In today’s Racing Post, Mark Bird, CEO of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, has penned a Monday Column reflecting on the efforts made by those in the sport to combat calls for greyhound racing to be banned. Read the Column below:

As we look ahead to our centenary year, you could be forgiven for assuming any celebrations will be overshadowed by the current challenges facing our sport.  With calls for a ban going through their respective legislative processes in Wales and Scotland, our sport is certainly in the spotlight but the past few weeks have shown we have reason to be optimistic with indications our message is getting through.

Combatting the threats to our sport in the devolved nations has been a priority for GBGB and we have spent considerable time and effort setting out a case for a licensed sport.  Through face-to-face meetings, media interventions, consultation responses, appearances before various committees and carefully-crafted letters, we’ve worked tirelessly to explain how a licensed, well-regulated sport is the only way to safeguard welfare.

We have not sat back; we have gone on the offensive, challenged every misleading or inaccurate claim and been as open as possible about how our sport is run.  In doing so, we’ve benefited from the support and active participation of many within our sport.  Thank you to those who have challenged misconceptions on social media, written to their political representatives or contributed to the various parliamentary processes scrutinising our sport.

Our argument is strong; in fact, it’s pretty hard to argue a well-run and highly regulated sport is not in the best welfare interests of our greyhounds.  As a licensed sport, we can ensure greyhounds benefit from the care and attention they deserve and have far more protection than domestic pets.  Moreover, we have the data to prove our welfare standards are strong and, through our long-term welfare strategy, we can show we have a well-thought out, evidence-based plan for ensuring standards improve further.

On the other side of the debate, we’re still hearing those tired, outdated myths, alleged ‘evidence’ dating back over a decade and the biased testimony of those for whom no use of animals can ever be justifiable.  One Senedd member – a staunch opponent of our sport – refused to visit the now-licensed Valley Stadium, citing previous visits to the unlicensed Skewen and Fforestfach tracks, both of which closed over 20 years ago.

Whilst we’ve always known this, it’s now clearer than ever that our sport has become the unfortunate victim of political shenanigans in Wales and Scotland.  The calls for a ban have nothing to do with the facts; they don’t even have anything to do with animal welfare.

As we saw in Wales – where we’ve launched a Judicial Review – greyhound racing was sacrificed in a dodgy deal with the sole Liberal Democrat member to get the Budget through.  In Scotland – where those calling for a ban are still relying on a decade old report compiled by the Antis – the Government has gone back on its previous supportive stance to back Mark Ruskell MSP’s vanity project.  With no new evidence presented to them – and with no racing taking place in Scotland – one can only assume this about-turn has something to do with next year’s elections and any potential alliances that may be needed to keep them in power.

But we’re starting to win the argument and there are promising signs that Welsh and Scottish legislators are grasping the truth about our sport and are prepared to challenge the underhand tactics being used. We were heartened by some of the cross-party contributions during the Culture, Sport and Welsh Language Committee’s recent scrutiny of the Bill in Wales and of similar robust questioning of the relevant Minister by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in Scotland. At times, it’s been uncomfortable to watch the devolved governments attempt to defend what are clearly such weak, insubstantial pieces of draft legislation.  If due process wins out, neither should be allowed by legislators to move ahead.

And so, whilst the political risks remain, celebrations for our centenary will go ahead and will present the perfect opportunity to demonstrate yet again why our sport has been an intrinsic part of the sporting landscape for 100 years and why licensed racing is the only way to safeguard welfare now and in the years to come.