The death of a greyhound on the Maitland track last night is the 28th NSW race track fatality this year, say greyhound welfare advocates.
The total is based on information revealed to NSW Parliament by the greyhound racing regulator, Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC).
According to the Maitland stewards report for 14 September 2026, three-year-old Diva Ethics fell in Race 9 and suffered a fractured humerus, and was euthanased.
Greyhound Racing NSW has removed the Race 9 race video from its website.
In August, GWIC provided NSW Parliament with a list of total mortalities reported by participants in FY25-26, with 1,007 dead greyhounds recorded.
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds has analysed the data and found 24 greyhounds died Jan-Jun 2026 due to “race track injury”, with more recent GWIC stewards reports showing four more on-track deaths (see attached).
The Maitland track was targeted for closure in the GRNSW rationalisation plan, as it was ranked 17th in the Deloitte Report. However, Muswellbrook, ranked 5th, was closed instead.
The Drake Inquiry into NSW Greyhound Racing found that no NSW track met minimum safety standards. GRNSW has said that Taree now meets minimum standards, but the track recorded the highest number of injuries among Australian tracks in August.
Stewards reports show a total of 2,422 injuries on NSW tracks so far in 2026, the highest state total in Australia.
A CPG spokesperson said:
“GWIC data reveals an appalling death toll on NSW race tracks. 28 greyhounds have so far died in race track incidents this year.
Diva Ethics is now just another statistic, another young greyhound to lose her life on an unsafe track.
The Maitland track doesn’t meet minimum standards and racing shouldn’t be happening.
Maitland was upgraded with $75,400 of taxpayer-funding for a so-called safety upgrade in 2021 but still doesn’t meet minimum standards.
Reform of NSW greyhound racing has failed. Greyhounds are still dying on unsafe tracks. The state government has to start planning for the phase-out of the industry and prepare participants for its eventual end. It no longer has public support.”
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GWIC list of 1,007 deceased greyhounds:
Maitland stewards report: