Greyhound racing deaths in August 2024

The image shows two-year-old Marlee Grey who suffered a fractured leg at Angle Park, SA on 5 August. She will be taken to the on-track vet who will kill her.  Marlee Grey’s  “career” consisted of three races in two weeks and the race video showing her tragic death has been censored.

Twelve young greyhounds lost their lives on Australian tracks in August 2024. Ten were killed by industry on-track vets while a further two died in the catching pen post-race.

One young dog Don’t Think Do won his race before suffering a broken back in the pen. Agland Shenzi collapsed and died after her race, a victim of the extreme forces suffered by greyhounds on the racing track. This month’s deaths highlight the lack of transparency as race videos continue to be censored, the fallacy that straight tracks are safer for greyhounds and the “hidden” off-track deaths.

Two-year-old Scotty’s Stacey fell following a collision on the home straight at Sandown, Victoria, on 4 August. She suffered a “fulminating injury” to her right shoulder “and its structures”. In other words a catastrophic injury, shattering her shoulder. According to the stewards’ report, following her fall another greyhound ran back the wrong way. Race 9 was declared a “no race” as a result but it was too late for Scotty’s Stacey who was killed by the on-track vet soon after. The race video is “not available”.

The next day, 5 August, two greyhounds were killed racing at Angle Park in South Australia, within one hour. Two-year-old Ripper Rose was the race favourite in race 4 when he fell, fracturing his right ulna and radius. The race caller can be heard in the video commenting Ripper Rose was “absolutely poleaxed”. Ripper Rose “failed to finish” and was killed by the on course vet after the race. A mere three races later, in the ironically named “We Love Our Dogs” stakes, two-year-old Marlee Grey was checked on the home straight and fell, fracturing her right hock. The race video is “unavailable”.  Marlee Grey’s “career” had consisted of three races in just two weeks. The on-track vet killed her shortly after her last race.

Be Beth, just a puppy at 20 months, was running in her very first race at Northam in Western Australia on 8 August. She collided with other greyhounds at the first turn, fell and “failed to finish”. Be Beth had fractured her left radius and ulna. Her “career” lasted mere seconds. The race video is once again “unavailable”. Be Beth was killed by the on-track vet.

Still in Western Australia, at Mandurah on 13 August, veteran greyhound Darryl Keeping fell at the first turn in race 8. He suffered a right elbow fracture and “failed to finish”. His fall can be seen on the race video. It was his 50^th and last race. Darryl Keeping was killed by the on-track vet.

Two days later, again in Western Australia at Northam, on 15 August, Free Styler, a pup of just 21 months, collided with other runners a few seconds into race 3. He hit the inside rail and fell, suffering a “severe open right tibia and fibula fracture”. He is seen in the race video falling and a race attendant scrambling over the fence to reach him before the field comes around again and tramples him. It was Free Styler’s third only race but his “career” and life were over. The on-track vet killed him after the race.

The next day, 16 August at Warragul in Victoria, Don’t Think Do won race 1 before an “incident” in the catching pen resulted in him breaking his spine. He died in the catching pen. It was Don’t Think Do’s 4^th race. He was only 21 months old.

On 19 August at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, 22-month-old Agland Shenzi collapsed and died after race 9. She had been raced just three days previously. She was surely too young to have been raced to death.

Two-year-old Hero fell in race 2 at Darwin in the Northern Territory, on 19 August. The race video shows his fall as he skids and flounders on the track before getting to his feet and limping after the field. Heroic indeed as he had suffered an excruciating comminuted radius and ulna fracture. A comminuted fracture is one where the bone breaks in more than one place. The on-track vet killed Hero soon after. He had been raced 28 times for a paltry $2,560 in winnings.

On 14 August, three-year-old Minty Box was running in race 3 at Murray Bridge straight track. This meet was South Australia’s showcase of the National Straight Track championships. Minty Box suffered a “severe humerus fracture” in the catching pen following his race, the “Greyhounds As Pets” race. Minty Box never got the chance to be anybody’s pet as the on-track vet killed him after this, his 59^th race. Greyhound Racing South Australia once more censored the race video.

Call Me Artie was running for his life in race 6 at Warrnambool, Victoria, on 29 August when he was “severely checked” and fell at the back straight turn. He had fractured his right radius and ulna. The race video shows him somersaulting. Despite his broken leg, Call Me Artie got up and continued to run after the field. It was his 26^th race. He was killed by the on-course vet soon after.

The next day on 30 August, still in Victoria at Bendigo, young pup Slick Nick, just 20 months old was “severely checked” and fell approaching the home turn in race 2. The race video shows him flipping over helplessly and attempting to get to his feet. He is seen in the background standing and turning around, mouth open in agony, looking for help. Slick Nick had fractured his right radius and ulna. The on track vet killed him not long after. Slick Nick had a short seven week “career”. The track was inspected after the race and deemed “suitable for racing”.