.
‘In our opinion, the key issue is to ensure that actions are taken to support a sustainable development of the sector and if there are alternative options identified which would achieve this, they should be carefully evaluated,’ said Indecon in its report.
The publication of the report was welcomed by Minister Paul Kehoe who said that ‘huge public pressure from the town of Enniscorthy had provided the track with a lifeline’.
However, Minister Kehoe also added that the track still has ‘a fight on its hands’ but the new report had presented it with a glimmer of hope.
‘I am urging the IGB to accept the option to allow Enniscorthy the chance to address some of the issues highlighted,’ said Minister Kehoe.
His sentiments were echoed by Cllr Cathal Byrne who also said the publication of the report offered a bit of hope to the stadium. He said he greeted it with ‘cautious optimism’ but also conceded that those involved with running the track have ‘a fight on their hands’.
The Racing Manager in Enniscorthy, Jim Turner, praised the owners and trainers involved with the track and said they had done over and beyond their duty in terms of trying to help keep the track open. He also said that the onset of the current pandemic wasn’t helping matters.
‘In the current environment it’s hard to know what is going to happen,’ he said.
Mr Turner said Covid-19 is another factor that is to be considered.
‘Some of the owners and trainers are going beyond what they have to do and they have done a lot of work to try and keep it open,’ said Mr Turner.
He also emphasised the importance of the facility for local people and said: ‘If you are not doing your best for the local people and not looking after them, you will be in trouble.’
When this newspaper spoke to Mr Turner he hadn’t yet seen the full Indecon report.
He said he will talk in detail about the report when he is more familiar with its contents but he welcomed its publication and said that there are challenges ahead.
In its submission to the IGB, Enniscorthy Greyhound Company (EGC) had questioned the need for restructuring and rationalisation of the industry but Indecon rejected any notion that restructuring is not required.
Attendance figures were a controversial issue in the initial report and Indecon said it used official IGB attendance data which indicated that 13,515 attended Enniscorthy track in 2018.
However, this was disputed by the Enniscorthy track, who argued that rounded figure was 19,000.
Indecon alerted Enniscorthy to the difference in figures and the discrepancy was put down to an estimate from benefit nights as ‘these would not be included in attendance figures returned to the IGB as they come in as ticket holders’.
In the new report, Indecon said that ‘post production’ of the December report, Enniscorthy had suggested the anomaly in the figures was explained ‘by an error made by a new member of staff’.
Indecon said it accepted Enniscorthy’s good faith on the issue and the new explanation that attendance levels officially submitted were wrong, and in its report said: ‘We understand this can happen.’
Indecon also accepted that despite there being no registered breeders in Wexford, with five or more active breeding bitches, there are breeders and litters in the county.
Indecon concluded that, despite the challenges, there is potential to develop a viable greyhound industry in Ireland.
It said a radical restructuring of the footprint of the sector is recommended and that rationalisation of the sector should be based on objective criteria.
Significantly, it also recommended the cessation of funding for a number of stadia and that ongoing cost-efficiency measures are recommended.
Indecon also rejected the EGC’s assertion that poor facilities was a result of lack of investment from the IGB.