We are delighted to reproduce the article below from the business section of the London Evening Standard. There have been rumours for a while that the Catford track was going to close - and it's great to hear that these have finally come true.

The track was run by the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), of which Wembley plc is the parent company.

This is the second GRA track in London to close in recent years. Greyhound racing at its Wembley track came to an end in 1998 due to poor attendances.

There are now only two greyhound tracks within the London postal area. Twenty years ago there were at least seven.

The bribery charges mentioned relate to a case in the USA where top officials of Wembley plc have been charged by a grand jury on 22 counts of attempting to bribe public officials to get approval for additional slot machines at its Lincoln Park (Rhode Island) greyhound track and prevent the introduction of a Native American casino.

News of the charges sent Wembley's shares plunging and wiped £48 million from the stock market value of the company, to add to the big reduction in profits it has suffered over the past two years.

According to sources within the greyhound racing industry, there is an 80% chance of a guilty verdict in the case.

Catford Stadium was the subject of scandal in August of last year when a greyhound called Football Focus died in the kennels there of heat exhaustion.

Evening Standard, Wednesday 5th November 2003

TROUBLED WEMBLEY SHUTS LOSS-MAKING DOG TRACK

By Patrick Hosking

Gaming group Wembley which is facing bribery charges in the US, admitted to a string of fresh setbacks today, including the closure of its dog-racing track at Catford in south-east London.

Wembley, headed by Claes Hultman, said the stadium would close immediately and there would be a one-off cost of £600,000. The decision to axe the loss-making track was taken after a review. It promised to explore redevelopment opportunities that should yield proceeds in excess of book value.

Finance director Mark Elliott said he would have preferred to expand Catford but was unable to acquire adjoining land.

The group also admitted to a setback in its hopes to benefit from liberlisation of the racetrack betting in Colorado, where it owns four tracks. Colorado voters have rejected a proposal to allow a state-run video lottery at the tracks.

Wembley said the defeat was "unwelcome but not altogether surprising". It now plans to write off £1.6 million associated with the decision.

Among other reasons for today's profits warning, Wembley said the strengthening pound would reduce reported US profits for 2003 by £4.4 million.

It also warned that while allegations of bribery in Rhode Island were without foundation, legal costs had reached £1 million.

Meanwhile a separate legal battle in Hong Kong was likely to cost another £600,000. The breach of contract dispute over the management of the Hong Kong stadium is due to be heard in court next month.

The US gaming division, which provides the bulk of the profits, continued to perform well Wembley said.

Its shares fell 7.5p to 482.5p as analysts downgraded full-year profit forecasts to about £35 million.

MEDIA RELEASE: LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS Thursday November 6th 2003

(tel) 020 7403 6155 (fax) 020 7403 4532 (press mobile) 07977 239 406 (web) www.league.uk.com

CATFORD CLOSURE WILL LEAVE GREYHOUNDS OUT IN THE COLD

The League Against Cruel Sports is calling for a guarantee that the closure of Catford Greyhound Stadium will not lead to redundant dogs being killed instead of being rehomed.

Today’s announcement by Wembley Plc, whose former Chief Executive Nigel Potter faces bribery charges, together with Dan Bucci of the group’s Lincoln Park operation in the United States, said the closure of Catford Stadium in South East London would result in the loss of 100 jobs.

The League Against Cruel Sports also believes the closure poses a threat to the dogs currently contracted to run at the track. Wembley Plc has given no certain explanation of provisions which would be extended to the greyhounds currently racing at the track – so ensuring their welfare does not suffer.

However, Wembley’s Finance Director has indicated that that the sale of the site for residential property would be the most likely outcome of the closure, following the decision that the track is too small to make a profit, with declining attendance throughout the recent years.

Greyhounds bred specifically for racing may now suffer, or simply be put down, as their owners struggle to find them a place in the declining racing market.

League Against Cruel Sports Chief Executive Douglas Batchelor today called on Wembley Plc to publicly recognise it’s responsibility towards the dogs from which it profits.

Mr Batchelor said: “Wembley has a current profit forecast of £35 million. This industry can afford to look after the dogs whose efforts its profits depend on.

“The planned sale of the Catford site for development as residential property will no doubt result in a significant recouping for Wembley Plc. Ironically no greyhound is likely to benefit from this financial bonus unless the company changes its stance.

“A penny in the pound of all greyhound racing bets would solve the welfare problems routinely ignored by the racing industry. As the companies associated with the industry have so far failed to fulfill their responsibilities, we are effectively campaigning for statutory regulation of the industry, which would include such a levy.

“Is Wembley Plc prepared to outline publicly how it will guarantee that the closure of Catford will not be a death sentence for any of the dogs currently racing there? If not, this is yet further proof that statutory, rather than the current voluntary regulation, is needed for an industry built on the exploitation of greyhounds.

-ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on: 0207 4036155 / 07626 417352.

ENDS

Greyhound Action comment

Of course Wembley plc is responsible for the fate of the dogs which raced at Catford Stadium and they should immediately set aside a sum of money to build and staff comfortable kennels for these dogs, where they can be well cared for and live out their lives if homes cannot be found for them.

Sadly, this isn't going to happen, because Wembley would not be involved in greyhound racing in the first place if it really cared about the dogs.

We are not opposed to the LACS' campaign to get extra money for greyhound welfare and for statutory regulation of greyhound racing. Anything that helps the dogs in any way is welcome. But in no way does it offer any real solution to the massive problem of slaughter and suffering caused by the greyhound racing industry.

By its very nature, commercial greyhound racing creates a huge demand for dogs to be bred - and most of these dogs will end up being killed when no longer required by the greyhound racing industry, for the simple reason that homes are not available for them to go to. Statutory regulation would do little to reduce this breeding of greyhounds, especially as the vast majority of dogs which run on British tracks are bred in the Republic of Ireland, outside of the control of UK legislation.

It has to be realised that we live in a situation where over 10,000 ordinary dogs are "put to sleep" by local authorities in Britain every year because there is nowhere for them to go. With this being the case, there is really no hope of any more than a small percentage of ex-racing greyhounds ever finding good homes.

No amount of money from the racing industry will buy new homes for greyhounds. Even if industry money were spent on a publicity campaign to persuade the public to give a greyhound a home As the LACS have also suggested), it is unrealistic to expect this to increase the number of homes by any more than a few percent. Greyhounds are not easy dogs to rehome. They can make wonderful companions, but people are often put off by their size and many can be difficult to look after because of problems associated with their breeding and upbringing at the hands of the racing industry. Also, if all that happens is that people are persuaded to give a home to a greyhound instead of another type of dog, then no lives will be saved, as another dog of a different breed will end up being "put to sleep" instead.

Neither is the industry ever going to pay for an ever increasing number of rescue kennels to house all the dogs it disposes of - simply because the spiralling costs of this would soon put an end to commercial greyhound racing altogether.

It seems to us that the LACS has gone all around the wrekin with their demands for a penny in the pound, safer tracks etc., rather than stating, and campaigning for, the more obvious, simpler and only real solution, which is that commercial greyhound racing should be banned and that, in the meantime, the public should be persuaded to boycott dog racing, so that the industry fades away through lack of financial support.

Windgap Java, former Irish star, has been at the centre of storm of protest from his owner and trainer after he sustained an injury when trialling at Catford. The trainer and owner have claimed the track was unsafe after the discovery of a number of stones on the sand surface..and that the hare was driven too close to their runner.

It's the breadline for Catford staff

CATFORD has called a halt to the meal tickets administered to kennel staff working for its attached trainers on race nights.

Most major racecourses give such meal tickets as a recognition of the long hours trainers and their staff face and the move, which follows hot on the heels of the GRA track's decision to cancel racenight commentators, is part of an ongoing series of cost cutting exercises at the track. It again brings into question the long-term business security of the site.

Racing manager Derek Hope confirmed the action yesterday, explaining: "The decision has been taken and it's our duty to action it, which we did on Tuesday. Hopefully everyone concerned understands it's all part of working towards a better future for Catford."

Mike Raper, the GRA's public relations director, said: "Catford is, admittedly, going through a very lean spell at present - as are many tracks around the country."The World Cup really hit business hard and it's never really got going since, so sometimes measures have to be taken in the short-term to get things back on track. As a company we need to give Wembley plc the confidence to invest in the long-term future of tracks such as Catford." It is clear that investment will not take place at the track until the freehold lease of the car park - currently owned by Railtrack - is secured and Raper confirmed that an offer is on the table.

The irony of no meals on the table for local kennelstaff will not be lost. However, visiting open race trainers will still receive an allocation of two vouchers.

John Haynes, chairman of the Greyhound Trainers' Association and a BGRB and Fund director, reacted angrily. "Nothing surprises me anymore. All racecourses, including the GRA, used to offer three-course meals for staff. The accountants had already scaled that back. "They say they're not doing so well at Catford, but the GRA is allowed to aggregate Fund resources for improvements at its tracks as and when required, why doesn't it do the same with its profits and look after Catford? "But to be honest, I blame the Catford trainers for letting this happen. They have allowed the track to pick their pockets for forty-quid each a week, when they should be standing firm and saying 'no way'. The meals are part of 'the deal', imagine what'd happen if you told a group of post office workers they'd be getting pounds 40 less a week. They'd fight it."

Owner Bill Catchesides, who has dogs running regularly at both Catford and Wimbledon, many in partnership with Rapid Ranger's owner Ray White, said: "Personally, I think it's disgusting, taking food away from the hardest working people in the industry. "Ray and I are putting up some money to sponsor the forthcoming Paddy Milligan Memorial Puppy Oaks at Wimbledon, but after this I'd be reluctant to agree to any more. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth."

Jason Foster, one of several Catford trainers based at the Keston kennel complex - sold off by the GRA last year - commented: "It's been hard going at present, with five meetings a week it couldn't really be anything else, and everybody is under pressure. "However, if the trainers did not think that new investment was genuinely around the corner it would be much harder to swallow. With two BAGS meetings every week at Catford it's hard to understand how we're not doing well, but we have to remain optimistic and hope that some money will eventually be spent here, giving everyone a much needed lift."

Raper played down rumours that the GRA was suffering financial woe across the board - fuelled by the news that Wimbledon's recently developed £1.6m Mick The Miller stand will now be closed on Tuesday and the new Thursday nights. He added: "That decision is chiefly a reflection of the current switch of live football on Sky and terrestrial television, which has seen matches switched from Wednesday to Tuesday nights. "Coupled with the recent Tube strikes, this has impacted on Tuesday crowd figures, and it makes sound sense to operate as a one-sided venue for those nights. "That said, however, I don't believe we're feeling the pinch any more than other tracks around the country, and our policies of upgrading and acquisition remain firmly in place."

Catford Tradgedy

The Catford Greyhound Stadium closed one of its kennel blocks after a greyhound died, apparently of extreme heat exhaustion, following an 8:00 p.m. race on Saturday, Aug. 17 (2002). Weather conditions were extremely hot and humid that night. Following the race, Football Focus was hosed down, watered, and returned to the kennel block. Steve Gammon, the dog's trainer, checked on him an hour later and found the dog in an extremely distressed condition.

"As soon as the kennel was opened I knew he was in a critical state," Gammon said. "There were tremendous efforts made to save him by kennel staff and the veterinary surgeon, but unfortunately he was beyond help and the decision had to be taken to end his suffering."

An unidentified trainer called the Racing Post two days later and said he was very concerned about the particular kennel block the dog was housed in, citing several recent examples of greyhounds emerging from it in seriously distressed states. The Post also received a faxed message from a kennel owner who races his dogs at the Catford track, stating, "This was an accident waiting to happen due to the antiquated kennel block. Fund grants would be better spent on dog welfare, such as safer running surfaces and air-conditioned kennels. This tragedy could have happened to any dog." Irene McNally, a National Greyhound Racing Club steward who was at the track the night Focus died, said, " It is imperative that paddock and kennel staff are extra-vigilant in these extreme weather conditions to avoid a similar tragedy."

Source: The Racing Post:Phil Donaldson

Mike Nightingale of UGO on the Catford kennels issue

I must admit to being not the least bit surprised to read that the connections of Football Focus have been informed by solicitors acting on behalf of GRA that they claim the kennels were safe to house greyhounds on the fateful night.

In whose opinion? I have yet to hear that the NGRC or the BGRB back them up on this, in fact, I seem to recall both groups stated as a direct result of this incident that the kennels are not up to standard. To follow this up, 10 of the countries leading trainers wrote an open letter warning promoters to get kennels and track surfaces up to scratch or they would not run at the sub-standard tracks.

The GRA solicitors are claiming that, as the kennels were licensed by the NGRC as fit for the purpose, then Catford cannot be to blame for the death. In my opinion the closing of the offending kennel block and subsequent works to enforce ventilation is an admission of guilt in itself and UGO encourages the connections to consider an action in the courts to obtain the compensation they are clearly entitled to.

To my mind, the fact that a dog died proves that the NGRC are equally at fault for failing to pick up possible problems during their annual inspections. Whilst it is unsurprising that GRA do not wish to accept responsibility, someone must take the blame. The kennels belong to GRA and as such should be up to standard.

If the NGRC had been acting in a professional manner in enforcing and upgrading kennel standards for tracks throughout the country, then maybe we would all see our greyhounds kennelled in the comfort they deserve whilst waiting to race.

I suppose we can take some comfort from the tragic circumstance bringing this issue to the fore, but that is little compensation to dog lovers around the country.

It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, steps forward on the November 14 to accept responsibility. General opinion seems to be that the trainer is going to be the one who the establishment will blame. If he is considered responsible in any way then all those trainers racing greyhounds at Catford are equally guilty of not looking after their charges' welfare - perhaps even we as owners are responsible for allowing them to race too - ludicrous to even think it, isn't it?

UGO would like to offer support to Steve Gammon in any way it can and challenges the aforementioned trainers to take a stance on this issue before the November 14 hearing. It is not so very far away now, so it would be interesting to hear from Catford management what progress has been made on improvement to the kennels, if any?

Mike Nightingale UGO Committee Member

Fully Agree....

Nice piece in todays Racing Post in regard to the inquiry into the tragic death of Football Focus. BGRB chief Geoffrey Thomas is approaching the fund for 1.5 million pounds budget to bring about massive improvements to track kennels.A shame it needs a dogs death to get things moving.

There is a discussion due to take place on Monday 2nd December at the House Of Commons, the sports minister will be present, and greyhound welfare and developement will be on the agenda. Some things never change.... Returning to the Football Focus issue, the stewards dismissed a complaint from UGO which asked them to hold an inquiry into their own failure to ensure that kennel facilities at greyhound tracks licensed by them meet satisfactory standards in terms of welfare.

Some things never change....

The NGRC and BGRB are really going to have to get their acts together, and drag themselves into the 21st century and start using foresight as opposed to hindsight, so that our industry can go forward.

Regards

Steve

(note from Greyhound Action - Football Focus died at Catford, a GRA stadium (see article below). BGRB = British Greyhound Racing Board. UGO = Union of Greyhound Owners. NGRC = National Greyhound Racing Club (all the big tracks, including the GRA tracks supposedly operate under their rules - as would the Liverpool track))

"Having attended the NGRC hearing last Thursday into the unnecessary death of Football Focus we feel it is appropriate to communicate our views on the sad experience we have had in the loss of our much-loved greyhound Billy (Football Focus).

We will never forget the insensitive comments made by Catford Stadium in letters to us where they `wished us better fortune with our greyhounds in the future' and noted that Billy was `humanely destroyed', ignoring the considerable suffering he must have endured prior to death.

We are disgusted that despite being members of the Catford Greyhound Owners' Association we have at no time had any contact from them. It was disappointing to hear Mr Wolfe, the Catford general manager, state that the kennels were only 6/7 years old; when in reality the only change in the last 30 years has been to insert a false floor to accommodate two dogs per kennel instead of one.

While we thank Monica Watts, the veterinary surgeon in attendance for her valiant efforts to save Billy, we are disappointed that, despite the presence of the general manager in the paddock, the proper procedures were not followed, in as much that neither blood nor urine samples were taken immediately after Billy's death.

Earlier in the year, the greyhound Mammcross Pride (Trainer Jason Foster) was withdrawn prior to racing at Catford, having been found to be in a heat stressed condition. Critically, there was no mention of this in the reports of the inquiry, but it illustrates the point that the management was aware of the possibility that a dog might suffer from heat stroke in those kennels.

They failed to look at ways of minimising this risk in hot, humid conditions, meaning Billy had to die before any improvements will be made. It is intriguing to see the GRA had plans earlier in the year to replace the kennels, yet in March they categorically refused to do so after the Owners' Association requested that course of action as there was concern from owners that, amongst other things, the kennels were unsafe in hot weather.

We dismiss the stewards' reliance on Billy's extra lap as a meaningful contributing factor, Steve Gammon has our total faith, we consider Billy was more than fit enough for this exertion. In conclusion, we entrusted Billy into the racing kennels of the largest greyhound promoter in the country, the GRA. Their failure to provide satisfactory kennels meant he paid the highest possible price; he paid with his life.

The NGRC, as the upholder of integrity in our sport had approved these kennels. Their failure to ensure licensed kennels meet satisfactory standards at every licensed track has resulted in the death of our wonderful greyhound."

Decision on pounds 2m refit could be in `matter of weeks'

PLANS that could transform Catford into a modern-day stadium are under serious consideration by the GRA, writes Jim Cremin. The track has faced a torrid spell of criticism since last month's heat-related death of Football Focus, discovered collapsed in a section of kennels later ruled unsatisfactory. But Catford's long-term future has also been uncertain, this once vibrant arena stagnating into apparent terminal decline over the past 20 years.

Each Gold Collar sees fewer people in attendance, long gone is the time when you used to have to park half a mile from the track - or on the way out be met by newspaper sellers waving Sunday's first editions. A key factor in the decline, but also in whether the plans go ahead, is the position of the car park, owned by Railtrack but leased by the GRA. There is no other access to the land, and there are eight years left on the lease. Discussions on the long-term position and a purchase by the GRA seem to have being going on interminably. However, these may now, finally, conclude shortly.

Mike Raper, the GRA's PR director, said on Saturday: "In the early stages the indications were poor, but now they are more positive. It's possible something could even be sorted out within a matter of weeks - then our view of the track will change and we can look at investing properly in it." The exciting prospect involves the current far-side, with a new glass-fronted restaurant catering for between 400 to 650 poeple, and becoming the main side. The winning line and stewards' box would have to be moved round, with the existing main stand becoming the junior ring. Raper said: "We have the plans, but it needs the car park position to be resolved, then it goes to the main Wembley plc board for approval. Were that to be granted, work could under-way by the middle of next year." He is projecting a pounds 2m-plus investment, with the cost of the car park on top. Racing would continue during the work, with next year's Gold Collar the last one from its current start position.

Greyhound fans will be even more interested in proposed spending on new kennels.

General manager Stan Wolfe said: "The architects are coming on Friday to progress this. Favourite at the moment is building these at the fourth bend under the stand where the `junior bar' currently is. The old kennels would then become an exercise area for the greyhounds." Temporary safeguards in the use of the kennels continue, the recent cooler weather has helped.

Wolfe added: "The costs of running Catford are frightening. In the short-term it is a struggle and our task is simply to get through this period. I know it is hard for everyone, but I would not be staying if I didn't see a vision for the future.

"We cannot survive purely on greyhound regulars, it is the restaurant customers who bring in the spend that would justify the proposed project. I believe that if we provide something like this, then the public will respond. The whole demographic population of London is changing, and generally it is on the upgrade with people who have money to spend." Ray White, owner of dual Derby hero Rapid Ranger and a race sponsor on Saturday, was delighted to hear of the proposals.

"Everyone will agree the kennels must come first, if greyhounds are going to be kennelled from 6.30pm through 'til 10pm they deserve good kennels where they can relax.

"Catford has been and always will be my local track. But if I'm bringing guests to have dinner, we usually go to Wimbledon or Walthamstow. But there's an enormous catchment area for Catford, these plans would be the making of both the track and the entire area."

"6,000 GREYHOUNDS A YEAR SHOT, BURNED AND BURIED. Slaughtered.. when they are too slow to win"

SIX thousand greyhounds are slaughtered every year simply because they no longer win races. The dogs are often disposed of by their owners to avoid paying the £3,000 a year it costs to keep them in retirement.

Among the culprits is trainer Steve Davis, who is being investigated for shooting dogs in the head or heart and burning them on land close to his Oxfordshire kennels.

BBC investigator Paul Kenyon dug up remains found amid burning ashes at the site and had them analysed by a pathologist who confirmed the body parts belonged to a dog - one of dozens which witnesses say they have seen shot by Davis.

Around 8,000 new greyhounds enter the sport each year, but animal charities say only about 2,000 a year are looked after once they retire.

The dogs reach their peak at three to four years old. At five they are ready for retirement, but most are likely to live on until they are about 15.

Earlier this month Davis was fined £1,000 by the sport's regulators, the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC), for putting down two dogs - but he was allowed to keep his trainer's licence.

Kenyon, presenter of BBC1's Kenyon Confronts, said: "We were told where the ditch was and went in the middle of the night and dug up this smouldering grave.

"It is always burning red-hot because he uses lime and combustible rubbish to keep it going. The pathologist identified one body as a young dog between three and five years old.

"The tens of thousands of people who go greyhound racing every week are totally unaware that the champion they see one week may wind up being shot dead in a field the next."

Kenyon passed himself off as a trainer to gain access to the world of greyhound racing - Britain's second most popular spectator sport after soccer. His investigation uncovered many more disturbing secrets, including widespread race-fixing.

After Kenyon bought a dog from trainer Lennie Knell at Catford stadium in London, Knell's kennel hand immediately offered to fix the dog's first race, giving Kenyon the chance to make thousands of pounds from gambling. Then Knell is caught on camera confirming that he had overfed Kenyon's dog to make it run much slower in a race trial than it usually would.

The aim was to get the greyhound placed in a later race with dogs much slower than its normal speed - making it almost certain to win.

The TV programme also exposes a drug-dealer who hovers at Northern greyhound tracks with a "virtual pharmacy" in his van, including cocaine and huge quantities of the lethal drug Euthatal, used to put down dogs.

Kenyon said: "The dealer invited us to his farm and opened three enormous cabinets which were jam-packed with drugs. We asked him which was the strongest and he produced a large box of cocaine, explaining that he stuffed it down dogs' throats before a race to give them a quick performance boost."

Last night a senior NGRC source said in response to Kenyon's revelations: "Everyone knows what Steve Davis has been up to. It is disgusting. But until we actually catch him in the act or people in the sport come forward and give evidence against him, we can't ban him.

"He was fined over a couple of technicalities relating to two dead dogs, but we had hoped to get him for the shootings.

"Inevitably there are some bad apples in the sport and we are trying to root them out. We do about 8,000 drug tests a year and do everything we can to keep drugs out of the sport."