Whilst our greyhounds are at the heart of everything we do, their success on the race track would not be possible without the love, care and utter devotion provided by those working within the sport. Owner and Greyhound Ambassador Bob Boswell reflects on the kindness of the people he has met during his 20 years in the sport.

“Those opposed to greyhound racing will have us believe our sport is full of cruel and uncaring people but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Since buying my first greyhound in 2000, I have met some of the kindest, most genuine and hardest working people I know.

They are the people who start their working day when most normal people are pulling the duvet up and rolling over for another three hours snuggled up. They are the people who go out in all weathers, 365 days a year to take care of greyhounds and ensure that every single need is attended to. They are the people who come home from a race meeting, feed the dogs, settle them back in the kennels and then –rather than put their feet up and have a cuppa – grab a shovel and start sweeping or collect the dogs from the paddocks. There is no one standing over them telling them what to do; they do it because they care. Everything they do, every action they take is to ensure that the greyhounds under their care receive the best food, bedding and medical care possible.

And it is not just the trainers and kennel hands who care so deeply about the welfare of the dogs; it is the owners themselves. We are involved in the sport because we love greyhounds. You only have to visit a racing kennel when owners are there to see the joy that both dog and owner display when they are together. Owners are ardent animal welfarists; they take a keen interest in how their dogs are looked after and accept nothing but the highest standards of care and attention.

The values of owners go further than just animal welfare. Shortly after buying my first dog, I read a book called Rich without Money – a true story of Trevor Liddle keeping a roof over his family’s heads and food on the table, through his knowledge of greyhounds. Throughout the book, there is a thread, which was true then and which I think still holds true today, that people involved in greyhounds will always help those less fortunate than themselves. In the book, even though money was tight, if not non-existent at times, Trevor always gave “luck money” to the breeders of the greyhounds he bought in Ireland, recognising that on occasions the families he bought from were as in much need of assistance, as he was.

On another occasion when Trevor had nothing, a man he barely knew, other than being on nodding terms at greyhound tracks, drove 200 miles to give him a small sum of money, even though that was all he had himself, and never expected its return. They remain friends to this day.

Owners have raised thousands for various charities over the years. They are the first to support someone who they see is struggling; they give and expect nothing in return.

I am constantly inspired and astounded by the kindness, generosity and altruism displayed by people involved in greyhound racing. Whilst I love watching my dogs do what they do best, I equally value the long-lasting friendships I have made across the sport.”

The photo is of my first rehomed greyhound Eastmead Harry. I never owned Harry as a racer but he came home for a long weekend, and never left, stopping for five years, before passing away at 10. Harry was the first of a long line of rehomed Greyhounds, many of them my own racers.