Degree of outside input vital to future of greyhound racing

Last Sunday night’s Produce Stakes final was a good example of why a degree of outside input is crucial to the future of the greyhound racing, if it’s going to make any appeal to punters.

The night itself was good: as one might expect, the crowd didn’t compare with years gone by, when it required hard work and intent to get from the stand to the bookmakers tent, but it was very good by more recent standards.

Insofar as such a thing exists when animals are racing, the final of the Produce Stakes looked something of a formality, with Amazing Dude expected to successfully complete his unbeaten run through the stake. He’s a real talent, and that was reflected in the odds as short as 1-5 with the off-course bookmakers.