Greyhound Racing Ban Implementation Group meeting: 28 November 2025
Summary of the Greyhound Racing Ban Implementation Group meeting held on 28 November 2025.
A PDF download of this document will be available soon.
In this page
Attendees
Members present
Dr Emily Blackwell (Chair) - Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Bristol Veterinary School
Dr Sam Gaines – RSPCA & Cut the Chase Coalition
Dr Sarah Carr – Veterinary surgeon
Katie Bennison – Valley Greyhound Stadium
Richard Brankley – SIS Ltd representative
Scott Fryer – Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Vanessa Waddon – Hope Rescue & Cut the Chase Coalition
Allan Dallimore – Caerphilly County Borough Council
Secretariat
Caitlin Doyle – Welsh Government Official
Welsh Government support
Kate Frawley – Senior Policy Lead
Wendy Westlake – Deputy Bill Manager
1. Welcome and apologies
1.1 Dr Emily Blackwell welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1.2 Professor Tim Parkin and Gareth Walters sent their apologies.
2. Agreement of minutes and actions from previous meeting
2.1 Minutes from the last meeting were reviewed and approved. No amendments were required.
2.2 Dr Blackwell issued a reminder to the group to complete Action 1 from the previous meeting (to submit requested evidence to the Priorities document). Action carried forward as Action 1.
2.3 Action 2 for Dr Blackwell share the draft questionnaire for trainers with the Group has been completed. The questionnaire is currently with the University Ethics team for approval before being distributed.
2.4 Action 3 for Vanessa Waddon to submit an eligibility template for greyhounds raced at Valley has been completed.
2.5 Action 4 for Dr Blackwell to issue questions to Katie Bennison has been completed. Katie Bennison has responded to these questions.
2.6 Action 5 for Katie Bennison to provide an estimate of capacity figures for Valley has been partially completed – race day figure estimates have been received, however Katie Bennison is awaiting confirmation of venue capacity for the clubhouse at Valley.
2.7 Action 6 is underway – a draft of the report will be shared late December 2025/early January 2026.
2.8 Action 7 was completed.
3. Progress on actions and priorities
3.1 There was further discussion on key priorities for the Group, including:
- social impact
- cultural impact
- economic impact on local area
- welfare of dogs
- enforcement
Social impact
3.2 Katie Bennison provided estimated attendance figures for race meets at Valley – Richard Brankley stated impact should not be limited to just those who attend the track in person (i.e. should include online viewers and social media followers).
3.3 Scott Fryer asked if online viewing figures for SIS could be broken down to Wales-specific figures – Richard Brankley will investigate this.
3.4 The Group has also asked for reach statistics of social media posts from Valley.
Action 2 – Richard Brankley to investigate demographic of SIS online viewing figures.
Action 3 – Katie Bennison to provide reach statistics of social media posts from Valley.
3.5 Sarah Carr suggested it may be useful to invite those from Valley who would be directly affected by a ban to come and speak to the Group on their views. The Group will consider this further in future meetings.
Cultural impact
3.6 No points were raised under cultural impact.
Economic impact
3.7 In response to questions provided by Dr Blackwell, Katie Bennison has provided a spreadsheet with a breakdown of staff at Valley (i.e. full/part-time). Dr Blackwell has asked if Katie can clarify which staff are employed by Valley or who are self-employed on the spreadsheet.
3.8 Action 4 – Katie Bennison to clarify which staff are self-employed or directly employed by Valley on the staffing spreadsheet.
3.9 It was acknowledged there may also be an indirect impact on food suppliers, however this impact is unknown at this time.
3.10 Katie Bennison is content for the staff impacts spreadsheet to be shared with the rest of the Group. Dr Blackwell will share this with the Group.
Action 5 – Dr Blackwell to share staffing spreadsheet with rest of the Group.
3.11 Dr Blackwell asked Katie Bennison about the Dragonbet sponsorship contract. Katie will add this information to the Priorities document.
Action 6 – Katie Bennison to add Dragonbet sponsorship details to the Priorities document.
3.12 Allan Dallimore suggested Valley commission external consultants to carry out an in-depth economic impact analysis to help the Group to understand the ripple effect of a ban. Katie Bennison stated this is something she would be willing to undertake. Allan Dallimore will send contact details of consultants who may be able to help take this forward to Katie.
3.13 Richard Brankley suggested this is something that should be funded by the Welsh Government (WG). This will be taken forward as a recommendation in the Group’s report.
3.14 Kate Frawley provided an update on the ReAct training funded by WG. It was suggested the best way to reach trainers and staff at Valley is through Group representatives.
Action 7 – WG officials to explore available WG-funded employment support and provide more detail to Valley on what is available to affected staff and eligibility criteria.
Welfare of dogs
3.15 Scott Fryer will circulate a note on behalf of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on rehoming of the greyhounds from Valley.
Action 8 - Scott Fryer to circulate a note on rehoming on behalf of Battersea.
3.16 Cut the Chase Coalition (CTCC) has written to Dr Blackwell to state their preference would be a phased approach to a ban to allow for a reasonable rehoming strategy. Their recommendations also include a cut-off date for registration in Wales.
3.17 CTCC stated coalition members will not seek financial assistance from WG. They also recommended the GBGB bond is extended to all rehoming organisations.
3.18 Richard Brankley shared his opposition to a cut-off date for registrations as racing will remain legal until a ban comes into force. Katie Bennison reinforced that a cut-off would be difficult to monitor, as greyhounds are not registered to a specific track.
3.19 It was highlighted that a coming into force date will be key for trainers at Valley to consider next steps.
3.20 The Group ran out of time during the meeting, so Welfare of Dogs will be continued at the next meeting on 11 December.
Enforcement
3.21 This point was not reached during the meeting. It will be picked up at the 11 December meeting.
4. Autumn report
4.1 Dr Blackwell provided a brief update that a draft of the report will be circulated to the Group during December, with the intention of submitting to WG at the end of December 2025/early January 2026.
4.2 This point will be picked up in more detail at the meeting on 11 December.
5. Any other business
5.1 The December meeting will go ahead and will cover Welfare of Dogs and the Autumn Report in more detail.
5.2 Richard Brankley stated the Deputy First Minister (DFM) visited Valley Stadium on 21 November. He, Katie Bennison and staff at Valley appreciated the opportunity to talk with the DFM on why regulation would be a better course than a prohibition.
5.3 Dr Gaines shared her disappoint that the invitation for the Implementation Group to attend with the DFM was withdrawn. Katie Bennison stated the invitation to the IG to attend separately still stands, and a visit will be organised in the New Year.
Action 9 – Katie Bennison to share dates with WG officials for an IG group visit to Valley in the new year.
Actions log
Action 1
Allocated to all
All to submit requested evidence onto the Priorities document on Objective Connect.
Action 2
Allocated to Richard Brankley
Richard Brankley to investigate demographic of SIS online viewing figures.
Action 3
Allocated to Katie Bennison
Katie Bennison to provide reach statistics of social media posts from Valley.
Action 4
Allocated to Katie Bennison
Katie Bennison to clarify which staff are self-employed or directly employed by Valley on the staffing spreadsheet.
Action 5
Allocated to Dr Blackwell
Dr Blackwell to share staffing spreadsheet with rest of the Group.
Action 6
Allocated to Katie Bennison Katie Bennison to add Dragonbet sponsorship details to the Priorities document.
Action 7
Allocated to WG officials
WG officials to explore available WG-funded employment support and provide more detail to Valley.
Action 8
Allocated to Scott Fryer
Scott Fryer to circulate a note on rehoming on behalf of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Action 9
Allocated to Katie Bennison
Katie Bennison to share dates with WG officials for an IG group visit to Valley in the new year.