That’s the dire forecast of Bob Whitelaw, Metropolitan and Country Dog Handlers and Trainers Association spokesman, who says greyhound trainers deserve a fairer share of TAB profits returned to the greyhound, thoroughbred and harness racing codes.

Under the 99 year agreement signed in 1998, greyhound racing receives 13.2 per cent of profits, while harness (16.2 per cent) and thoroughbred racing (70 per cent) receive significantly more.

Since 1998 greyhound racing turnover has increased considerably (21 per cent), while harness and thoroughbred racing has dropped, yet the distribution of TAB funds has remained the same.

Whitelaw said clubs like Maitland would struggle to survive without increases to help trainers pay for costs of running greyhounds and called on the state government to implement sections of the 2009 Cameron Report in the greyhound industry.

“We’re losing trainers hand over fist,” Whitelaw said.

“Maitland, Cessnock and Newcastle are the hub of greyhound racing; they’re the biggest breeders in Australia.

“It’s the smaller places like Maitland that will go first; if there’s no money then people can’t afford to race. The cost of racing greyhounds; feeding them, training them, travelling – the prizemoney doesn’t cover it.”

Greyhound trainers attended a rally at Cessnock on Saturday, lobbying the NSW government and TAB in the hope of challenging the agreement.

“We had a fantastic response; there were almost 200 people there as well as the rally at Doyalson,” Whitelaw said.

“We are operating under the Our Fair Share banner and are hoping to challenge the agreement signed in 1998.

“While we acknowledge that it is a binding contract, it isn’t fair.

“We have a briefing with our barristers on Wednesday in Sydney, we’ve raised $20,000 so far to help our cause and if we have to go to the high court so be it.

Maitland Greyhound Club sponsorship and promotions manager Fred Robertson was critical of Racing Minister George Souris, who he accused of backtracking on a promise to look into the distribution of funds before his election in 2011.

“I was one of the people with Bobby [Whitelaw] who approached the minister in opposition at the time George Souris and he did specifically say he would look into the distribution,” Robertson said.

“There are a lot of people who are unhappy with the distribution and I whole heartedly support them, all they want is their fair share.

“The TAB and Sky Channel are profiting more than the trainers.”

Racing Minister George Souris said the agreement was binding between the codes and he was not in a position to make changes.

“As I have said on a number of occasions, the Racing Distribution Agreement of 1998 is a private and binding agreement between the three NSW codes of racing,” Souris said.

“It includes provision for review and the resolution of disputes.

“It is not the practice of any government to interfere or override such a private agreement.

“It is a matter for the parties to resolve in accordance with the terms of the agreement that they signed.”