Each state’s Greyhound Awards make for unpleasant reading.
Some of the industry’s worst get awarded, and a look through their history unearths cruelty, abuse, doping, and death.
The 2026 Greyhound Racing Victoria Greyhound Awards are no exception.
See below – these people are supposedly the cream of the crop, the industry’s highest achievers, the role models for other participants. Read it and weep.
Harley Whelan won the Ned Bryant Award
Whelan’s greyhound Zipping Wade was trialled at Sale in 2020. He badly injured his hock: “the dog was in so much pain that its cries or yelps could be heard across the track.” Dr Shelley Semmens euthanased the dog at Gippsland Veterinary Hospital on request by Whelan.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal found Whelan guilty of failure to notify GRV of the euthanasia of a greyhound.
Jason Thompson won the Metro & Provincial Trainer Strike Rate Award
From February 2009:
PEARCEDALE greyhound trainer Jason Thompson has had his $100,000 prize for winning the Group One TopGun race last October stripped after his winning dog, El Galo, returned a positive drug test.
Thompson was found guilty in an inquiry on Tuesday after a post-race urine sample found El Galo had the banned substance N-butyl-hyoscine in his system.
https://berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2009-02-19/top-dog-loses-drug-verdict/
In 2017, Jason Thompson was disqualified after being charged with:
“disobeyed the lawful order of a Steward to take an out of competition sample from the greyhound Dalgetty at his property”
“prevented the carrying out of a sample collection by Stewards from the greyhound Dalgetty at his property”
From The Age, 30 November 2008:
THE biggest event in the greyhound racing year has descended into acrimony, with stewards inquiring into the dramatic scenes during and after Thursday’s Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park.
One of the country’s leading trainers, Jason Thompson, was said to have “erupted” after his second-placed dog Hanify’s Impact was attacked by the winner with just metres to run in the $250,000 showpiece.
Following the race Thompson vented his fury at stewards, the trainer of winning dog Surgeon and even the head of Greyhound Racing Victoria.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/drama-after-winner-puts-the-bite-on-rival-20081130-ge7jr3.html
Mark Delbridge won the Provincial Trainers Premiership
2023
On 6 April 2023, Mr Delbridge used a prohibited barking muzzle on a greyhound. Mr Delbridge pleaded guilty. Stewards imposed a $1000 fine.
https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/griu-integrity-report-may-2023/
2021
At the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club on Saturday 13 February 2021, shortly after the running of Race 3, Mr Delbridge handled the distressed Chopper Bale in a manner that was detrimental and/or prejudicial to the interests and image of greyhound racing.
Mr Delbridge pleaded guilty to the charge. After considering submissions on penalty, the Stewards issued Mr Delbridge with a fine of $3000 for the offence
[note Delbridge said in 2020: “Chopper Bale has been a frustrating dog to train because he’s only had six starts due to cramping problems”]
2019
RADB Hearing 16 July 2019 – GAR 83 (2). Mr. Mark Delbridge failed to present the greyhound ‘Connor Allen’ free of any prohibited substance (Cimetidine) for an event at the Sandown meeting held on 11 March 2019. RADB imposed in all the circumstances a penalty of a $500 fine and disqualified ‘Connor Allen’ from Race 6 at Sandown on 11 March 2019.
https://www.grv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/gmv_issue_43.pdf
2012
Stewards on 7 January, 2012 conducted an inquiry into the transportation of greyhounds to the Warrnambool GRC meeting by licensed Trainer – Mr. Mark Delbridge of Balliang. At that Inquiry, it was established that Mr. Delbridge transported a total of 19 greyhounds to the meeting of which he loaded two greyhounds in one compartment of the trailer used to transport the greyhounds.
Plus let’s not forget that in December 2022 Delbridge said: “You’ve got to please the Greenies, but it is getting harder and harder…. You were allowed to use dead rabbits. That kept them interested.”
“It makes my life harder. You’re not allowed to use sheepskin. You can only give them squeaky toys, which doesn’t cut it when you want your dogs to chase.”
And to cap it all off, George Dailly, Tom’s brother, was fined $5000 for punching Delbridge in 2015.
Paul Wheeler into Hall of Fame – but should be Hall of Shame
A true symbol of Australian greyhound racing – Wheeler was disqualified for a year and fined $22,000 over the export of greyhounds to China in 2018.
Can the Wheelers explain what happened to those greyhounds? Did they end up in a meat hall?
https://www.thedogs.com.au/news/2018-04-24/paul-wheeler-fined-and-disqualified