Malcolm Tams dedicated 49 years of his life to greyhound racing.
The 67-year-old from Blackwood was introduced to the sport at the age of 18 by his uncle, who always had racing dogs when Malcolm was growing up. From that moment on, Malcolm was hooked and his love for animals led him to pursue a career in the automobile industry.
His wish came true when he decided to replace the Valleys Greyhounds in 2008 and the stadium was refurbished to include a fully licensed bar, lounge, TV monitors for watching the races and a panoramic view. And Malcolm is now passing on his knowledge of the sport to his older children.
Concerns are rising about what will happen to existing research dogs due to the greyhound racing ban.
Valleys Greyhounds in Hengoed is the last greyhound track in Wales and Malcolm is at the forefront of efforts to save the sport despite vocal opposition from animal rescue charities.
There is debate in Senedd as to whether greyhound racing should be banned altogether due to welfare concerns. This comes after Hope Rescue launched a petition to ban the sport in Wales entirely after they said they had rescued around 200 dogs from the ring since April 2018. The petition gathered over 35,000 signatures and Sened ruled on Wednesday On Thursday, March 8th, a thorough consultation should be made.
(Image: Richard Swingler)
Malcolm believes his rink provides a unique place for people to not only enjoy the sport and bet on the dogs, but also a place to meet and socialize with a friendly family and lively atmosphere. Malcolm said, “When people come here, it’s women, children, men and people from all backgrounds.
“We have signs that clearly say ‘no profanity’. Our goal is family fun and we have CCTV around the track. But greyhounds like it too, because during competition they do what they were born to do. to do.
“We have signs that clearly say ‘no profanity’. Our goal is family fun and we have CCTV around the track. But greyhounds like it too, because during competition they do what they were born to do. to do”.
Malcolm’s next big step is to ensure that the Valleys greyhounds can be regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) and, in line with the GBGB’s 200+ racing rules, all greyhounds will be carefully monitored and supported throughout your life.
(Image: Richard Swingler)
According to Malcolm, there have been a few key moments over the years that have caught the attention of staff and viewers alike, including when the first greyhound won at the facility in 1976. A dog known as “The Boss” completed the 310-yard course. in 19.20 seconds on July 20, 1976.
But not everything was always easy in this business. They were forced to close due to the 2020 floods after the Rhymney River burst its banks, but people were determined not to let this have a detrimental effect, and greyhound owners and supporters have donated their time and money to help rebuild the track. and repaint the track. to accompany. Stadium.
And while Malcolm has big plans for the site, there’s a big question mark over whether greyhound racing has a future in Wales at the moment, with opposition so outspoken that it’s gaining some political momentum. But whatever happens, in Malcolm’s eyes, greyhound racing cannot be banned at this point.
“It’s not just that greyhound racing is a big part of Wales’ history, it’s a big part of the whole story,” he noted, considering the role the track has played in society.
Malcolm launched a Senedd petition in support of greyhound racing in Wales, which reached 10,000 signatures on Easter Monday following its launch on 22 February 2023. With the petition closing months in August, it is rapidly gaining momentum . support since launch and reached its goal in just over six weeks.
Now that Malcolm has reached the 10,000 signature threshold, his own petition will also be considered for full debate on Senedd. Malcolm has no plans to give up anytime soon, and he also believes the sport provides an invaluable experience for the people of the region.

(Image: Wales Online)
The new development will also include a new veterinary room and a new arbitration room. The changes they’ve made so far have been in effect for about a year now.
Malcom said: “The kennels will be air-conditioned and will accommodate 120 greyhounds. All of them will be monitored by cameras, and all dogs will have a litter where they can lie down before the race and cool off afterwards. below
“The most important thing in terms of pre- and post-race welfare checks is to make sure they can be easily checked by the vet.”
Currently, greyhounds are picked up by grooms right after the race. New installations will allow them to settle somewhere later instead of leaving right away.

(Image: Richard Swingler)
And in its current form, as many as 150 people can come to watch races at the track. But once they’re done, Malcom said, the venue will have a capacity of 400 to 500 people.
But while the new improvements looked promising, I also wanted to know what the expansion would really mean for dogs during walks. As stated in the original petition initiated by Hope Rescue, this could mean dogs being run over up to four times a week, potentially increasing the risk of injury.
Addressing animal activists’ concerns about the sport, Malcolm said: “Dogs only run if they want to. If the greyhound does not participate in the race, then nothing will help him.
“Loves them”.

(Image: Richard Swingler)
When we reached the trails that activists had flagged as particularly dangerous, Malcolm explained that he had done everything he could to make them safe. He said: “People say the corner is the most dangerous, but there are much more dangerous places on the UK circuit.

(Image: Richard Swingler)
“Have you ever seen a dog die on the tracks?” I asked him. “Yes,” he replied.
“It’s unpleasant if something gets hurt. I witnessed a dog die here about 20 years ago after he brought a very good greyhound from London, he came around this bend, went five laps to the front, broke his back and dropped dead.

(Image: Richard Swingler)
“Have you ever run or played any sport? The same goes for the greyhound.
“You always get hurt sometimes, but that doesn’t stop people from going out and taking chances. They might have cramps, they might have everything, but they don’t have jockeys on their backs or anything like that.
“I have always loved a dog. I have been in greyhounds for 50 years. We love greyhounds.
“I love to see a dog walk down the track and break the record, but the most important thing is when they come out safely, get into their kennels and wag their tails – they love people.”

(Image: Richard Swingler)

(Image: Richard Swingler)
Walking around, it was clear that the track offers a unique space where people meet and socialize. The bar and clubhouse extended to one side of the track where patrons could sit together with a clear view of where the dogs ran.
But it was hard to forget how some people feel about welfare issues related to racing dogs or any other animal. Reflecting on why activists want to ban the sport, Malcolm said: “If they are going to ban greyhound racing, they have to ban horse racing as well. This will not happen.

(Image: Richard Swingler)

(Image: Richard Swingler)
“They told us that this is what the people want, they want the expansion to take place within the plans that were drawn up for the place”.
A spokesman for Caerphilly Council said: “Three planning applications – two new applications for kennels and club extension and a new application to convert an on-site building into kennels – are currently in the early stages of the determination process and will be determined .. appropriately, following the normal planning process.’
and the rest of the world?
The sport is legal in only nine other countries in the world, but even in those countries people are opposed to the issue. On 3 August 2021, SAFE and the New Zealand Greyhound Protection League delivered 37,700 signatures on a petition to ban greyhound racing in Aotearoa.
South Africa has also passed legislation to ban greyhound racing in all of its provinces, and greyhound racing is also now banned in 41 US states, leaving just 19 greyhounds in the entire US, across six states. : Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and West Virginia.
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Source: Wales Online

John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.