New $6m “safe” Traralgon track proves a tragedy for greyhounds

The Traralgon track in Victoria reopened on 15 January 2022 after a $6m rebuild (with $3m from the state government).

The industry promotes it as “state of the art”, with “the highest of safety and animal welfare standards.”

The University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) distinctive J-curve track is designed to “optimise racing safety from the ground up.”

Sadly for the dogs forced to race, the reality is a story of death and injury.

The on-site veterinarian killed one greyhound, and more than 50 others had severe injuries in less than a month.

The racing industry loves to say their tracks are safer because UTS is involved. But unfortunately, it seems to have become a slogan of persuasion, used to justify the continued growth of a brutal industry.

It’s becoming more evident that there is no safe racing form, and millions of dollars are wasted.

The Propaganda

“One of the most significant investments in safe racing in 2020-21 was the Traralgon Greyhound Club track redevelopment that has been designed to optimise greyhound racing safety.” GRV 2020/21 Annual Report, p35.

The Reality

In less than a month of operation, the Traralgon track has killed one dog and injured more than 50. Many greyhounds have fallen or hit the inside rail, collisions have been numerous, and even participants are becoming more concerned. The “Safechase Lure” system failed twice (29 January and 14 February).

In the first five race meetings, 37 greyhounds were injured. Twelve were wounded in one race meeting alone, one of the worst meetings nationwide over the last two years.

Stewards’ reports have revealed that even if UTS is involved, deaths keep occurring:

Horsham VIC
– $800,000 track upgrade opened in August 2017. UTS project “showcases design features that put greyhound safety first”.
– Since 2020,  four greyhounds have been killed and 296 injured.

Grafton NSW
–  $4.6 million major redevelopment. New racetrack designed in consultation with safety engineers at UTS. Racing restarted in June 2021.
– Since racing restarted in 2021, two deaths and 119 injuries (including 22 significant injuries) have been recorded in only 44 race meetings.

Angle Park SA
– $3m upgrade, completed in August 2021. GRSA CEO said the track “features a layout that sets the standard for modern best-practice design” and is “based on track safety research commissioned by the industry, and undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney.”
– Since August 2021, four greyhounds have been killed and 109  injured.

The Facts

List of the worst race meetings in Australia over the last two years:

28/02/21           Richmond NSW             13  injuries

29/01/22           Traralgon VIC              12  injuries

11/02/21           Casino NSW                 11  injuries

03/06/21           Dapto NSW                   11  injuries

08/11/21           Warrnambool VIC          11  injuries

28/05/20           Warragul VIC                11  injuries

25/03/20           Cranbourne VIC            11  injuries

 

Greyhound suffering on the Traralgon track:

15 January

Two Phones – webbing abrasion to the right hind leg
Call Me Harvey – laceration to left foreleg

17 January

Earn The Fizz – right foreleg monkey muscle injury
Liberty Royal – right hindleg spike wound
Locked in – left foreleg stopper and wrist injury
Mayhem’s Quest – bruising to left shoulder

21 January

Shen Bree Rose – injured left-back muscle
Kiss Your Lips – puncture wound on the right biceps and semitendinosus
No Tax – injured right wrist Princess Lace – hurt right triangle muscle

24 January  

Be Good Goldie – left foreleg dew claw injury
Kira’s Choice – right hindleg triangle injury
Goodbye Ben – abrasion to left fore toe
Hurricane Keely – right hindleg split webbing and a spike wound
Teardrop – right hindleg back muscle injury (Major II Injury)
Major Winston – left hindleg back muscle injury (Major II Injury)

26 January

Addie Attitude – abrasion on a right hind toe
Red Light Rico – injured left monkey muscle, left flexor tendon and left calf muscle.
Alpine Butterfly – injured right monkey muscle (Major Injury)
Paua Of Oscar – injured left-back muscle (Major II injury)

29 January 

Dark Summer – injured left thigh muscle and abrasions on the left tibia and wrist.
Inter Brae – injured left chest, right thigh, and right triangle muscles.
Dr May – spike wounds on both hind legs
Plane Rocky – injured left wrist, an abraded left stopper pad and an abrasion on the left wrist.
Soda Ruby – laceration on the left shoulder
Royal Gossip – injured right back muscle and abrasions
Billy Bob Jordan – spike wound on the left hind leg
Gubai Girl – injured left wrist and left shoulder muscle
I’m The Sandman – injured right deltoid muscle
Why Not Kez – injured left hock (Major II injury)
Aston Sundance – injured right shoulder muscle and left thigh muscle
Concrete Fever – injured right hamstring

31 January

Covert Cover – injury to right monkey muscle (Major Injury)
Why Not Dan – lacerations on the left lateral elbow, left medial tibia and left lateral tibia
How’s It Alice – injury to the right monkey muscle
Elswyk Sky – damage to the right triangle muscle (Major Injury)
Magic Voyage – injury to the right adductor muscle

2 February

Jordanville Jet – injured right thigh muscle

4 February

Dr Knuckles – injured left triangle muscle (Major)
Zardora – injured right thigh muscle

7 February

Mt. View Buck – injuries to left monkey muscle, left pectoral muscle, right pectoral muscle and left quadriceps.
Laquita Star – injuries to left monkey muscle, left quadriceps and right quadriceps
Car Dealer – injury to right quadriceps
Mt. View Ivy – damage to right quadriceps
Kazoo Giblet – injury to left shoulder Retro Rocket – injuries to right monkey muscle and right adductor muscle (Major)
Go Jack – injury to right-back muscle (Major II)
Symbol For You – laceration to the left hind large digital pad

9 February

Lonesome Bee – injured right triangle muscle
Rocks Got Talent – injured left hamstring and split the webbing on the left hind foot
Zeki – injured right thigh muscle, abrasion on a left rear toe and bruising to the inner right thigh

11 February

One’s Opinion – right thigh injury and right triangle injury
Early Limit – left wrist sprain and left detoid injury
Poppy’s Boy – left shoulder injury and right triangle injury
Starship Venus – left radius/ulna fracture – EUTHANASED

11 February (“Heat affected”:  36.0 degrees)

Sweet Tweety – damage to right triangle muscle
Elswyk Shadow – damage to right quadriceps
Master Bohanon – damage to left-back muscle
Rooney – injury to the right deltoid muscle

The image shows the violent last moments of Starship Venus.