Ahead of the elections for GBGB Owner Practitioner, nominee Paul Carpenter explains why he is standing and what he wants to achieve through the role:

As I embark on my retirement from the logistics field and with 30 years’ experience as an owner behind me, I feel that the time is right for me to throw my hat into the ring as Practitioner Director (Owner) on the GBGB Board.

I have been honoured to own some fantastic greyhounds over the past three decades and I have valued every single one – from those competing in A11 graded races to those winning Category 1 competitions.  They have all brought me such joy and there is no better feeling than watching your greyhound excel on the track.  But to me, responsible ownership is not just about producing stars of the track; it is also about ensuring all greyhounds enjoy long and happy retirements.  I am immensely proud that all my greyhounds have been successfully homed and I commend the GBGB on the strong progress that has been made in this area over recent years.  Welfare must remain a focal point as public perception of the sport is vital for its future.  If elected Owners Rep, I will strive to make a positive contribution to the excellent work that is already underway.

But, beyond welfare, there are several significant issues I would like to tackle if elected to the Board.  First and foremost, I want to ensure there is open communication between owners and trainers and the Board because, let us be perfectly honest, owners have had little or no communication for a long time.

And so, my first assurance will be to speak up for ALL owners. My second assurance will be to treat all owners alike; all owners need to feel as though they are engaged, valued, listened too, and taken seriously. The days of being ignored are over!

A further promise will be to ensure I report back all the news and information to those I represent. To be effective it is imperative I’m allowed to communicate with all owners.  Obviously, I will respect the confidentiality of the Board but, wherever possible, I will endeavour to be open and transparent and communicate with owners through face-to-face meetings, emails, social media and the good old-fashioned telephone.

Owners desperately need a voice, and I am determined to give it to them.  Without owners there would be no racing industry and, as such, their interests should be represented at the highest level particularly around the issues of funding, prize money, breeding, presentation, seeding, trap draws and track preparation.

As part of this, I would like to sit on both the Rules Review Committee and the Open Race Planning Committee. The Owner’s Representative currently only sits on the Rules Review Committee.

It is fair to say the promoters and bookmakers together own greyhound racing. It is certainly hard on the owners who provide the product only to find they have little influence in how the sport is run or sold. The owners and trainers need to try and balance some of that power. To achieve this the owners and trainer’s representatives must be aligned. I will therefore be working closely with Peter Harnden.  By working together, we can make a difference as long as my fellow directors are fair-minded to welcome some new ideas and opinions.

Greyhound racing is a fantastic sport but just now I feel it is somewhat fractured. It goes without saying we each want what’s best for the sport and that there is no one size that fits all. Simply put, there are too many people all pulling in different directions and mostly only concerned about themselves. If we are to bring some stability and continuity to the sport, I think it is about time we all started pulling together.

Should the opportunity arise, I would also welcome the chance to have some open, productive dialogue regarding the commercial activities of the sport.  Welfare is the operational side of the business whilst Sales and Marketing is the other. There needs to be more synergy between the two. Greyhound racing needs to be more commercially astute and must attract a new younger, wider audience. We should be telling the stories, making more positive use of social media, and promoting the dogs as the “stars”.   But maybe that is all for another day!

Lastly, I am under no illusion how challenging this role is, but I do believe I am up to the task.  Having left school at 16 with no qualifications, I was determined to have a successful career and I am immensely proud to have been a manager and then a director of one the largest global freight forwarding companies. I have an ethos of hard work and I will always give my all to every challenge I undertake.

But, most importantly, I welcome the opportunity to represent the views of the owners.  I love this sport and I am determined to do all I can to ensure British greyhound racing flourishes for many years to come.

Voting cards will be sent to designated owners on 16th July 2021.  All votes must be received by 6th August. The election count will take place on 10th August.