Quick, tidy the house, we’re having visitors...

The IGB has announced a change to procedures at Shelbourne Park and part of the amendment will allow a stewards’ enquiry to be called if a greyhound performs above or below his level by a significant amount.

In the case of a raced greyhound finding half a second, it will be within the control of the stewards to call an enquiry and implement a 30-day rule. Conversely, runners that fail to run to their level may be subjected to ‘satisfaction’ trials.

As an enthusiast and punter and one lucky enough to be able to make a fraction of my living from the game, I wholeheartedly welcome the change. But I’ve got some questions.

These alterations to the rules are being implemented because of the recent deal with SIS to provide live pictures from the track — pictures which will be beamed all over the world.

So there it is: Tidy the house, we’re having visitors.

I don’t think there are many people who will oppose the introduction of such measures but it begs the question: why weren’t such measures implemented in the past? Was it okay for greyhounds to find untold improvement or underperform inexplicably when the world wasn’t watching?

Was it okay for those regular punters and Tote players who supported the track up to this point to have such performances go unquestioned in the past? Are the changes for the good of the sport or just an effort to start papering over the cracks now that the eyes of the world are upon us?

How strictly will they be applied? Are the changes going to be industry-wide or just for Shelbourne?

Will the changes require a fresh re-grading of the tracks? If a dog comes from another track to make his Shelbourne debut will he be allowed a greater improvement or forgiven a heavier defeat for his lack of experience of the circuit?

I could go through an untold number of examples of the inconsistency in the grading of the tracks around the country, and while I accept that it’s a particularly difficult discipline to police, a more rigid system must be in place if the Shelbourne changes are to be implemented properly.

Or will we come to a case where all runners at Shelbourne will have to have an official trial at the track before racing there?

I don’t want to get down on what is generally a positive move for the industry and one that could serve to enhance the integrity of the sport, but it’s just a pity that it reeks of bringing out the best china for the visitors. I just hope it won’t be returned to the dresser once the visitors leave.