KGOBA will not accept decision to drop three racing nights a month

REPRESENTATIVES of the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association are to meet with representatives of the Irish Greyhound Board at Tralee Track this Wednesday to discuss the decision by the IGB to cut three nights of racing per month at the Oakview venue.

Indeed, the IGB has already taken the decision to cancel bookings in the track restaurant for the night of Friday, August 21.

“We are going into Wednesday’s meeting with an open mind, but with a very determined mind at the same time,” said Brendan Maunsell, chairman of the Kerry GOBA.

“We will just have to wait and see what comes out of the discussions. There is no point in threatening anything at this stage, but our members have made it quite clear to us that they will not be accepting a decision that loses Tralee Track three nights of racing per month.

“That would be a massive backward step for our members, for greyhound racing in this county and for the track itself.”

Maunsell said that the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, and other Kerry TDs, Brendan Griffin and Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, had been in contact and want to meet up with them on the matter.

“They want to understand the reasoning behind all of this,” he said. “Maybe it will have to become a political issue.”

Members of the Tralee advisory group, appointed by Bord na gCon, will also be attending Wednesday’s meeting.

Needless to say, the issue has become the main talking-point at the Oakview venue, but the action on the track itself continues as normal and Saturday night’s programme saw two greyhounds,

Millridge Zoey and Bodacious, excel in clocking 28.77 and 28.92, respectively, on going that was rated .10 slow.

Millridge Zoey, which is owned by Donal G O’Mahony, of Millstreet, came into the ninth race (A2 525) as a reserve and she won it by eight and a half lengths, while Bodacious won the fifth race (A5 525) by five lengths for owner, Seamie McEllistrim, of Castleisland, and trainer, Maurice O’Connor.

A sizeable jump in class beckons for Bodacious!

There was also a double for Tournafulla owner, Dean Randall, with litter brothers, Bambam Avion (29.75) and Bambam Gizmo (29.28), while the other winners were: Skips Avatar, 18.10 (.05 slow); Manhattan Romeo, 29.95; Seomra Wendy, 17.99; Astra Vision, 18.31; Russmur Brave, 29.20; Sports Night, 29.10.