July 2016

It has again been another very busy month for Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). Seven of GRV’s eleven stakeholder engagement workshops (covering nine topics) have now been held, generating comprehensive discussion and new thinking about a range of issues, and this is covered in more detail in the July edition of Greyhound Monthly Victoria. One workshop topic, breeding and breeding controls, looked at how we can make sure that enough greyhounds will reach the tracks ready to race for the sport’s long term future, while also ensuring that as many retired greyhounds as possible will have the best rehoming opportunities. On this subject, GRV has also been studying a recent downward trend in litter numbers and the implications this has for future breeding controls.

In other news, GRV is now conducting greyhound qualifying trials under full race conditions. Following consultation with participants, GRV Stewards and a full complement of club staff will now manage all Qualifying Trial meetings. Trials in the new format are being held at Ballarat and Cranbourne and GRV’s Racing Operations Team will continue to monitor the demand for such meetings and program future trials accordingly. GRV is also analysing the results of recent finish on lure trials and is considering the next steps in relation to finish on lure. On the subject of racing operations, I’m pleased to announce that Karen Lees has been appointed as GRV’s new Chief Steward for a two year period. You can read more about Karen and what she brings to the role in the July issue of the Greyhound Monthly.

GRV is also planning to invest $34 million over five years in upgrading infrastructure across the State to improve racing operations, track safety and to further strengthen local clubs as multi-purpose community venues. To help drive this major capital works program, GRV has appointed David Straw as our new Senior Infrastructure Projects Manager. David started his project management career as an architect and has worked in the Victorian Department of Education and Training, the Cities of Whittlesea and Yarra and at RMIT, Deakin and Monash Universities and for several construction and project management companies.

As part of this program, work has now started on a $1.8 million redevelopment of the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club with the first stage, installing a new, compliant electrical switchboard now underway. GRV has also appointed Craig Monigatti as the Club’s new manager, which is something of a homecoming for Craig, who grew up in the region and went to school in Warrnambool. Craig spent 14 years as Technology Support Manager and Operations Co-ordinator at Carlton Football Club, has a Bachelor of Applied Science and Management and is currently completing an MBA in Sports Management. GRV is also appointing an external administer for Warrnambool and there will be an announcement about that soon.

Looking ahead, some of the issues that GRV is currently focused on include consideration of the Report by the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in New South Wales, developing new policies and programs based on the input from of the Stakeholder Engagement Workshops and the 2016 Victorian Greyhound Awards to be held at Sandown in August. Despite recent challenges, there are many achievements over the past year that will be celebrated.

Alan Clayton
Chief Executive Officer
Greyhound Racing Victoria

View the July issue of the Greyhound Monthly Victoria here