THE move to ban greyhound racing in Wales, prompted by a petition to the Senedd, which garnered 35,000 signatures, has created a considerable stir among those involved in the industry, but also within horse racing circles, with obvious questions to be asked about whether this decision represents the thin end of a wedge, which could threaten both sports in the UK and Ireland. Given the limited nature of greyhound racing in Wales – there is only one venue compared to three for horse racing – many will see this as nothing more than sabre-rattling from the animal rights lobby against a supine government, but the implications are clear, even if the prospect of further legislation in the UK and/or Ireland is likely to be some way down the road.

Those who seek a ban on greyhound racing would extend that desire to any other sporting pursuit, in which animals are participants and that is horse racing writ large. Their views tend to be absolute and the idea of appeasing them has long been shown to be ineffective. They tend to demonise the sport and its participants, and the temptation is for those who support the participation of animals in sport to paint their opponents as crackpots and extremists. This approach, which merely drags both parties though the mud, is not beneficial, whatever the individual justification might be.