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Dog Tales: Dave Haywood

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Betfair Forumite, dog lover and one of the team at thedogsarethestars gives his take on the sport...

Describe your role within the greyhound world...

To pay the bills I punt on the BAGS meetings at Monmore Green and make a book 'without the favourite' at the night meetings. The majority of my time now I'm actually handling dogs, working with my fiancé Kirsten Turner and the rest of our team at ..thedogsarethestars.. Racing Kennels, our graded dogs race at Perry Barr.

How did you get into the sport?

I was doing A levels, completely skint and needed some part time work, saw in the local paper a job at Monmore Green. I'd been racing a few times there with an uncle, applied and got the job. I was a paddock steward and that is where it really all started. As a complete novice, to see such animals up close was just a privilege, I remember being simply amazed by their raw speed, athletic ability and consistency on the track but it was up close when I got to see glimpses of their individual characters and work attitude that really inspired me. I went back to Monmore during holidays from university as track staff or in the paddock again. Got my degree but by then I knew all I wanted to do was work with the dogs, so went to work for the Monmore trainer Martin Burt. I've have been in the game full time ever since in a variety of jobs back through the years from lugging the traps off and scooping the parade poo to assistant racing manager.

What has been your proudest moment?

Panther Patrol winning a race at Hall Green on Sky Sports was a very special night, I was a gibbering mess of a man for about two hours after that race.

...and your lowest?

Having to have Takeaway Magic put to sleep (bone cancer), Magic had already retired and was living in the house with us as a pet and deserved plenty more years taking up the majority of the bed. The severity of the prognosis made the right decision easier to make but still broke my heart. He was a dog in an absolute billion.

Greyhound racing is better than horseracing because...

Simple!! Thedogsarethestars !!

What are the three most important factors to consider before backing a dog?

1. Where all the dogs in the race are going to be or at least try and be on their way to and round the first corner.

If you want to show profit at the end of the year rather than the end of the night.

2. Stake.

3. Price. Do not assume that the prices on course, from the firms or on Betfair are correct. It is more a question of how wrong are they. It's all about opinions baby!

What must the sport do to attract more investment and interest from Joe Public?

Facilities, atmosphere, image and cost are obviously important in getting people to the track in the first place. It's lots of little things to enhance the experience of the night dog racing for the newcomers.

In my experience people who really love going to the track and attend regularly get excited by the racing, they respect and even admire the actual dogs. Its seems these days the dog racing almost goes on in the background at most tracks. Perhaps only a small step but in the right direction, let's make more of a spectacle of the actual racing and of course thedogsarethestars. Bring the dogs 'closer' to their audience. Maybe make a much bigger deal of the pre race parade and walk every winner back down the home straight.

Who is the best trainer around at the moment? And who is the greatest ever?

(Excluding my better half, obviously so I can sleep safe at night.) Nick Savva and Nick Savva.

Who is your best mate within greyhound racing and why?

Keith Safe, we have been going dog racing together since we were both pups and seen some real ups and plenty downs. Best mate, good judge, knows what he is looking at when he sees a dog on and off the track. I would never buy a dog without first asking his opinion. Shame he is such an unlucky ****** really... lol! Oh he is also the person I phone when DIY stuff needs doing round the kennels.

Which is your favourite-ever dog and why?

That's just too hard! But next Christmas I would like a dog that ... All at their best ... Takes his first 6 strides out the boxes like Ballymac Charley, accelerates to the corner like Barnfield On Air, drives and races through the corners like Panther Patrol, goes down the back like Clash Harmonica and has the track craft and finish of Westmead Hawk.

What one piece of advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?

Don't try to run before you can walk, in all aspects of the game dip your toe in to see if you like the water before diving in head first. Enjoy the 'highs' as you will get at least your fair share of 'lows'.

Do you ever read the Betfair forum?

Yes. I use the forum name Magical Feast, the name came from a beautiful black dog, one of my favourites in the time I worked for Martin. Hidden away amongst the masses are some very shrewd and knowledgeable people who still post occasionally and there is nothing wrong with some light hearted banter and a wind up or two. As the forum contains such a large spectrum of people it is also interesting to see how some perceive the sport. I do not like some of the negativity but then everyone likes a good moan from time to time, I just wish people would try and be more constructive on occasion.

And finally give us a tip for next year's Derby...

Not actually a tip as you couldn't play at the price. The most likely winner of next years Derby is Barnfield On Air.

* I would very much like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the people who helped Kirst and myself through my recent period of ill health, I am not going to name check people as I would be here all day but to those people (they know who they are), a very humble ... THANK YOU !