The latest track to have a “safety upgrade” paid by taxpayer money has resulted in more greyhounds suffering in agony. In four race meetings, 23 dogs have been injured.
13 May was the “Grand Re-opening” of the Richmond curved track after a $700,000 upgrade gifted by the NSW Perrottet Government.
The club’s promo tagline was “Circle racing is back!”. Kids were encouraged to attend the reopening.
Supposedly the next step in “raising the standards” of NSW tracks, the Richmond track was “reshaped for better and safer geometry and transitioning of running surface”.
In total, the government has now given more than a million dollars to Richmond for upgrades.
The results were not surprising – no track can be made safe.
At the first race meeting of Richmond’s circle track, there were three greyhound injuries, including a serious hock fracture and a major hock injury.
Next, at the second race meeting on 15 May, there were five injuries.
On the third meeting on 18 May, there were nine injuries. These included a serious compound fracture and another serious hock fracture.
Then on 20 May, eight greyhounds were injured. All injured dogs are listed below. It is only a matter of time before a dog dies there.
Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on Australian safety upgrades that have not stopped greyhounds from being killed and injured. Governments are failing greyhounds.
(Image above shows Opal Magic falling and suffering a hamstring injury, Richmond 20 May 2022)
List of greyhounds sufferings
Richmond injuries on 13 May
SCREW LOOSE Offside hock 42 days
DRACO Nearside back laceration 7 days
MISO MORSON Fractured offside hock 90 days
Richmond injuries on 15 May
ELUSIVE CATCH Offside hip support 14 days
JUGUNGAL KING Offside hip support 14 days
MOODY BLUES Offside groin and hip injury plus nearside chest soreness 21 days
Richmond injuries on 18 May
LUKE PRIDE Nearside wrist injury 21 days
PRANCING DIVA Offside fibula swelling 21 days
FAT PIZZA Nearside groin and back muscle 21 days
ZELDA GILROY Compound fracture to nearside fore metacarpals 60 days
MONEY RUN Offside fore dew claw and spike wound 7 days
AMANDA BALLO Nearside shoulder and hip 10 days
PHOENIX RULES Nearside fore toe laceration 10 days
FLEETFOOT PUNK Abrasion to nearside stopper 5 days
ONLY SOMETIMES Offside hock fracture 90 days
Richmond injuries on 20 May
NICK’S TANK 2 Offside hind split webbing 21 days
RITZA PATCH 3 Category B Offside wrist sprain 7 days
REBEL ROAD Offside back muscle 42 days
MALIN BEG MILLIE iliopsoas muscle injury 28 days
PRESTON LEE Offside pin muscle soreness 7 days
BIG TOWN JETT Nearside hamstring soreness 14 days
OPAL MAGIC 11 Offside hamstring soreness 10 days
LIGHTNING ROSIE 12 Offside shoulder soreness 28 days