6 greyhounds killed on-track in December 2024

The image shows Kraken Turbo being checked at the first turn. He collides with another greyhound and they both slam into the fence. Kraken Turbo suffered fractures to his leg and wrist and was killed by the industry on-track vet.

The number of greyhounds who were killed racing in Australia tragically increased in 2024. And while “only” six dogs lost their lives at the track in December at least a further eight were killed in the days following their track injuries, mainly from fractured legs.

Minnie Rocks ran third in race 11 at the Healesville track in Victoria on 8 December. She survived her race but suffered “an incident in the catching pen” and suffered a fractured left hock. She was killed by the industry on-track vet soon after. Minnie Rocks was two years old and had raced 12 times.

On 10 December three-year-old Kraken Turbo was running in race 7 at the Horsham track, again in Victoria. The stewards report states he was “severely checked” and fell at the first turn. The race video shows him being checked and losing his balance, he collides with another greyhound and they both careen across the track at high speed, legs flailing, and slam into the outside fence. Kraken Turbo suffered a right radius and ulna fracture as well as a left wrist fracture. The industry on-track vet killed him not long after his 71^st race.  At the same meet, another greyhound, Tinker Pete, collapsed after race 5 and was given a 28 day stand-down period. Tinker Pete is now listed as “retired(deceased)” in the FastTrack industry database.

The next day at the Rockhampton track in Queensland, two-year-old Add Sprinkles was one of two greyhounds who fell in race 10. She was the smallest greyhound in her race, weighing just 25.5kg. The race video shows her falling hard in the back straight and somersaulting along the track. The race caller can be heard exclaiming there is “all sorts of trouble” and “plenty of drama” as the race continues. Add Sprinkles gets to her feet and stands waiting for help. She had suffered a “significant injury to (her) right front leg” after racing only 11 times. Add Sprinkles was killed by the industry on-track vet. According to the stewards report, a post-race sample was taken from her, presumably while she was still alive and in agony. Usually only the winners are required to give samples (urine) post-race.

Still in Queensland on 14 December at the Ipswich track, Khatanga Tex, just turned three, was checked “multiple times” leaving the first turn in race 9. He had been raced just three days earlier in a 395 metre race but this race was much longer, at 520 metres. Race 9 was his fourth race in just 11 days. The video shows him trying to pull up, mouth gaping in pain. Khatanga Tex had suffered an “offside hindleg injury” and he was killed by the industry on-track vet  soon after his 51^st race.

Two-year-old Calais Magic was running in race 10 at Angle Park, South Australia, on 19 December. He was checked heading into the first turn and ran last. After the race he was found to have suffered a ruptured femoral artery. The race video shows him being checked and yet he then continues to run on, as he was conditioned to do, all the while bleeding out internally from his torn artery. Calais Magic was the heaviest greyhound in his race at 34.3 kg. He was killed by the industry on-track vet after the race.

Three-year-old Alien Force was trialling at the Hobart track in Tasmania on 31 December following a stand-down period due to injury. According to the Tasmania Office of Racing Integrity he collapsed after his trial and could not be revived. A post-mortem revealed he had died of a massive internal haemorrhage as a result of a ruptured blood vessel. Alien Force had been forced to run 41 times.