Hello Readers!
It is with great pleasure that I thank your editors for the chance to speak with you through my upcoming column, “On With The Show.” Over the years, I’ve met many people in Greyhound racing. While many of them have been trainers, track managers, and other Greyhound owners, the overwhelming majority have been Greyhound racing fans. I find that most of these fans want to know as much as they can about their favorite Greyhound athletes and I can certainly understand why!
One of the things people like about Greyhound racing is that it’s a sport where nobody calls the shots except the dogs themselves. Think about it: A sport where nobody is telling the dog what to do. A sport completely up to the skill of the athlete! Where else can you find such independence? Better yet, where else can you find such entertainment.
The Greyhound racing industry is undergoing powerful changes. Last night, alone, I attended a meeting for GRA/America (The Greyhound Racing Association of America) unveiling its sweeping plan for iding the dog, n my Collie kennel is that it was started in 1945. Actually, it started before that, but I have, in our kennel files, a sales receipt dated July 8, 1945, when the first Collie puppy was bought for our Lochranza Kennels. Yes, I know there is a Lochranza in England which started somewhere around the same time. But, I believe they specialize in Poodles and Spaniels. Ours is one of the oldest AKC registered kennels in the United States. And it is in its second generation of management.
I look at those of us in the dog show community as business people and I take our dog-related investments seriously. Because I understand how important our kennels, bloodlines, sport and dogs are to us, and how deeply we want our efforts to continue long after we are gone, I believe our kennels must be profitable. No show dog and no kennel in this world can live without someone taking care of it. These are changing times when jobs are not secure and the value of our money is not guaranteed. The price of oil and many other things are going up and affecting us in many ways. If a dog or a whole kennel depends on the week to week paycheck of its owner, then that dog or kennel is vulnerable. But, if it is self-supporting, it will take care of the one who is responsible for it. And we will look for ways to do that in this column.
We are the stewards of a growing sport that has generated significant industries and has taken its place on the world stage. The development of our kennels, breeding programs and show campaigns are all matters of importance to us, as well as to the future of our sport, and I will deal with many of these issues, from a business point of view.
This column isn’t just about dog shows, it’s also about living today as a member of the dog show community. In my writings and talks, I always say animal lovers are the most sentimental and romantic people in the world. I do believe that. And I believe they should be treasured.
I am here for your letters, too. And, I’ll try to answer a few of your letters each time. Love and romance are things I’m always asked about, probably because of my life as an artist. I guess they think artists know about such things. Or, maybe, they think I’ve lived so long I must surely know a few secrets! Competition is something else on our minds, and good sportsmanship is something we need advice about, too, every once in a while. If you think I might be able to help on these things, write to this column in care of the editors.
Until next time, I will be watching out for us in these troubled and challenging times. Don’t be afraid. Love your dogs. And let’s get “On With The Show!”