News

Over the last few years it has been my pleasure to act as President of a volunteer organisation with a genuine interest and care for people, and a willingness to agitate for fairer, better treatment. Much has been achieved, though there is always more that can be. 

Without GOTBA action, the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds would be unmanageable in its requirements, infrastructure would not be top of mind and, critically, Victoria would have fallen even further behind on basic economic fairness to those that work outside of GRV.

Challenges remain: getting at least 50% of GRV income returned to participants and seeing a new administration at GRV – which remains necessary - that acts like participants are central to the sport’s success and, frankly, can be trusted to do what it says.

I firmly believe that any organisation – volunteer or not - must periodically change leadership and refresh to keep achieving its goals.

In 2022, Greg Doyle will be President of GOTBA Vic.

He is an outstanding leader in the industry and was a hugely significant player as Vice President in all recent GOTBA activities, including the 2021 industry action. He is deeply aware of all key issues and needs.  I will remain active as Vice President.

Remember that the Greyhound Owners Trainers Breeders Association of Victoria Inc is your opportunity to speak as one on issues that matter to you in Victorian greyhound racing.  It is absolutely critical that participants continue to act together towards common goals – do not let yourselves be divided or distracted, as GOTBA Vic continues to fight for your interests.

I wish all of you the best in 2022.

Lynton Hogan

Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association of Victoria Inc

GOTBA Vic's annual general meeting will be held on Sunday 28 November 2021, from 6pm at Sandown GRC (subject to COVID restrictions) and online.

Details of how to attend are in the attached notice - Notice AGM 2021 GOTBA.pdf  

We would appreciate members who are intending to attend in person telling our secretary this ahead of 28 November.  We encourage as members as possible to attend.

A Treasurer's Report and President's Report (latter on the momentous year just gone and matters to follow) will be presented, and committee elections - up to 4 positions - will occur.  Details on eligibility and how to nominate are also in the attached notice.

An email will be sent to members today (7 Nov), and a reminder will be sent approximately one week before the AGM.

GOTBA Vic Committee

This week Greyhound Racing Victoria increased Victorian greyhound racing prizemoney by $5.3m, to pay $63.5m in the year to 30 June 2022.  Any increase is good, so well done.  A step, though more are needed, is better than none.

Whatever else may be said this would not have occurred without your and our sustained action.  We know this.  You do too.  GOTBA Vic’s preference, based on what you told us, was for an unplaced fee, in addition to increases at Level 2 and Level 1.  An unplaced fee is of wider benefit.  It ought come very soon in a high cost environment.

We need to make clear a few points about prizemoney going forward though. 

In the year to 30 June 2021, GRV had record income and you had record work in races to attend and dogs to care for.  You were never paid a lower % of GRV income, and had slipped to the bottom few States in per race prizemoney.  

GRV had $20m in extra (unbudgeted) income actually earned last financial year.  Of that, as of now just the $5.3m announced this week has been committed to you.

One might ask, still, where is the rest going, or where has it gone?  Some answers will come from GRV’s Annual Report for 20/21, when it arrives.  Watch that space.  We will be.  

At present, betting turnover (Australia wide), and industry income this year is still COVID affected: that is, very high.   Records last year may well be bettered.  Frankly, more increases in participant returns should be expected to occur this financial year.

What if, in the 2 years to 30 June 2022, GRV achieves income of $250m-$280m (this is possible), and returns just $115m (the figure currently projected) to you as prizemoney?

You have EVERY RIGHT to demand that a minimum share of annual GRV income is returned to you, who provide the product and take all manner of risk. 

That share should be 50%.  Minimum.  Less will be unacceptable.  It should be committed to. We are focused on that.   

For now, on prizemoney, we watch and wait.  We will not wait long.

PS – We will soon be re-engaged with GRV on matters of fairness and tracks, and will report on outcomes of that.

GOTBA Vic Committee

September 2021

Action items:  what they are, and their status (as at 21 August 2021)

The Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association of Victoria Inc was engaged in formal mediation with Greyhound Racing Victoria over the last month or so.

Before mediation was agreed, we asked the GRV Board to agree actions / outcomes on participant returns, participant fairness and safety.

We proposed these because we considered them important, measurable, and capable of being done, for the long-term benefit of all participants whether large, small or in-between; whether hobby or professional.

These action items (which are in summary form) - and where they sit after the end of the formal mediation process (as at 21 August 2021) can be viewed here - Mediation - outcomes 21.8.21.pdf

We invite you to read and consider them, and welcome your support.

Regards

GOTBA Vic Committee

RELEASE:   Reply to GRV Chair statement 23 August and email to participants

GOTBA Vic briefly responds to a public statement by GRV chair Peita Duncan released 23 August 2021.    We understand that GRV sent an email containing some of what that said to participants.

Mediation

GOTBA Vic did not ‘walk away’ from mediation.  Its term ended without agreement: nothing of any substance from GRV willed us to extend it further. 

It is fascinating that GRV refers to using best efforts to reach a constructive outcome.  We did not see evidence of that.   

If GRV wants to press that point, be radically transparent:  allow GOTBA Vic to release details of what actually occurred during mediation.   That would not turn out well for GRV.

We’re happy to engage with GRV – but not in the manner we just have.

Prizemoney

With GRV, it’s what is not said that is important. 

GRV’s Chair says the total prizemoney pool increased $12m since the start of the last financial year; that Victoria pays more prizemoney in total than other jurisdictions.

Not said: GRV has increased the size of the racing program since the start of the last financial year.   Not said: Victoria pays the most prizemoney overall only because it runs the most races by some margin.   Not said:  Victorian participants do the most work and take the most financial risk to earn that amount.  Not said:   Victoria also spends by far – by  a mile - the most on administration and other costs, with no noticeable size efficiencies.   

In our view, nor is Victoria 2^nd in average prizemoney per race, contrary to what GRV’s Chair suggests. 

We end with this. 

A March 2017 report released by GRV – The Size and Scope Of The Victorian Greyhound Racing Industry stated that in 2015/16 alone participants spent $72m breeding and training greyhounds. 

A fair estimate of annual participant investment now in Victoria is $100m per year:  bigger industry, onerous Code of Practice commenced, and various other cost increases have been imposed.   In 2019, 79% of members surveyed said their costs had increased at least 15% (average around 30%) from 2017 alone.   

Meat feed costs– in the last year– have increased 25-40%.

Into this, last year, GRV paid less of its income than it EVER had to help participants meet those costs.  Of $20m of over budget income last financial year, during a pandemic, it has paid none to participants.

That’s how much it shows it cares.     If you want this to change, you’ll have to change it with us.

Lynton Hogan, President  - Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association of Victoria, Inc

23 August 2021

After the announcement of Day of Action 2.0, otherwise occurring 22 July 2021, GOTBA Vic has been approached by the Office of Racing with a mediation proposal.

The mediation proposal has been accepted – a mediation expected to be up to 4 weeks will occur with GRV with the assistance of an independent mediator.

Our issues are familiar to you.  Members have received detail earlier in the week of precise matters, and the original call to action for 3 July is on this website. 

As a sign of the good faith in entering into this mediation, we believe that Day of Action 2.0 should be PAUSED. 

So, please nominate for Shepparton, Warrnambool, Warragul and Sandown 22 July 2021.

While mediation lasts, our comment on what is occurring in or around it will be limited.  

But be under no illusion, we remain 100% committed to real resolution and achieving what we all see as necessary, long-lasting change.

You will be promptly informed of outcomes from mediation and any next steps.

We remain humbled by the level of continuing support for collective participant progress and action – hold it - and we keep that firmly in our mind going into and coming out of any mediation.

A joint GRV - GOTBA Vic statement on mediation occurring is at this link - GOTBA GRV joint statement.pdf

Lynton Hogan

President – Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association of Victoria Inc

In June 2021, we called and you responded magnificently to a call for action on 3 July 2021 - GOTBA Victoria - CALL TO ACTION - SAFE RACING, FAIR TREATMENT, FAIR PAY - 3 July 2021

Members will have received an email today about developments since then.  Further action is needed unless there are significant developments.

So, 22 July 2021.  Day of Action 2.0.

Act together, get change!!!!

Make GRV listen and act

What we are asking YOU as a participant

On Thursday 22^nd July 2021 do not nominate your dogs to race for Shep (1/2 stake), Wgul (T3), Wbool (L2) Sdwn (L1).

Encourage others to do the same

On 3 July 2021, you made Victorian racing history with Day of Action 1. 

Change must happen on returns, participant fairness and safety.  We took YOUR issues to the GRV chief executive and Board.  GRV administration and the Board have not yet acted. 

Many have called for a Day of Action 2.0 to show your lack of confidence in GRV and give required change an even bigger push.  We agree.

The key issues remain…

PARTICIPANT RETURNS           CROSS CONTAMINANTS AND FAIR TREATMENT        TRACK SAFETY

but it is clear GRV has ongoing cultural issues where participants are aggressively put last.  That must stop. Make it.  If this requires immediate GRV management and board change to achieve, so be it.

On returns, did you know that in the year to 30 June 2021 GRV had $21 million more income than budgeted? 

That it returned NONE of that to participants, and paid the lowest % of its income to you this century?

A guaranteed 50% minimum return to participants would have resulted in more than $11m extra having been paid to you for 20-21.

WHAT WE EXPECT

Minimum commitments to change in writing, because the time for talk, buck passing and pushing off into the future is well gone.  Our demands in each of the key issues areas are public – see our website. 

Please feel free to contact any of the committee members for any questions you might have and please follow the GOTBA Vic Facebook page for updates.  Act together, get change!

Committee - GOTBA Vic

A thank you from the GOTBA Vic President

Today, 1 July 2021, is a landmark day in greyhound racing.  With courage, sacrifice and action, YOU have sent a powerful message that must be heard.

On Saturday 3 July, there will be no greyhound racing in Victoria.  The first time Victorian racing has been halted in this way.  YOU cared enough to say change must come right now and we will wait no longer for it. 

Treat participants fairly – our workplace, our homes, our greyhounds.  Invest in and improve the tracks we have.  Ensure, and commit to, fair pay.  Don’t spin, and especially don’t preference yourselves over participants.

Many said a race day strike could not be done – that small and large, hobby and professional could not work together, for each other, towards common goals.  Wrong.  And they could again if required.  Not least because the need for change, particularly regulator cultural change to have a sport where people feel valued, is just so strong.

We want a better future for you and the wonderful dogs we love. 

We are re-engaging with Greyhound Racing Victoria on actions that urgently need to be taken by it. 

We sincerely hope this will be a new beginning for GRV, embarrassed though it may be, and that from now on it approaches consultation and participant need with humility and action.  The arrogance seen in particular in the last fortnight, and that all participants have lived with for far longer, should dissolve.

You will hear more on progress on participant fairness, tracks and fair pay in the next little while.

To all Victorian participants, and our members especially (including the huge number of new ones), thank you. 

To my volunteer committee, on whom much strain has been placed, I am proud of your efforts.  But we are not yet done.

Lynton Hogan
President, GOTBA Vic

This evening we received a letter from Alan Clayton CEO of GRV regarding a meeting between 5 GOTBA representatives and GRV's Deputy Chair, CEO and Chair held on 22 June 2021.

GRV's letter has little to commend it, and will have no effect on impending action.

Here it is - 21.06.25 - GRV letter to GOTBA.pdf

We will reply to GRV. 

Committee

GOTBA Vic