Premier Greyhound Racing appoints former GBGB boss Lord Lipsey as chairman

Premier Greyhound Racing -a recently-launched joint venture between sports betting and gaming giant Entain and racing group Arena Racing Company- has appointed working peer and former Chair of Greyhound Board of Great Britain Lord Lipsey as Chairman.

“Lord Lipsey brings a vast and varied experience both in and outside of the greyhound racing and betting industries, which will prove vital in unlocking the potential of the sport through the platform we will provide it with in Premier Greyhound Racing,” commented Richard Lang, Director of Commercial retail at Entain.

The joint venture, which was first unveiled last December, is described by the companies as “the global home of greyhound racing entertainment.” It is set to deliver racing experiences to audiences across all channels, support standards of welfare and integrity, and offer stability for the long-term future of the sport.

Premier Greyhound Racing aims “to provide the best quality, sustainable British greyhound racing for betting operators” and their customers around the world. It aims to deliver a market-leading product that promotes the sport as a betting medium to drive revenues, thus revitalizing the sport, which has seen a marked decline in markets such as the US.

News: ARC and @EntainGroup to launch Premier Greyhound Racing, along with:

📌Significant boost to the open race programme in 2022.
📌Support for greyhound welfare research projects.

Read more - https://t.co/N69BGWKfY8 pic.twitter.com/Ldr55e8Mw3

— ARC (@arenaracingco) December 1, 2021

The company represents the interests of a total of 14 of Britain’s 20 official and regulated greyhound racing tracks. Starting January 2024, the business will offer a comprehensive package of racing both to digital and retail betting operators from the nine Arena Racing Company and Entain stadia, along with five independent tracks.

Lord David Lipsey, a greyhound racing enthusiast for nearly half a century and a racing greyhounds owner, is now returning to this sport following his four-year term as Chair of the then-named British Greyhound Racing Board (now Greyhound Board of Great Britain), between 2004 and 2008. He has also owned several racing greyhounds.

“Lord Lipsey is a lifelong supporter and advocate of greyhounds, the sport and its stakeholders and shares our commitment to invest in and raise welfare, integrity and racing standards,” added Lang. “We look forward to working with Lord Lipsey to ensure British greyhound racing flourishes and enjoys a sustainable future, remaining a core product our customers enjoy.”

Lipsey was also a trustee of the Greyhound Trust, and negotiated a deal between Greyhound Racing and bookmakers after a call from Sports Minister Tracey Crouch about five years ago. His efforts helped reach a £2 million ($2.5 million) a year boost to the sport’s finances, by securing contributions to the voluntary greyhound levy scheme from digital operators.

The greyhound racing expert, who is currently a member of the board of horseracing’s Starting Price Regulatory Commission, brings a wide-ranging set of chairing and directorship experiences to the newly-announced role. These span entertainment, regulatory affairs, betting and racing.

“As an owner, and a supporter of greyhound racing, I am taking a part-time professional role within the sport I love. I look forward to representing it and its stakeholders to improve welfare, safeguard integrity and raise competition standards to industry-leading levels,” commented Lord Lipsey. “Greyhound racing remains a hugely popular British tradition- on the latest figures the sixth-biggest spectator sport, welcoming millions of enthusiasts through its doors.”

“Under the leadership of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, it has established itself as both a great night out for younger audiences and fast-moving and absorbing off-course, digital entertainment,” he added. “Premier Greyhound Racing believes that it has a huge potential both as a sport and a betting market, offering stakeholders a sustainable and commercially valuable product in the long term.”

The appointment was also applauded by Mark Bird, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, who welcomed the news not only for Lord Lipsey’s “obvious industry knowledge, insight and experience,” but also for his welfare credentials.

“Having worked with him previously as part of the negotiations for an increase in the voluntary levy, I am delighted that he has taken up this position with a commitment to greyhound welfare,” said Bird.