7 greyhounds killed on-track in November 2024

The image shows two-year-old Knighted Storm falling and suffering a broken neck at Wentworth Park on 14 November. He was killed by the industry vet after the race.
 

The number of greyhounds killed on track dipped slightly in November 2024 but in a disturbing trend at least 18 more greyhounds were killed in the days following their race injuries.

Over a two day period of 14-15 November a total of six greyhounds suffered fractures that either saw them killed on the track or killed in the days following their injuries. Dogs killed away from the tracks are not counted as “track deaths” according to the racing industry’s statistics. Race videos of the horrific injuries continue to be edited or not uploaded as the racing industry censors what the public can see.

On 1 November, poor Victa Jade, two-and-a-half, was running in her 55th race at Gawler SA when she fractured her humerus. The distressing race video shows her running awkwardly on her broken leg then collapsing on the track near the finishing post. Her screams of agony can be heard over the race commentary. Victa Jade had also dislocated her right elbow. She was killed by the on track vet.

Knighted Storm, just two years old, was running in race six at Wentworth Park, NSW’s deadliest track in 2024, when he collided with another greyhound and fell. He had suffered a broken neck. His tragic fall has been edited out of the official race video. Knighted Storm had been raced four times in twelve days in the lead up to his final life ending race on 14 November. He was killed by the industry vet after his race.

The next day in Ipswich, Queensland, two-and-a-half year old Run Pebbles Run broke down on the home turn in race eight. The video shows her falter and lose ground, running awkwardly on what the stewards report describes as an “off side hind” injury. Run Pebbles Run was killed by the industry vet after her race.

On 21 November at Warragul Victoria (Australia’s deadliest state for greyhounds) Braemar Audrey, who had turned four a few days earlier, collapsed in the catching pen after running last in her 56th race. She died where she lay. The video of the race is “not available”.

Little Poppet, at 26kg the smallest greyhound in race 13 at Ballarat on 25 November, fell at the first turn following a collision. She suffered a right humerus fracture. She is shown in the race video flipping over and falling heavily. Little Poppet “failed to complete the course” according to the commentator. She was killed by the industry vet soon after. Little Poppet was three-and-a-half and had been forced to race 64 times.

The same day in Rockhampton Queensland, race favourite Crosshairs was leading when he broke down on the second turn in race 9. He had suffered an “offside leg” injury. That part of the race video has been edited out. Crosshairs was killed not long after by the on-track industry vet. Crosshairs was just two years old.

The next day in Geelong Victoria, Reiko Blue, just a puppy, was killed after his 26 day “career” of 3 starts when he was “dragged down and fell” in race 2. The race video shows him being checked suddenly, mouth gaping, then he hits the track and disappears from view. Reiko Blue suffered fractures in both his front legs, a broken fibula in his right foreleg and a radius fracture in his left foreleg. The industry vet killed him the day he turned 19 months old.

The greyhounds who "don't count" as track deaths

The scandal is that at least eighteen more greyhounds were killed  following race injuries sustained in November. They don’t count as track deaths but should be. The following greyhounds all suffered fractures racing and all but one were given a 90 day stand down period, ostensibly to be treated and rehabilitated. All are now listed in the Fasttrack database as “retired (deceased)”.

On 3 November Where Is Warren fractured his near side wrist at Albion Park Queensland. He was three years old. The next day, at the same track, Royal Warren fractured his off side hind. He was about to turn three. Both greyhounds were owned by the same trainer.

On November 5 Impress Canelo injured his right hind tarsus. It was either dislocated or fractured, according to the stewards report from Mandurah track in Western Australia. The race video shows him trailing the rest of the field by at least 50 lengths. He was three. He is now listed as “retired(deceased)”.

At Ballarat, Victoria, on 7 November twenty-three-month-old puppy Goes Unpunished fractured her left hock. She had raced only six times. She is now dead.

At Ipswich Queensland, on 9 November, not one but two greyhounds broke their hocks in separate races. Rusa Range and Spring Tino, both two years old, are both now listed as “retired (deceased)” in Fasttrack.

At Gunnedah NSW, two-year-old Revived fractured his off side hock on 13 November. He was killed away from the track in the days following his injury.

The next day, 14 November, at Wentworth Park NSW, Zipping Snape, two, broke his off side hock. Another greyhound Forever Spirit also fractured her hock at the same race meet. She is listed as “retired” but Zipping Snape is listed as “retired(deceased)”. And still on November 14, four-year-old Jay Jay Lopez fractured her left hock running in her 101st race at Warragul Victoria. She is now listed as “retired (deceased)”.

On 15 November at Sandown Victoria two-year-old Paris Bale fractured her left radius and ulna. She is now dead. The same day in Wagga NSW, Life’s A Party, two, broke her off side hock. She too is now dead.

The next day at the Meadows Victoria two-year-old Kingsley Bale fractured his right hock. Despite being given a 90-day standdown period he is now listed as “retired(deceased)”.

On 19 November Gemma’s Right, who had just turned three, fractured her right hock racing at Launceston in Tasmania. She was killed away from the track in the days following her injury.

Back at the Meadows Victoria, on 22 November, Paw Crafter, not yet two, broke her right radius and ulna. She is now dead.

Paw Crafter, Paris Bale and Kingsley Bale shared the same owner.

Still in Victoria on 25 November at Shepparton Victoria, three-year-old Kabuto Bale suffered a fractured right hock. He is now dead.

The next day at Gosford NSW Right Move, two, broke her hock. She is now listed as “retired(deceased)” in the database.

On November 28 at Albion Park Queensland four-year-old Lederhosen Boy fractured his near side hock. Despite having won his connections nearly $100,000 he was killed away from the track a few days after his last race that he “did not finish”.

The greyhounds (killed at track only)

Youngest to die

Reiko Blue

19 months

Oldest to die

Braemar Audrey

48 months

Average age at death

 

32 months

Least number of starts

Reiko Blue

3 starts

Most number of starts

Little Poppet

64 starts

Total starts all deaths

277 starts

Average starts per death

39 starts

Note there were 175 starts by just three greyhounds

Least amount winnings

Reiko Blue

$335

Most amount winnings

Knighted Storm

$21,840

Total winnings all deaths

$65,077

Average winnings per death

$9,297

Note the three greyhounds with the greatest number of starts between them (175) won a total of $20,715 which is $118 won per start on average.

Injuries (there may be more than one per death)

Humerus

2

“offside leg/hind”

2

Fibula

1

Radius

1

Neck

1

Elbow dislocation

1

Collapse, die

1

Where the greyhounds suffered injury

Catching pen

1

Home straight

2

Back straight turn

1

First turn

1

Second turn

1

Home turn

1

The deadly tracks

Victoria   3
  Ballarat 1
Geelong 1
Warragul 1
Queensland   2
Ipswich 1
Rockhampton 1
South Australia   1
Gawler 1
New South Wales   1
Wentworth Park 1

RIP - we will remember you

1/11

Victa Jayde

29 months

Gawler

SA

14/11

Knighted Storm

25 months

Wentworth Park

NSW

15/11

Run Pebbles Run

33 months

Ipswich

QLD

21/11

Braemar Audrey

48 months

Warragul

VIC

25/11

Little Poppet

45 months

Ballarat

VIC

25/11

Crosshairs

26 months

Rockhampton

QLD

26/11

Reiko Blue

19 months

Geelong

VIC