Greyhound racing feud raises hackles

Greyhound racing had a lot riding on meetings last August. Picture / Brett Phibbs

There are few things as nasty as a family feud, and it becomes even more venomous when it involves a sibling who feels hard done by.

So when greyhound racing - long considered the poor relation of harness and thoroughbred racing - found itself backed into a corner, it was bound to turn vicious.

Accusations and threats are flying like rabbit fur, lawyers have been called in, and the NZ Racing Board, which oversees all three codes, has ordered an investigation.

The controversy centres on three race meetings when it is alleged betting figures were artificially inflated by thousands of dollars through a scheme known as a "Dutch Book".

But it all traces back to a rivalry between the equine codes and the greyhounds, derided as "dish-lickers".

Thoroughbred, in particular, and harness are seen as the glamour codes, contributing 95 per cent of the betting revenue generated by the industry, and counting judges and lawyers among their followers.

Dogs, meanwhile, are looked down upon by many horse-racing lovers, and the code is responsible for only 5 per cent of the betting revenue.

But for more than a year the Greyhound Racing Association has been trying to convince the Racing Board to grant it the right to hold race meetings on Saturday nights, prime-time for punters watching the board's Trackside racing channel.

Harness and thoroughbred objected on the basis that it would affect the overall revenue and possibly squeeze their television time.

Last year, the board granted greyhounds four Saturday night meetings in August to prove their case. It set assessment criteria, one key component being on-course betting: the amount spent by punters at the track.

So when Buck's Reward won by a length in the feature event of the night at Wanganui on August 6, there was a lot riding on the race, not least the future of the sport.

The greyhound body launched a marketing plan to drive interest.

And about $30,000 of association money was allegedly spent backing every dog in every race at the August 6 (Wanganui), 13 and 20 (both Auckland) meetings. Under such "Dutch Book" schemes, calculations are made so that a balanced return is provided, no matter the outcome of the race.

Figures obtained by the Weekend Herald show that on-course betting for the first three trial meetings was higher than normal - $38,445, $35,380, and $38,465. The alleged betting did not take place at the fourth meeting, where the total was $10,789. On-course betting this month has averaged about $7800 at Wanganui and $18,000 at Auckland.

When harness racing heard the rumours, it believed the greyhound code had tried to "shaft them", according to one source.

It is understood that harness officials obtained a legal opinion. In December, they laid an official complaint with the Racing Board, and were backed up by thoroughbred.

"If substantiated, this is unethical and unprofessional, and would undermine the credibility and integrity of the dates process," said the Harness Racing NZ letter.

This week, the board appointed Wellington lawyer Terry Sissons to investigate the matter.

Board chairman Warren Larsen said yesterday that the matter was being taken seriously.

"Because we are dealing with the way income is distributed to the racing industry, we have to take every possible step to clear this up one way or another," said Mr Larsen.

The process of setting dates for race meetings had a major impact on the codes and it was important the board made decisions based on proper information.

"If, for example, you try to do something to manipulate or falsify or somehow interfere with that process, there may well be a case to answer. The integrity of this industry to us is absolutely fundamental."

The chief executive of the Greyhound Association, Lance Bickford, declined to comment.

The chairman, Trevor Deed, said his board would co-operate with the investigation.

Mr Deed said the association was still pushing for Saturday night meetings in the hope of raising greyhound racing's profile and turnover.

At present meetings are held on weekdays and Sundays.

- Additional reporting by John Andrews