GBGB instigates comprehensive traps review after recent failures

THE GBGB is beginning a comprehensive review of trap maintenance practices following the announcement of a "root and branch" review of track starting systems in light of the recent failures at Sunderland and Sheffield.

While those malfunctions have been effectively addressed by both tracks, the GBGB instigated a meeting with the Racecourse Promoters Association (RCPA) on Monday to discuss the best approach to the overall review and the key issues which need to be addressed across the sport as a whole.

Commenting after the meeting, GBGB chief executive Mark Bird said: “Following a productive and insightful meeting with the RCPA on Monday, we look forward to working alongside all tracks to review the starting trap systems in place across the sport. 

"Alongside the RCPA, we have begun forming a plan to map the various types of traps, their individual designs and the systems which tracks have in place for planned preventative maintenance of their traps to help better understand current practices within the sport and any gaps in existing track maintenance protocols.

"Further to this, we plan to work with the manufacturers of traps as well as other servicing professionals where at all possible in order to develop more specific standards for the various types of stadia traps. 

"As well as further protecting greyhound welfare at our stadia, we hope that the findings of our review will lead to more comprehensive and effective guidance for all track maintenance staff around trap inspections so that any issues which arise with their traps can be more easily detected, addressed and resolved, avoiding costly disruption to racing and ensuring the highest standards of welfare for our racers." 

Simon Franklin, chairman of the RCPA, said: “I am grateful to GBGB for initiating this work on trap starting systems and to my fellow promoters for accommodating this meeting, as the review moves ahead at pace. 

“We had a frank yet wholly constructive discussion which I hope has helped to shape the scope of the review and ensure we are fully able to optimise best practice across the sport – including on areas such as procurement, maintenance and the knowledge base. 

“I am sure we would all agree that this scoping exercise will be a valuable piece of work allowing us all to enhance welfare standards even further.”