“We are raised to honour all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams.”
Peter S. Beagle.
Let that dream be peace and loving homes for Greyhounds - not the track.
Let that dream be peace and loving homes for Greyhounds - not the track.
On the 2nd of May 2015 the Bord na gCon and the racing community will
celebrate their industry in their annual awards ceremony.
IGS thought we would briefly highlight the lowlights of those nominees.
From 'Dog of The Year'
- Ballymac Vic: Followers of IGS on Facebook will remember that this near 5 year old Greyhound was retired to stud after being used on the tracks despite the injuries he sustained. Bord na gCon Head of Regulation, Pat Herbert, was asked in June 2013 if Ballymac Vic had ever tested positive for any prohibited substances. The letter from the Irish Greyhound Owners & Breeders Federation was never replied to.
- Boylesports Hero: Owned by John Boyle, founder of BoyleSports bookmakers - sponsors, for three years, of the Irish Derby. 3 year old Boylesports Hero was retired to stud after breaking a hock in the first round ofthe 2014 Irish Derby. John Boyle recently announced a huge prize incentive to push Greyhounds further - despite welfare concerns of such monetary incentives.
- Laughil Blake: Winner of the 2014 Irish Derby. 3 year old Laughil Blake is trained by Michael O'Donovan - who was fined and reprimanded by the GBGB(Greyhound Board of Great Britain), in 2014, for a positive sample given by Laughil George - that 'he allowed a substance to be administered that could affect the performance and/or the well being of the greyhound' and 'It appeared to the Committee that Mr O’Donovan was talking an injudicious risk in racing a greyhound during its recovery period, risking its welfare' Laughil Blake has recently been used in the Dandelion Bar & Nightclub Easter Cup - despite being 'short of full fitness'.
- Woe Katie: After finishing lame in her last race, on July 4th 2014, this near 4 year old Greyhound was retired to stud - to become a breeding machine for the industry. Woe Katie broke a hock in two places.
- Droopys Nidge: Trained by Robert Gleeson. Robert Gleeson received a €100 fine for the substance Heptaminol given to Greyhound 'Old Fort Cracker' - published in the Doping fines/details of February 2015. The offence of the drug Heptaminol given to Greyhounds is treated far more seriously in Australia.
- Lenson Sanchez: Trained by Pat Buckley. Pat Buckley is certainly an old friend of the Bord na gCon - having been embroiled in a long claim over the 2010 'Tullymurry Act case' with the Bord na gCon - who in 2013 'faced a €1.5m lawsuit'.
- Farloe Blitz: Trained by Owen McKenna - the same Owen McKenna caught for live-baiting Greyhounds with Rabbits in the infamous blooding case in Tipperary, at a private[training]track in the early 1990's(?)
Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.
