Australian greyhound racing hits new low in June 2024

 The image shows two-year-old Aston Javier who fell at the first turn at Shepparton, VIC. He had suffered a broken left radius and ulna. He is seen in the race video falling hard and flipping head over heels, then getting up, holding his left foreleg up and hopping back in the opposite direction, clearly disoriented. The industry vet killed him soon after.

The Australian greyhound racing industry hit a new low in June 2024 as thirteen greyhounds were killed racing in a twelve day period. 

Eleven greyhounds died in just eight days from June 17 to June 24. Among the deaths was a veteran of one hundred and fourteen starts, Juicy Que, who actually ran third in his last tragic race and puppy Titanic Mick who was running for his life in his first race. A total of fifteen greyhounds perished on Australian tracks this month and Shepparton in Victoria was Australia’s deadliest track, killing three greyhounds over five days.

Race 1 at Gawler track in South Australia was a scene of carnage on June 5. It was a five dog race and two did not finish. One of them was young Titanic Mick, twenty one months old, who collided with another greyhound on the back straight and fell. Titanic Mick suffered a fractured left radius and ulna and was killed by the on track vet shortly after. It was his first, and last race, his “career” having lasted a few seconds. The race video is “not available”.

On June 10 in race 4 at Albion Park, Queensland, two and a half year old Reggie Quinn was the “race favourite”. He fell on the home turn following a collision and “failed to finish”. Reggie Quinn had sustained a “near foreleg injury”. The industry vet killed him after this, his twenty ninth race.

Two more greyhound were killed racing on June 17. Four and a half year old Lollipop Ed fell in the back straight in race 10 at Maitland in NSW. He fractured his spine. Greyhound Racing NSW has not made the race video available. Lollipop Ed had been raced twenty nine times then was killed by the on course vet. At Warrnambool track, Victoria, another four and a half year old greyhound Chessmen “faltered on the first turn” in race 11. The video shows the moment his right hock breaks. His mouth gapes open in agony as he tries to slow down yet he continues to try to run, hopping on three legs after the rest of the field. Chessmen had been raced ninety one times. He was killed by the on track vet. The track was inspected after the race and deemed “satisfactory for racing”.

The very next day, June 18, a further two greyhounds lost their lives racing. At Angle Park track in South Australia four and a half year old Juicy Que, a veteran of one hundred and fourteen races, came third in race 5, despite running with his muzzle dislodged. Following “an incident in the catching pen”, Juicy Que was found to have a left radius and ulna fracture and was killed by the industry vet. His $160 prizemoney easily paid for the pentobarbital sodium used to end his life. Two year old Arcadian Rose was the 60^th greyhound to die racing in 2024. She was checked and became unbalanced on the first turn in race 7 at Launceston track in Tasmania. TasRacing has since taken down the distressing video but before it was removed, it showed her careening off wide where she then crashed into the outside fence and broke her spine. She was killed by the on track vet. Arcadian Rose had raced thirteen times.

A further two greyhounds were killed on June 20. Machismo, three and a half, was running in his eighty fourth race at Angle Park, SA, when he broke down on the first turn. He is seen on the race video trying to pull up from speed, his mouth open in pain. Machismo had fractured his right calcaneus and tarsal bones. Despite winning his connections over $54,000 he was killed by the industry vet. Two year old Aston Javier was “severely checked” and fell at the first turn in race 9 at Shepparton in Victoria. He is seen in the race video falling hard and flipping head over heels, then getting up, holding his left foreleg up and hopping back in the opposite direction, clearly disoriented. Aston Javier had broken his left radius and ulna. The industry vet killed him soon after.

On June 22, race 1, at Geelong Victoria, descended into a demolition derby. Multiple greyhounds fell at the back straight turn including Paw Kronos, not yet two years old. Half the field “failed to finish” but Paw Kronos could not run on with a fractured left femur. His “career” had lasted five short weeks. Paw Kronos was killed by the on course vet. The track was then inspected by race officials and deemed “satisfactory for racing”.

The next day, June 23, three year old Buster Banjo “lost ground” on the back straight turn in race 4 at Mt Gambier SA. He had fractured his right calcaneus and tarsal bones. Greyhound Racing South Australia has removed the video. After 53 races and nearly $15,000 in prizemoney Buster Banjo was killed by the on track vet.

On June 24 three greyhounds were injured then killed racing on Australian tracks. Two of the three lethal injuries occurred at Shepparton track in Victoria. In race 10 three year old Pretty Reef was “checked” and fell at the first turn. The race video is sickening to watch. She cartwheels over and over then struggles to get to her feet. Pretty Reef broke her right carpal bone and her left humerus. With both forelegs fractured she must have been in excruciating pain. Pretty Reef was killed by the industry vet after this, her 68^th race. In the very next race Mango Man, four and a half, was checked and fell at the first turn. In the race video he flips over and struggles to regain his feet. He fractured his left humerus and according to the stewards report was issued with a 90 day stand down period. But a few days later Mango Man was listed in the Fasttrack database as “retired (deceased)”. Over at Northam track in Western Australia Jumping Jill fell following a collision in race 10. The race video shows her falling at the first turn. She regained her feet and continued on running. Jumping Jill had sustained a “foreleg fracture” and was killed by the industry vet after the race. She had just turned three and had been raced 53 times.

Two year old Loot To Boot finished race 11 at Temora track NSW on June 26 only to collapse and die in the catching pen. She can be seen in the race video running wide during her race and at one point gets dangerously close to hitting the outside fence. Loot To Boot’s body was taken away for autopsy.

On June 28 four and a half year old Son Of Brock broke down on the home turn at Bendigo track, Victoria. He had suffered a right tarsal (or heel joint) fracture. The race video shows that despite his injury Son Of Brock gamely hobbled on well behind the rest of the field. It was his 62^nd start. Son Of Brock was killed by the on track vet.