How can prize-winning greyhounds become losers? That’s the $275,000 question. And that’s how much the 15 greyhounds killed on Australian tracks in February had won before their careers were tragically cut short.
The tracks
Victoria was the deadliest state for greyhounds in February, with seven greyhounds losing their lives for gambling “entertainment”. Special mention goes to Shepparton track which saw the deaths of 2 greyhounds in the one race.
NSW tracks killed four greyhounds while the other states killed a greyhound each.
The injuries
Most deadly injuries were leg fractures, often compound fractures of the radius and ulna. Compounded and comminuted fractures are excruciatingly painful.
Four-year-old Turn to Fab suffered a hind tarsal fracture and a dislocated hock.
Invictus Rising, who had won over $116,000 in prizemoney, had just won his 45th and last race when he suffered head trauma in the catching pen at Horsham VIC and was euthanised on the track.
Beg Pardon, another capturing pen fatality, was euthanised after suffering an “open compound fracture of the radius and ulna” at Albion Park, Queensland. The greyhound injury review panel is currently investigating this injury.
A third greyhound, Who Be This, in only his second race, in Mandurah, WA, was euthanised after suffering a comminuted radius/ulna fracture in the catching pen.
Collisions caused most injuries to other greyhounds and falls.
Bowlers Name, only two years old, was trampled during his 20th and last race and was euthanised for a tarsal (heel) fracture.
The greyhounds
Claretown Garry, Zoom Hilda and Starship Venus were just two years old and had 12 starts. Zoom Hilda’s career lasted less than two months. The career of Starship Venus lasted a mere six weeks with four starts.
Who Be This and Kiss Kiss was only 18 months old, a little older than pups.
Stack and Bad Boy Vegas were killed in the same race at Shepparton, Victoria. So, two greyhounds killed in a 6-dog race. Now that’s short odds, tragically.
Rest in peace
| Claretown Garry | Zoom Hilda | Turn To Fab |
| Estonia Crystal | Stack | Bad Boy Vegas |
| Beg Pardon | Bowler’s Name | Starship Venus |
| Who Be This | Rugged and Ready | Kiss Kiss |
| Bide Your Time | Irinka Susan | Invictus Rising |
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending greyhound racing as a terrible sport for dogs. CPG thinks people deserve to know the realities of greyhound racing because of its brutality, and those state governments should modify their rules addressing greyhound care.