12 more on-track deaths in February 2025

The image shows Rogue Choice falling after a collision and suffering a fractured leg.  Just a pup at 23 months of age, Rogue Choice was killed by the on-track industry vet. The race video has not been uploaded.

Twelve greyhounds were killed racing in February with ten killed by the industry vets after their race. One poor greyhound simply collapsed and died after his race in the catching pen, raced to death. Another one fell and slammed into the outside fence and lay dead on the track.

Six greyhounds died on Queensland tracks and Ipswich was Australia’s deadliest track, killing four greyhounds on the day of their injuries. At least a further twelve greyhounds were killed in the days following race injuries away from the tracks and away from public scrutiny. Five of these were injured at the Ipswich track. It was a short month but long on greyhound deaths.

Two year old Rev Michael was running in race 8 at Mt Gambier in SA on 6 February when he was one of four greyhounds who were checked, and he “lost ground”. The race video shows him pulling up, his mouth gaping open in agony. The race commentator remarks it was “striking bother mid race”. Rev Michael had suffered a fractured radius and ulna. He was the heaviest greyhound in his race and had been forced to race 58 times. Rev Michael was killed by the on-track industry vet soon after his race.

The same day at Ipswich, Queensland, two year old Goes Like Gary ran 3^rd in race 12 before falling at 64km/hr just past the finishing line on his way to the catching pen. He too was the heaviest greyhound in his race and he sustained a “near fore” injury. The stewards reports from Ipswich track are always vague when reporting injuries and this was no exception. His fall has been edited out of the race video by Racing Queensland. Goes Like Gary was killed by the on-track industry vet.

On 10 February at Albion Park, Queensland, Rogue Choice was severely checked and fell in race 3. He suffered an off side radius and ulna fracture. The race video has not been uploaded. Just a pup at 23 months of age, Rogue Choice was killed by the on-track industry vet.

The next day in WA at Mandurah track two-year-old Defibrillator collapsed and died in the catching pen after race 7. He had collided with several other greyhounds throughout the race. Racing and Wagering Western Australia announced an inquiry into his death as well as an autopsy. Will the results be made public?

Back in Queensland on 13 February, two-year-old Mandalay fell at the home turn in race 2 at Ipswich. She suffered an injury to her “near side fore” and was killed by the on-track industry vet. The race video, again, has not been uploaded at the time of writing.

The very next day back at Mandurah in Western Australia, three-year-old Prom Queen Fun “stumbled and shifted wide” in race 3. She fell and collided with the outside fence. Prom Queen Fun was pronounced dead where she lay on the track. She was the second greyhound in three days to be killed racing at Mandurah. The stewards have ordered an autopsy and an inquiry into her death. Prom Queen Fun likely died as a result of blunt force trauma when she hit the fence. She had been forced to race 68 times.

Oprah Bale, not yet three, fractured his right radius and ulna in race 13 at Shepparton, Victoria on 17 February. He was checked at a turn and pulled up. The race video shows him trying to slow down, his mouth open in agony and tail spinning frantically as he careens off to the outside of the track. Oprah Bale was killed by the on-track industry vet. Oprah Bale’s trainer is married to a fellow participant who was embroiled in a doping charge several years ago where he claimed he took “speed”, urinated, then allowed another trainer’s greyhound to lick his hand, thereby ingesting a prohibited substance.

The same day at Albion Park, Queensland, little Kerb Stone Cool, the smallest greyhound in her race at less than 24 kg, fell at a turn in race 2. She suffered a “catastrophic” off side foreleg fracture. The fall appears to have been edited out of the race video. Kerb Stone Cool was killed by the on-track industry vet after her race. She had only raced 9 times and was heartbreakingly young, turning 20 months of age on the day she was killed.

On February 19 two-year-old Pugsley fell on a turn in race 10 at Ballarat, Victoria.  He suffered a fractured right radius and ulna. His fall is recorded on the race video. The race commentator can be heard exclaiming “down and out Pugsley” as the race continued. Pugsley was killed by the on-track industry vet.

Veteran greyhound Pikelet Spirit suffered a “nearside fore” injury at Ipswich in race 11 on 23 February. She can be seen falling in the race video yet she gamely runs on, trailing the field. She was killed by the industry vet after this, her 59^th race. Pikelet Spirit was almost four. She had been raced just three days previously.

Two year old Saint Nifty was the favourite in race 9 at Horsham, Victoria, on 25 February. Just a few seconds into the race he can be seen suddenly trying to pull up, his mouth gaping in agony and his tail furiously helicoptering as he attempts to slow down. Saint Nifty had suffered an excruciating comminuted fracture to his right hock. The on-track industry vet killed him soon after and the track was inspected by stewards who deemed it “suitable for racing”.

On 27 February,  Bankrupt Betty was severely checked heading into the home straight in race 8 at Ipswich Queensland. She fell and suffered a compound foreleg fracture. The race video has been edited to remove her fall. Bankrupt Betty was killed by the on-track industry vet. Bankrupt Betty was two and a half years old and had been raced thirteen times. She was the fourth greyhound to be killed at Ipswich in three weeks.