Breeding Criteria: Floyd Amphlett's Scoring Chart

<p>The EXCELLENT book 'In The Blood', writen by Floyd Amphlett, contains a chapter on the sire and the dam.&nbsp; Within this he asks breeders to use his system for deciding whether or not a bitch is worth breeding from.&nbsp; The likes of the Dunphy brothers in Portlaw, as well as a number of top breeders, are on record as saying they use this system when deciding themselves.</p>

<p>There are 6 criteria that are looked at:</p>

<ol><li>The bitch as a racer - how good was she? 30/20pts: Top Class/Minor Open Class</li>

<li>The bitch's littermates. 25/10 each:Top Class/Minor Open Class</li>

<li>The bitch's dam as a racer. 20/10: Top Class/Minor Open Class</li>

<li>The bitch's dam's littermates. 15/5 each: Top Class/Minor Open Class</li>

<li>The bitch's dam's other litters. 25/10 per litter containing Top Class/Minor Open Class</li>

<li>The bitch's grand-dam's other litters. 15 per litter containing Top Class</li></ol>

<p>An adjustment of minus 20 each if the bitch was disqualified and/or is under 56lbs.</p>

<p>Floyd recommends a score of 50 before consideration and anything over 100 would be a very good proposition.</p>

<p>There are a number of contentious issues here straightaway, not least being mine or your definition of Top Class and Open Class.&nbsp; For example, is a 2889 at Limerick Open Class? In Ireland it is under the grading system as Open Class, and would probably pick up minor opens in the UK.&nbsp; </p>

<p>And what if a dog is A2/A1 but nicks the odd open. Is he Open Class?&nbsp; And if he wins just one open, and his comrades are poor, should his dam score points under criteria 5 as above?&nbsp; I'd say no.</p>

<p>When does an Open Class dog become Top Class?&nbsp; I would suggest when he contests Category 1 competitions(or equivalent) and is not outclassed.</p>

<p>The general theme of this system is brilliant for any novice coming into the game. At the end of the day it is a GUIDE and nothing more, and it is very useful for a breeder to get a pen and paper and face up to a few hard truths before he decides on a very expensive, time-consuming and important decision.&nbsp; There is no room for sentiment in the breeding paddocks.</p>

Comments

[Alan Coates]

One of the most vile aspects regarding greyhound racing is the number of pups that never make the grade as the majority will be killed. Figures for the following breeders make for interesting reading.

Litter entries received for Charles Pickering between 01 June 2005 – 31 May 2006 total 39 (38 identified in the Greyhound Stud Book index), and out of 198 pups born, just 90 reached the naming stage and only 46 (23%) are recorded racing (figures in the survey relating to ‘naming stage’ are based on information in Vol. 125 and all subsequent volumes of the Greyhound Stud Book that have been published).

All pups from 9 litter entries for Pickering that include a mating between Goahead Atlantic and El Premier - El Premier being the sire of the brood bitch, appear to have vanished. Pickering was the subject of an article in The Sunday Times (11 May, 2008) in which he was reported offering slow dogs to be killed for research.

Litter entries for breeder and trainer Ann McCarroll (attached to Newcastle) total 11, and out of 62 pups born, just 35 were named and 23 (37%) are recorded racing. One of the brood bitches - Agile Milly - was, along with other greyhounds, later rescued after the animals were booked-in at Marske Vets Ltd to be euthanased.

And just 9 (16%) of 55 pups from 11 litter entries for Ian Taylor are recorded racing. Pups named total 34 of which 18, curiously, are recorded under Pickering.

[Johnny Moyles]

I cant comment on any of those figures except to say that there will always be greyhounds not making the tracks for various reasons.

For example if you take my litter out of Bantiss Slimline by Droopys Maldini.

She whelped a decent size litter but at present only 4 have 'survived' at the tender age of nine months.

A couple were weak and died at a few days old, one bitch was found to have a faulty intestinal system where her reproductive and bowel functions where the one and she could not pass excrement for herself (a rare condition), she was put to sleep at 6 or 7 weeks. Another pup (Enzo RIP) ran into another pup in the garden at 10 or 12 weeks of age and suffered a fractured skull - a freak accident that could happen to any dog of any breed.

Another litter I have bred the dogs were fine but the bitches wont chase the lure- that rules 44% of the litter out from racing. These bitches are in my garden awaiting a home on the Italian Riviera ;)

[martin]

Alan
The majority of Greyhound owners, trainers are animal lovers, but without a shadow of a doubt, some of your points are valid and most of us, have wrestled with our conscience over the years by being involved in the sport.
I think we can only do our best with our own dogs, attitudes have improved significantly in recent years, and tomorrow will continue to be a better day than today for the retired, injured greyhound.

[Johnny Moyles]

great point Martin

[Johnny Moyles]

I should point out the bitches that wouldnt chase are not the ones I am selling LOL