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Dog Tales: Emma Johns

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Former press officer at the BGRB and organiser of the Great Greyhound Gathering gives us her views on the sport...

Describe your role within the greyhound world:

Until last Christmas I worked at the BGRB as press officer. I left after about five years - mainly because I wanted to have my ex-racer at home with me and the cat. So I set up my own business called Big Dog Media - well he is about 34 kilos! We do PR and media work for various businesses in Kent and all over the country. I still do some work in the sport including running the All Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group (APPGG) for the BGRB and this summer for a few months I organised the Great Greyhound Gathering - the first ever national show for the Retired Greyhound Trust.

How did you get into the sport?

I have always loved horseracing and used to read the Racing Post every day ... from the front. I have vague memories of watching the TV Trophy but growing up in Guernsey there was no dog track - just horseracing on the television every saturday afternoon. I trained as a journalist and worked on several newspapers and was working for the BBC in the South West when I saw the advertisement in the Post for the Press Officer job at the BGRB. I was looking to move on from Devon and applied for a job at Radio One in London. The same day I had an interview at the BGRB I looked round the BBC Radio One newsroom and I decided there was no competition. I now read the Racing Post from the back!

What has been your proudest moment?

It was fairly emotional seeing so many dogs and people turn up at Nottingham Racecourse for the Great Greyhound Gathering.

...and your lowest?

Watching Premier Fantasy break down in the semi-final of the 2004 Derby. I was sat just below connections on the first bend and it was an awful night and took the edge of that Derby for me.

Greyhound racing is better than horseracing because...

It is classless with no ring segregation - you can have a millionaire and the not so affluent stood shoulder-to-shoulder trying to get the same price on the terrace with no Tatts, Silver Ring or Members. You can take your dog home afterwards - it is a bit harder with a horse. Plus you can get much more involved. You can't turn up at a yard a take your horse out for a ride every Sunday. The dogs run for themselves and are not reliant on the urgings or tactics of a jockey.

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

Trust your instinct and don't change your mind just because your selection is unfancied. A dog doesn't know what price he is on the boards. Specialise - follow a certain type of Open dog or a few grades at your local track and do your homework if you really want to bet with any real authority. Follow dogs and get choosy - then bet bigger and less often and don't chase your losses!

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

It is just as important to recognise good owners than to encourage Joe Public. And free entry vouchers don't achieve much if once the people get inside a track there are not enough staff to take a bet or a drinks order and generally the place feels run down and unloved. Rather than just encouraging people to come along on beery birthdays or stag nights I would like to show them that the dogs are not just numbers. Responsible syndication schemes at each track would help with attendance levels as more people would be going more often to watch their dog run. It would also help alleviate the problem of too many trainers owning their own dogs. With a syndicate of more than five people you automatically improve the chances of one of the members either taking the dog themselves or knowing someone in their family or friends circle that could rehome the dog when he retires.

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

I don't know who was the greatest ever as it is hard to compare eras and I wasn't around to see for myself. Unfortunately, few of us ever get a dog good enough for the top kennels of Lister and Savva et. Also the best trainer is the one that suits your dog - whatever grade or track.

Who is your best mate within greyhound racing and why?

Cheryl Miller - former top trainer and now in charge of one of the most successful rehoming kennels for the Retired Greyhound Trust - Croftview Kennels at Meopham in Kent. Cheryl has been there for me personally and professionally.When I first started at the BGRB she was very generous with her time and would always do media interviews about the work of the RGT. Later she helped me so much when it came to bringing home my ex-racer and we don't live too far from each other.

Which is your favourite-ever dog and why?

It is hard to beat standing at Wimbledon and watching Westmead Hawk in action. Betting wise - I first noticed Malbay Nikita in the Scottish Derby in 2006 when he finished fourth. He moved down to be with Seamus Cahill for the English Derby. I had an ante-post bet and was gutted when he was out in the first round after finding all sorts of trouble. Malbay qualified for the Derby Plate final and I kept the faith and had a far too small a bet as he duly obliged at 14-1. He went on to win quite a few on the more minor Open scene with Darren Whitton and retired this summer.

Which is your favourite track and why?

I don't really have favourite tracks - just favourite memories of races at different tracks and that includes Wimbledon for the anticipation on the first round of the Derby each year. The Racing Post Festival at Walthamstow is always great and watching Droopys Corleone win his last race, the Festival Veterans, a few years ago is just one great memory there.

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

Ask questions and appreciate the dogs themselves. If anyone is involved in the industry away from the track then they should spend a day at a kennels to find out what it takes to train a dog ... and then a day at a rehoming kennels.

Do you ever read the Betfair forum?

I don't bet much but will sometimes have a look at the forum - it is interesting to see the early build up to the big competitions and read the opinions - who's backing who and why.

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

There is a very long way to go but if Charlie Lister is impressed with Farloe Reason then that is good enough for me at a decent ante-post price.

Emma is pictured above with Betfair's Steve Saward and her pet greyhound Whippy