Wentworth Park, the showcase city racetrack in NSW, has recorded a sharp rise in injuries in 2024 despite so-called safety initiatives.
- One greyhound was killed on 17 February 2024.
- For the period 1 Jan – 17 Feb (13 race meetings)
- 2023 – 42 injuries
- 2024 – 70 injuries
- In two race meetings alone, 22 dogs were injured and one killed.
- In 5 race meetings in Feb 2024, 37 dogs have been injured and one killed.
A history of death and carnage at Wentworth Park
2023: 2 deaths, 402 injuries (including 81 serious)
2020-2023: 16 on-track deaths, 1,185 injuries
More dogs will have died off-track. For example:
- Black Fox – suffered hock fracture and dislocation 5/5/2023 – euthanased due to “injury”
- Mister Perfect – suffered hock fracture 21/6/2023 – died of “accidental causes”
Failed Safety Initiatives
- 2017: NSW Government announces $30m in funding for a Greyhound Racing Capital Grants Program designed to bring all NSW racetracks up to minimum standards.
- 2019: Wentworth Park track and infrastructure project at a cost of $552,895. This redevelopment included work on the track profile and starting boxes, safety rail, and parade area.
- 2023: GRNSW Race Injury Reduction Action Plan focuses on double-arm lures and preferred box draws. GWIC Chief Commissioner Alby Taylor stated: “we expect they will have a major impact”.
- August 2023: preferred box draws introduced at Wentworth Park.
- January 2024: double-arm lures introduced at Wentworth Park.
The Dangerous First Turn
Racing Injuries in 2024
5 January
Oceanside – Abrasion nearside shoulder
Ritza Debra – Nearside shoulder soreness and mild concussion
Hennessey – Nearside adductor
Bobby Ville – Nearside hock pain
Complainer – Abrasion nearside hind
6 January
Zipping Sterling – “Spike” injury to left fore foot
12 January
Zipping Optimise – Spike wound nearside hind
Morton – Abrasion nearside fore leg and below stopper pad
Nangar Jim – Flexor muscle strain offside fore
Zipping Bentley – Offside carpel soreness
Weblec Wolf – Nearside hind pad abrasion
Candice Keeping – Offside hind abductor soreness
She Is Fire – Dislocated toe offside fore
13 January
Slick Soldier – Offside back muscle injury
19 January
Fancy Chick – Offside groin soreness
Bolt Charlm Bolt – Offside groin soreness
20 January
Zipping Swift – Nearside hind laceration
Charlm Outlaw – spike wound nearside hind toe
Aunt Virginia – spike wounds both hinds
Good Odds Cobber – nearside shoulder and multiple spike wounds
Eyes To Eyes – off side hip support
Nangar Larry – torn dew claw off side fore
Taw Commander – laceration nearside fore and bruising nearside shoulder
26 January
Rivello – Abrasions to the left stopper pad, a spike injury to the right Dew Claw and right Hock pain
Foran Banner – Left Hip Support Muscle injury
Blaze Wave – Small laceration left fore leg
Aggie’s Dream – Fractured Right Hock
Oscar Ville – Multiple spike injuries on both front legs
27 January
Grander Makaira – Offside back muscle
Fascinate Trump – nearside shoulder
Aussie Brad – Nearside wrist sprain, nearside hind stifle soreness
Canya Catch Me – Nearside stopper pad abrasion
Exude Lightness – Nearside wrist sprain and stopper abrasion
2 February
Estelle Soldier – Offside hock sprain and a nearside hip support injury
Comet A Cost – Multiple abrasions to both nearside legs and offside hind leg
Saka Boom – Nearside displaced hock fracture
Can’t Bluff Me – Nearside stopper pad abrasion
9 February
Little Man Jay – Nearside fore pad abrasion, nearside hind foot spike wound and
offside groin soreness
Cait Rod’s Pearl – Nearside hind leg laceration
Ando Prince – Offside groin tear
Ruby’s Wish – Nearside groin
Fancy Chick – Offside hock injury and offside groin soreness
Tricky Ethics – Offside fore sprung toe
Askey – Nearside groin soreness
Sirius Cuddles – Offside hip support
Bolt Wave Race – Nearside groin
Blind Ambition – Offside groin soreness
Towering Larry – Offside Pin muscle
10 February
Zipping Fenoli – Dislocated left fore toe
Battle Royal – Multiple spike wounds both hind legs and feet
Fascinate Mel – Abrasion to the right hind
Blazing Raso – Abrasion to the left fore foot
Evie On Gas – Right hind abductor soreness
16 February
Calamity Ethics – offside hamstring sprain
Zip Zipper Zoom – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain, and an abrasion to the nearside hind pad
Ted Lasso – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain
Toad’s Turnpike – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain
Peaky Joe – offside wrist sprain
Super Aussie – nearside hind foot split webbing
Corless Insane – nearside foreleg and offside hind leg spike wounds
17 February
Sunshine Gal – Offside hip support and offside shoulder soreness
Great North – Nearside stopper pad abrasion
Lipstick Chaser – Spike wound and abrasions nearside hind
Good Deed – Offside hock soreness
Masterful Mia – Offside groin and nearside shoulder
Charcoal Cheetah – Abrasion to nearside pad
Agent Spaghetti – Offside pin muscle, Nearside groin and lower back soreness
Awesome Ethics – Nearside hip support
Tiggerlong Car – Spike wounds both hind legs
Zipping Caleb – Spike wound offside hind and nearside fore
Freydis – Offside deltoid soreness
Omega Texas – Offside comminuted open distal radius and ulnar fracture, and a nearside radius ulnar fracture. KILLED