March 2023: three greyhounds drop dead, seven more euthanised for injuries

Three greyhounds collapsed and died on Australian tracks in March, two of them owned and trained by men with disqualifications for prohibited substances. A further seven greyhounds were killed by on-track vets in NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania. Half the deaths were on NSW tracks.

The first day of March saw the first greyhound death at Taree in NSW. Kingsbrae Flow, just three years old, had her heels galloped on and fell at the first turn. It was her first race since September 2022 at The Gardens track, where she had been (unusually) swabbed pre-race. She had then been “spelled” for 5 ½ months. Kingsbrae Flow suffered a compound fracture of her wrist and was killed by the on-track vet. It was her 24th race.

The next day another regional NSW track, Maitland, killed 2 ½ year-old Keep It Short, who was returning to race after a 75 day spell. He collided with other runners at the first turn and was trampled on, fracturing his hind leg in several places. He could not finish and was killed by the on-course vet. Keep It Short had won 6 of his 10 races for his connections but was not worth saving.

On March 7, petite 3 year old girl Ten Dollar Slaps died a few seconds into her 62nd race at Horsham track in Victoria. She collided with the running rail at the first turn, snapping her spine and both front legs, a violent death caught on the race video. She had won her connections over $37,000.

March 10 at Goulburn NSW saw the killing of not quite four year old Mobile Doll May. Following a collision on the home turn, she was “galloped on” and fell. She suffered a compound fracture of her radius and a complete dislocation of her wrist. It was her 49th and last start.

In Cannington track, WA, poor Pauline Keeping finished her race on March 15th but suffered an open fracture of her right ulna and radius after a collision post race. The on-track vet killed her shortly after. It was her 30th race.

Warragul track in Victoria saw the tragic death of Max Nipper who ran last in his 46th race, collapsed outside the catching pen, and was pronounced deceased soon after. Interestingly, the very next day in a hearing before Greyhound Racing Victoria , Max Nipper’s trainer pleaded guilty to administering a “prohibited substance” to the greyhound back in May 2022. Max Nipper had won his trainer over $15,000.

The last four days of March killed a greyhound each day.

On March 28 in Launceston Tasmania, Family Tradition, a mere puppy of 21 months ended his short 5-week career tragically when he fell on the home turn. He suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula (hindleg). He was killed by the on-track vet. Family Tradition had won exactly $0.

Zoe’s Charm pulled up through the first turn at Richmond track NSW on March 29. She failed to finish her race having broken her hock in several places. It was her 44th race. Zoe’s Charm was not yet three.

The next day at Dapto NSW veteran Winlock Lad collapsed and died just after his 108th race. Cause of death was suspected “post exercise distress syndrome”. Winlock Lad had been raced four times in 12 days in the lead up to his death. Hopefully the autopsy will shed more light on his death. It is worth noting that his trainer had been found guilty of doping another of his greyhounds with a cocktail of methamphetamines last year.

On March 31 at The Gardens NSW three year old Hazel Intention fell at the home turn and “failed to finish” in the “Welcome to Newcastle Greyhounds” race. Hazel Intention suffered multiple fractures of her hock and waited helplessly on the track to be carted off and killed by the on-course vet. What a welcome indeed.