Four out of the ten greyhounds killed racing in January 2023 suffered their fatal injuries in the catching pen at the end of their race.
Victorian tracks were responsible for six deaths, while NSW tracks killed a further four greyhounds.
The first greyhound to die in 2023 was High Profiler whose final deadly race was the Sportsbet “We Let the Dogs Out” (or should that be “We Let the Dogs Die”?) race at Sale track in Victoria on Jan 2. High Profiler actually came 2nd in the race but an “incident in the catching pen” ended his career and his life with a hock fracture. He was killed by the on-track vet soon after. High Profiler had won nearly $23,000 for his owner/trainer during his 56-start career but his life was still deemed expendable.
The next greyhound to die on a Victorian track was Nicko Ed at Shepparton on Jan 19. Nicko Ed’s career lasted a short 2 weeks before he fractured his right femur or thigh bone following a collision on the home turn. He could not finish the race. Nicko Ed was not yet 2 years old.
Four greyhounds were killed racing in Victoria in just three days. On Jan 27, Invictus Stella suffered a “suspected spinal cord injury” at Healesville track. She was just 3 years old and had been raced 42 times. The same day at Bendigo track, Major Bandit, a 4-year old veteran of 64 races, broke down on the home turn with a fractured humerus. He was killed by the on-track vet.
The next day, Jan 28, The Meadows track claimed the life of 2 ½ year-old Poppy’s Pride. She hit the rail on the first turn and fell heavily, fracturing her foreleg in two places. Poppy’s Pride had won her owner over $26,000 and she could have been rehabilitated and retired for breeding or even as a pet, but her owner and/or trainer opted to have her killed by the on-track vet.
And the very next day, January 29, at Warragul track, petite girl Hot Fudge, not yet 2 years old, fell at the home turn, fracturing her foreleg. It was her 12th and last race. Hot Fudge was euthanised shortly after.
Of the four greyhounds killed on NSW tracks in January, three met their deaths as a result of “incidents in the catching pen”.
Our Boy Rocky, just 2 years old, suffered an excruciating comminuted compound fracture to his tibia and fibula at Grafton track on January 3. This young greyhound had been raced 5 times in a 13-day period in October 2022. He was put out of his agony by the on-track vet.
On January 11 at Wentworth Park, 2-year old Refreshment fell at the first turn. He was trampled by the other greyhounds and “failed to finish” due to multiple compound fractures of his foreleg. It was his 9th start and he had won exactly $0 for his owner/trainer. He was killed by the on-track vet.
Proving so-called “safe” straight tracks are still deadly for greyhounds, 2-year old Handsome Alert suffered multiple compound fractures following a collision in the catching pen at Richmond straight track.
On January 21, the ironically named Peter Pan, just 20 months and racing at The Gardens for his 4th and final time, suffered a compound fracture of his foreleg following “an incident in the catching pen”. Peter Pan’s career had lasted a mere 17 days. The stewards’ report coldly states “euthanasia administered”. Peter Pan had won a mere $350.
The Statistics
Victoria 6 deaths
NSW 4 deaths
Oldest killed 48 months Major Bandit
Youngest killed 20 months Peter Pan
Average age 29 ½ months
Most starts 64 Major Bandit
Fewest starts 3 Nicko Ed
Average no. starts 27
Total no. starts 272
Smallest prizemoney $0 Refreshment
Biggest prizemoney $26,275 Poppy’s Pride
Average prizemoney $7,998
Total prizemoney $79,980
Injuries Hock 1
Femur 1
Spine 1
Tibia/fibula 1
Humerus 1
“Foreleg” 1
Radius/ulna 4
Where Catching Pen 4
First turn 2
Home turn 3
Other 1
RIP. We will remember them.
2/1 High Profiler 38m Sale Victoria
3/1 Our Boy Rocky 26m Grafton NSW
11/1 Refreshment 25m Wentworth Park NSW
14/1 Handsome Alert 25m Richmond NSW
19/1 Nicko Ed 23m Shepparton Victoria
21/1 Peter Pan 20m The Gardens NSW
27/1 Invictus Stella 37m Healesville Victoria
27/1 Major Bandit 48m Bendigo Victoria
28/1 Poppy’s Pride 30m The Meadows Victoria
29/1 Hot Fudge 23m Warragul Victoria