(20 December 2023) New data from the greyhound racing regulator has shown an alarming rise in greyhound injuries and underlined the failure of taxpayer-funded safety initiatives, say animal welfare advocates.
In its Injury Report for the July-September 2023 quarter, industry regulator Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) reveals that most serious injury categories are the highest on record.
Key points include:
- A total of 1062 greyhound injuries and 8 deaths recorded in the quarter
- 232 injuries were in the most serious category (Category D)
- Four deaths were on-track, three dogs were killed off-track, one killed at a trial
- The most serious injury categories were the highest on record:
- Category C (medium injuries: 14-21 day stand downs)
- Category D (most serious injuries: 28-90 day stand downs)
- Category F (Category E deaths plus most serious Category D)
- Category G (Categories A-C and less serious Category D)
- Of serious injuries, 65% occurred on turns, while 63% were attributed to race events such as collisions
- In comparing quarters, GWIC said it is “exploring potential reasons for the observed increases in injury rates.”
- On long term trends, GWIC said it is “exploring potential reasons for the observed increase in injury in the last 18 months.”
Analysis of stewards’ reports by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds shows there have been 4067 injuries in NSW greyhound races this year to 18 December, compared to 3674 injuries for the whole of 2022. Serious injuries have increased 36%.
Since 2017 NSW state governments have committed $30 million to a track safety upgrade program that advocates say has failed and urgently needs independent review.
In September 2023 Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Robert Macaulay said that animal welfare had improved due to “the great job being done by industry and participants in building better tracks and infrastructure and running with fitter, better greyhounds.”
Among the new “safety initiatives”, three dogs have been killed in races using a new double-arm lure, while 12 dogs have been killed under the Greyhound Care Scheme, introduced on 1 July 2023.
42 dogs have died racing on NSW tracks in 2023, making it by far Australia’s deadliest state. More dogs have died off-track and in trials.
A spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds said:
“Thousands of greyhounds have been injured and dozens killed on NSW racetracks this year.
After millions of taxpayer dollars, after a range of so-called safety initiatives, dogs are still regularly killed and maimed while racing.
GWIC is alarmed and confused by the increasing rates of the most serious injuries. In the last five quarters of injury reports, GWIC says it is always ‘exploring’ the reasons for the increases. That’s a lot of exploring from GWIC, and a lot of dying from greyhounds.
The racing industry has ignored its own research that tracks with turns are inherently dangerous, but GRNSW refuses to close down curved tracks and transition to straight tracks.
The Race Injury Review Panel refuses to acknowledge the inherent danger of racetracks and blames the dogs themselves. The panel said no track factors were involved in major incidents, but blamed the greyhounds for collisions or poor racing form.
It’s wrong that GRNSW has responsibility for track safety infrastructure and not GWIC. It’s not working and the dogs are paying with their lives. There must be an independent review of the track upgrade program.
Both Labor and LNP state governments are cheerleaders for animal racing, but their support is killing dogs and promoting social problems such as gambling addiction and suicide.
Greyhound racing in Australia must end. The recent South Australian government inquiry revealed the horrors of racing, another live baiting case has rocked Victoria, and now the NSW regulator has shown that tracks will always kill and maim.”
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GWIC Injury Report July-Sept 2023: https://www.gwic.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1215388/FINAL-2023-Jul-Sep-Injury-Report-APPROVED.pdf