GREY2K “ANYTHING BUT OBJECTIVE” ON RACING, SAYS TRACK EXEC
The Galveston Daily News has published a commentary by Gulf Greyhound Park (GGP) General Manager Sally Briggs in response to the newspaper’s recent coverage of Grey2K USA claims regarding track safety and greyhound injuries.
“Grey2K exists for one purpose: to put an end to greyhound racing,” Briggs wrote. “That means they are anything but an objective source of information on what happens at Gulf Greyhound Park or any other track in the nation.”
Here is the full text of the Briggs column, which appeared in the November 21 edition of the newspaper:
GREY2K A POOR SOURCE OF ACCURATE INFO ON GREYHOUND RACING
By Sally Briggs, General Manager, Gulf Greyhound Park, La Marque TX
A recent article by Michael Smith regarding greyhound track safety omitted some important background information. Complaints about greyhound racing from Grey2K USA are as routine and predictable as the daily sunrise. Grey2K exists for one purpose: to put an end to greyhound racing. That means they are anything but an objective source of information on what happens at Gulf Greyhound Park or any other track in the nation.
At Gulf, we take our responsibility for greyhound welfare very seriously. To ensure the safety of racing greyhounds, we have consulted with some of the nation’s leading veterinary experts on greyhound orthopedics and physiology. We have followed, and continue to follow, their recommendations for racetrack surface maintenance.
As a result of these efforts, which are ongoing, the rate of injury for greyhounds performing on our track is even lower than the national average. Fewer than one-tenth of one percent of all racing starts result in injuries, and most of those are minor enough to permit the greyhound to return to racing in a week or two.
When breeders or kennel operators have concerns about any aspect of our track operations, they know they can raise these concerns with track management. We have an excellent working relationship with the Texas Greyhound Association (TGA), and regularly collaborate with that group to address issues that may arise from time to time. We have jointly sponsored track safety seminars to discuss new technologies and state-of-the-art techniques for keeping track surfaces in optimum condition.
It’s easy to blame track management when racing doesn’t go well for a particular breeder or kennel operator, but the fact is that our door is always open to those individuals. That may be why the negative comments quoted in Mr. Smith’s article came from only one or two people who did not wish to be quoted.
In any case, Grey2K USA is the last source that anyone should rely on for factual information about greyhound racing. Grey2K is a political action and lobbying organization. It offers no direct services to benefit greyhounds; while Grey2K gives lip service to greyhound adoption, it does not actively provide or participate in any adoption programs. This is something the public should remember the next time Grey2K demands attention from the Texas Racing Commission for publicity purposes.