15 greyhounds killed on-track in October 2024

9The image shows 19-month-old Alabama Jammer who suffered a fractured leg at Sandown, VIC on 31 October 2024. His mouth is open in agony as he tries to get up, only to fall back onto the track. Alabama Jammer will be killed by the on-track vet.

Greyhound racing killed 15 dogs on tracks Australia-wide in October 2024. Over a horror five day period, seven greyhounds lost their lives racing.

At least 19 more greyhounds were killed in the day or two following their race injuries, away from the track and away from public scrutiny. Six greyhounds had raced fewer than eight times. Two greyhounds had been forced to race nearly 230 times between them. Four greyhounds died following spine or neck fractures.

Mandurah track in Western Australia continues its horrific record as the deadliest greyhound track in Australia. As at the end of October, track deaths across Australia are more than 15% higher than for the same period last year.

Swift Vodka, nearly three, was running in race 12 at Ballarat Victoria on October 2 when she “faltered and tailed off”. She is seen in the race video gamely running on, trailing the rest of the field. Swift Vodka had fractured her right hock. She was killed by the on track vet soon after. Stewards inspected the track after the race and deemed it “suitable for racing”.

The same day at Rockhampton track in Queensland, Kashiwagi, not yet two, was running in his first race when he was “checked on the first turn”. He collided heavily with the fence, then regained his footing before trying to run back towards the field. Kashiwagi then collapsed on the track. There is no race video available. He had suffered a “neck injury”, which could mean anything from a fractured vertebra to an open gash and torn artery. The race was declared a “no race”. Kashiwagi was killed by the industry vet at the track. His ‘career’ had last mere seconds.

On October 4, Jolene Bale, four years old, was running in a “masters” race in the ‘Coonamble $10,000 Carnival’ held each year over the October long weekend. She collided with another greyhound and fell on the home turn. Jolene Bale had suffered excruciating compound fractures to both her front legs. The race video shows her falling at speed in full view of children trackside. Jolene Bale had been raced 120 times in Victoria before being passed to her new NSW-based trainer and had raced only four days previously. She was killed by the industry vet at the track.

Two greyhounds were killed on October 6. Disaster Piece, a veteran of over 100 races at the age of 4½ , fell at the 300m mark in race 6 at Capalaba track in Queensland. His fall has been edited out of the race video. Disaster Piece had suffered a “back injury”. The industry vet killed him soon after.

Paw Pierre, just a puppy at 21 months old, was the favourite in race 8 at Sale, Victoria when he was “galloped on turning off the back straight” and fell. He fractured his right radius and ulna (both foreleg bones). The race video shows him tumbling over at speed. Paw Pierre was killed by the on-track vet. Poor Paw Pierre. The track was inspected by stewards after this race and deemed “suitable for racing”.

Still in Victoria on October 15, Gossips “faltered and subsequently fell” in race 4 at Healesville track. He had fractured his left radius and ulna. The race video shows him falling then getting to his feet unsteadily and standing still on the track waiting for help. Gossips was killed by the industry vet at the track. It was his third birthday. The track was inspected after the race and deemed “suitable for racing”.

The next five days saw the on track deaths of seven greyhounds.

On October 21, again in Victoria at Ballarat, three-year-old That’s Rare ran a distant last before collapsing after her race. The stewards report states she suffered from an “internal haemorrhage”. She was bleeding out and yet she had kept running, as she was conditioned to do. That’s Rare was killed by the on-track vet after her 65^th race. 

The same day, Wilann’s Way, a veteran at 4½  years old, fell on the first turn in race 2 at Launceston, Tasmania. There was no need for the on-track vet to euthanase him because he was already dead. He had broken his neck when he fell at speed. Wilann’s Way had been forced to race 75 times by the trainer considered by TasRacing to be its “top trainer”. There is no race video available.

Ferocious Levi, three, was the favourite in race 1 at Angle Park in South Australia on October 22. He was checked on the back straight turn and “lost ground”. The race video shows the moment his back leg fractured. He skids along the track in a sitting position trying to slow down.  Ferocious Levi was killed trackside after the race. He had race six times.

Two-year-old Figs Magee was running in race 5 at Mandurah track in Western Australia on October 23 when he collided with another greyhound on the first turn and fell. He “failed to finish”. His fall is captured by the race video and shows him somersaulting along the track. Figs Magee had fractured his right hock. He was killed by the industry vet.

Three greyhounds were killed racing on October 25. Just two days after the death of Figs Magee, three-year-old Acing Kuna broke BOTH her front legs in race 7 at Mandurah. Her heels were “galloped on”  in the back straight and she fell, failing to finish. She fell at such speed that she swiftly disappears from view in the race video. It was Acing Kuna’s 40^th race. She was killed by the on course vet.

Velocity Jelisa, not yet two, was running in only her 5^th race at Townsville, Queensland when she was checked at the first turn and fell. She “failed to finish”. Velocity Jelisa had suffered a “right wrist injury” and was killed by the on track vet soon after. The race video is “unavailable”.

Riverina Rebel had just turned two the day before his race at Wagga NSW. A few seconds into the race he fell under the inside running rail. The race video is horrific viewing. It shows him falling under the rail and then he is deathly still, one leg visibly sticking up from beneath the rail, lifeless. Riverina Rebel had sustained a foreleg fracture as well as a “broken neck”. He was killed by the industry vet. Riverina Rebel had raced only four times.

Pistol Grip, 22 months old, was severely checked and fell on the back turn in race 8 on October 30 at Albion Park Queensland. She had suffered a “catastrophic” fracture to her nearside radius and ulna. The race video appears not have been uploaded by Racing Queensland. Pistol Grip was killed by the on-track vet. It was her sixth race.

On October 31 Alabama Jammer, just a puppy at 19 months old, was severely checked at the second turn at Sandown, Victoria. He fell and could not finish. The race commentator describes his fall as “a tumble”. The race video shows his mouth open in agony as he tries to pull up. He somersaults with his tail flailing, tries to get up but falls back onto the track. Alabama Jammer had suffered a right humerus fracture. He was killed by the on-track vet.