Name: Chris Page

Age: 53

Current Position/Interest in the sport: Self‐employed greyhound consultant.
 

Background in the sport (if different to current interest/position):
- Owner 1977–83.
- Racing Manager 1983–2008 (Walthamstow).
- General Manager 2008–10 (Harlow).

Local Track: Romford

Favourite Track: Walthamstow 

How did you get involved & how long have you been involved in greyhound racing:
At University (Durham), visited Gosforth and Brough Park.
Bought my first greyhound with Ted Dickson at Slough in 1977.
Joined Walthamstow in April 1983 and have been involved ever since (34 years).

Favourite dog: Ballyregan Bob

Current dogs owned (if any): Would love to own one but have always felt that an involvement in the running/managing of a track means your integrity could be seen to be damaged if you have an involvement in a greyhound.

Best moment in Greyhound Racing:
From a management point of view, organising The Racing Post Festival and Injured Jockeys Fund meetings.

From a racing perspective the race Scurlogue Champ ran in at Walthamstow, 9,000 spectators who went from silence, to booing to stunned disbelief and then a crescendo of cheering‐real hairs standing on the back of your neck stuff!

How can greyhound racing be improved and what, in your opinion, are its main problems: 
There must be a better return for the owner, not just financially but in terms of the whole owning experience. There must be a better standard of living earnt by trainers/kennel staff. There must be a better experience given to the spectator.

Why did you join GOBATA: To try to help achieve the above by using my experience gained over the last 30 years to reward practitioners and not 'fleece' them as has been the case recently.