Three year old Winckie Bale was left stranded on the track with a broken leg after falling on the first turn at Sandown Victoria. Winckie Bale was killed by the on-track industry vet after the race.
Five young greyhounds were killed racing in March. They ranged from a puppy on only her third start, to a veteran who had won his connections nearly $60,000.
A further nine greyhounds who suffered track injuries during March and who were given 90 day standdown periods have now been listed in the database as “Retired(deceased)”.
Victorian tracks killed three greyhounds just after their races and a further three in the days following their injuries making it the deadliest state for greyhounds in March.
Fancy That Fred was running in his 53rd race at Mandurah WA, Australia’s deadliest track, when he collided with three other greyhounds on the first turn on March 9. He fell and “failed to finish”. He can be seen in the race video falling in the blink of an eye. Fancy That Fred suffered a spinal injury- he fractured his back- and in that blink of an eye he was paralysed in both hind legs. He lay on the track helplessly waiting for help. He was killed by the industry vet. Fancy That Fred had won over $59,000. He was still a young dog by pet standards- just three years old.
The next day in South Australia, at Murray Bridge Straight track Roxby To Yorkes was checked shortly after the start and “failed to finish”. He had suffered catastrophic multiple fractures- his left tarsal, his left tibia and his left fibula. Straight tracks are claimed by the racing industry to be safer than curved tracks. The truth is straight tracks are just as deadly. There were only four greyhounds in race1, in fact most of the races had only four or five runners as there had been 10 late scratchings by various trainers. The race video is “unavailable”. Roxby To Yorkes’ “career” lasted a pitiful 8 days. He was only 21 months old when he was killed by the on track vet after only his second race. Race stewards inspected the track after his race and deemed it “suitable for racing”.
Three year old Lamp Post was running in race 8 at Bendigo in Victoria on March 13 when he was severely checked turning into the home straight. He “tailed off” due to a fractured hock. The race video shows the moment his hock breaks. He falters but continues to run on gamely and finishes behind the rest of the race. Despite winning his connections over $55,000, they opted to have him killed at the track. Lamp Post was just one of seven greyhounds in his litter- two are now dead, one retired and one remains “unnamed”. Lamp Post’s trainer now has only two greyhounds racing. The track was inspected by race stewards after race 8 and deemed “suitable for racing”.
Spare a thought for the two greyhounds killed racing on March 30. Three year old Winckie Bale had been forced to race 82 times when she fell on the first turn during race 4 at Sandown Victoria. The race video has not been uploaded by Greyhound Racing Victoria, as it was declared a “no race” after Winckie Bale was left stranded on the track with a broken leg after her fall. Another greyhound fell with her, and although was found to have suffered no injury was discovered to be infested with fleas. Winckie Bale was killed by the on course vet after the race. Of the eight greyhounds in her litter three are now listed as “deceased” while one wasn’t even named.
Capo Dei Capi actually won her race at Shepparton before she suffered “an incident in the catching pen” following race 3. She fractured her right radius. Capo Dei Capi was only a puppy of 20 months. It was her third race and her “career” started and ended in March. She was killed by the industry vet after the race.
The greyhounds who "don't count" as track deaths
Nine greyhounds who were injured on tracks Australia wide in March are now listed as “deceased” in the databases.
On March 3 at Mandurah Quick Knots, just a puppy of 19 months, was given a 14 day standdown period for a “sore neck” following race 3 where he fell and “failed to finish”. In fact he had broken his neck and was killed the day after his second, and last, race.
Hail The Chief, three, fractured his left radius and ulna during race 11 at Sale, Victoria on March 6. Although he was given a 90 day standdown period he is now listed as “deceased”.
On March 11, four year old Son Of Ghost fractured his right hock during race 5 at the Meadows track, Victoria. It was his 84th start. He was given a 90 day standdown period but is listed as “retired(deceased)” in Fasttrack.
Three greyhounds injured at Rockhampton in Queensland over two weeks are all listed as “deceased”. Three year old Ripper Art suffered a “left shoulder injury” on March 15. Three year old Abraxas Bale “injured” his right hind on March 22. And two year old Rolling Along sustained a “left hind” injury on March 29. All three greyhounds were given a 90 day standdown, ostensibly for treatment and rehabilitation. All three are dead. Abraxas Bale was one of eight in his litter. Four are now listed as “deceased” and one remains unnamed.
Two year old Mega Indy sustained a left tarsus (hock) fracture in race 2 at Warragul on March 19 and was given a 90 day standdown. She had been raced 21 times and had won only $285. She was killed in the days following her injury.
Debbie Dutton, just 23 months old, fractured her right radius and ulna in race 9 at Casino NSW on March 24. She had raced only 5 times. Despite a 90 day standdown, she is now listed as “retired(deceased)”.
On March 27 two year old Blaze fractured his tibia mere seconds after the start of race 2 at Healesville Victoria. He was killed away from the track in the days following his injury and is now listed as “deceased”.
Nine greyhounds who were injured on tracks Australia wide in March are now listed as “deceased” in the databases.
On March 3 at Mandurah Quick Knots, just a puppy of 19 months, was given a 14 day standdown period for a “sore neck” following race 3 where he fell and “failed to finish”. In fact he had broken his neck and was killed the day after his second, and last, race.
Hail The Chief, three, fractured his left radius and ulna during race 11 at Sale, Victoria on March 6. Although he was given a 90 day standdown period he is now listed as “deceased”.
On March 11, four year old Son Of Ghost fractured his right hock during race 5 at the Meadows track, Victoria. It was his 84th start. He was given a 90 day standdown period but is listed as “retired(deceased)” in Fasttrack.
Three greyhounds injured at Rockhampton in Queensland over two weeks are all listed as “deceased”. Three year old Ripper Art suffered a “left shoulder injury” on March 15. Three year old Abraxas Bale “injured” his right hind on March 22. And two year old Rolling Along sustained a “left hind” injury on March 29. All three greyhounds were given a 90 day standdown, ostensibly for treatment and rehabilitation. All three are dead. Abraxas Bale was one of eight in his litter. Four are now listed as “deceased” and one remains unnamed.
Two year old Mega Indy sustained a left tarsus (hock) fracture in race 2 at Warragul on March 19 and was given a 90 day standdown. She had been raced 21 times and had won only $285. She was killed in the days following her injury.
Debbie Dutton, just 23 months old, fractured her right radius and ulna in race 9 at Casino NSW on March 24. She had raced only 5 times. Despite a 90 day standdown, she is now listed as “retired(deceased)”.
On March 27 two year old Blaze fractured his tibia mere seconds after the start of race 2 at Healesville Victoria. He was killed away from the track in the days following his injury and is now listed as “deceased”.
The statistics
The greyhounds
| Youngest to die | Capo Dei Capi | 20 months |
| Oldest to die | Winckie Bale | 47 months |
| Average age at death | 33 months | |
| Least starts | Roxby To Yorkes | 2 starts |
| Most starts | Winckie Bale | 82 starts |
| Total starts all deaths* | 195 starts | |
| Average starts per death* | 39 starts | |
| *not statistically significant as two greyhounds had only 5 starts between them and three greyhounds had 190 starts between them | ||
| Least winnings | Roxby To Yorkes | $140 |
| Most winnings | Fancy That Fred | $59,462 |
| Total winnings all deaths | $142,567 | |
| Average winnings per death* | $28,513 | |
| *not statistically significant | ||
The injuries
Where on track
| Just after start | 1 |
| First turn | 2 |
| Home straight turn | 1 |
| Catching pen | 1 |
| — | |
| 5 |
What injuries (may be more than one)
| Radius | 1 |
| Tibia | 2 |
| Hock (tarsal) | 2 |
| Fibula | 1 |
| Spinal | 1 |
| — | |
| 7 |
The deadly tracks
| Mandurah Western Australia | 1 |
| Murray Bridge Straight South Australia | 1 |
| Bendigo Victoria | 1 |
| Sandown Victoria | 1 |
| Shepparton Victoria | 1 |
| — | |
| 5 |
RIP - we will remember you
| 9/3 | Fancy That Fred | 40 months | Spine | Mandurah | WA |
| 10/3 | Roxby To Yorkes | 21 months | Tarsal Tibia Fibula | Murray Bridge Straight | SA |
| 13/3 | Lamp Post | 37 months | Hock | Bendigo | VIC |
| 30/3 | Winckie Bale | 47 months | Tibia | Sandown | VIC |
| 30/3 | Capo Dei Capi | 20 months | Radius | Shepparton | VIC |