Image shows racing participants running towards injured dogs at the Dapto racetrack
.
The racing industry hyped up the Dapto Dogs as “iconic” and “world famous”. Thankfully, the Dapto racetrack will close on 11 September 2025 after 88 years of killing, abusing and mistreating greyhounds.
The racing industry is using its PR machine to rewrite history and paint a false picture of the track. In reality, Dapto is just a typical lethal greyhound racetrack, with a sordid record of doping, corruption, and live baiting.
The Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society tried twice to acquire the land for the local community; they succeeded in 2025.
Let’s look at the real history of Dapto Dogs, from the stewards reports, integrity commission decisions, and media articles.
The following sections make for disturbing reading:
- Racetrack suffering from stewards reports
- Media coverage
- Disciplinary decisions from the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC)
- A handful of images from 88 years of suffering
A couple of important points to note. The 2016 McHugh Inquiry into NSW greyhound racing heard that:
- NSW stewards were directed by managers not to include dog deaths and injuries in meeting reports to avoid scrutiny from “greenie” activists.
- Up to 17,000 greyhounds died every year, according to Greyhounds Australasia documents.
Dapto Dogs race video compilation
This video includes scenes of suffering from the Dapto track. It acknowledges the suffering and death experienced by so many greyhounds at Dapto.
The videos were sourced from publicly-available race videos. Many were subsequently removed or edited by the racing industry to hide the incidents. WARNING: graphic scenes of greyhound suffering
RACETRACK AGONY - memorable Dapto race meetings
19 October 2023 New safety lure but two dogs killed, trainer hit by lure
Dapto is trialling the double-arm lure, a new safety initiative expected to have a “major impact” on track safety.
Two dogs were killed in Race 2: Bullet Blonde (20 months old), Gillenbah Star (19 months old), euthanased with compound fractures of the foreleg. Race video removed by GRNSW.
The video is obtained and shows the dogs being transported by non-vets with Bullet Blonde appearing to be hanging by her broken foreleg.
In Race 4, Takahi Chisum suffered a serious “offside hock fracture and dislocation”, while in Race 5 Holtorf Bale fell and suffered chest and muscle injuries.
The trainer of Bullet Blonde was hit by the lure and reprimanded.
2 January 2025 A career-ending race meeting
10 greyhounds were injured at the Dapto race meeting, including three with leg fractures.
The race meeting caused the end of racing for five greyhounds.
Rock Burner suffered “humeral fracture & nearside radius and ulna fracture” and was euthanased days later.
Syndrome suffered a metatarsal fracture and was retired to their owner. Zip Up Andy suffered a hock fracture and was retired to a pet adoption program. Addie Mac suffered hock soreness, hip support injury and deltoid soreness, and was retired to a pet adoption program. Corless A Ranger suffered “deltoid soreness” and was retired after two more races.
10 April 2013 “Outrage over greyhound deaths”
An ABC story describes the race meeting where three dogs were killed, with one dog suffering a broken back and another a broken neck.
The race video shows greyhound Sniffles dying from a broken back in front of a little girl. Secretary of the Dapto Greyhound Racing Club, Paul Mack, said the track was one of the safest in NSW; “only four” were killed in 2012.
The stewards report does not mention any deceased, death or euthanasia [see note above about misreporting of racing data]. The Animal Welfare League said no dog was safe in the racing industry.
Recent racing deaths
ROCK BURNER
Dapto Race 8 02/01/2025
Forced wide leaving the back straight by another which had become unbalanced off the hind quarters of the runner on its inner, causing this greyhound to fall and collide with the 600m starting boxes where it briefly remained before being attended to by track staff and OTV.
Post race veterinary examination by the OTV revealed a fractured nearside humeral and fractured nearside radius and ulna for which a 90 day incapacitation period applied.
Deceased: https://fasttrack.grv.org.au/Dog/Details/456019720
eTrac: Status: Deceased Sub-Status: Euth. – Injury Status Date: 14/01/2025
PARACHUTE PARKES
Dapto Race 3 29/05/2025
Had heels galloped on in the first turn. Was galloped on in the turn to the home straight and fell. A post race vet exam revealed an offside fractured tibia and fibula, 90 days incapacitation issued.
Deceased: https://fasttrack.grv.org.au/Dog/Details/1020035003
eTrac: Status: Deceased Sub-Status: Deceased – Injury Status Date: 04/06/2025
BULLET BLONDE
Dapto Race 2 19/10/2023
Came together with another runner at the end of the back straight causing the greyhound to lose momentum. Shortly after galloped on the heels of another runner causing the greyhound to fall.
Underwent a post race veterinary examination revealing compound fractures to the offside radius and ulna. Humanely euthanased on track.
GILLENBAH STAR
Dapto Race 2 19/10/2023
Came together with another runner at the end of the back straight causing the greyhound to lose momentum. Shortly after came together with another runner causing the greyhound to fall.
Underwent a post race veterinary examination revealing compound fractures of the offside radius and ulna. The greyhound was humanely euthanased on track.
ARE YOU SERIOUS
Dapto Race 9 10/06/2022Came together in the early stages of the turn from the back straight and fell hampering another runner. Category E Compound fracture of Right radius & Ulna / Euthanised
RESTRICTION
Dapto Race 9 01/11/2022Came together soon after the start. Came together in the back straight. Collided with another which was losing ground at the run into the first turn, falling and stopping at the point of injury before being retained by staff in the recovery vehicle.
Post race veterinary examination by the OTV revealed a comminuted fracture of the offside humerus and elbow. Humane euthanasia applied.
SLINGSHOT LUCY
Dapto Race 6 29/12/2022Checked in the run into the first turn, causing it to collide with CODE BLUE TOM (6) fall and fail to finish. SLINGSHOT LUCY (3) was recovered from the track by staff immediately after the incident.
Post race veterinary examination by the OTV revealed a comminuted compound fracture to the nearside radius and ulnar for which humane euthanasia was applied. Trainer: Andrew Bell (Werombi)
STONE BLASTER
Dapto Race 2 04/03/2021
STORM RAZOR [1] checked off the heels of JULES WINNFIELD [5] in the first turn losing momentum then coming together with STONE BLASTER [6] who fell.
Catastrophic = STONE BLASTER [6] Comminuted fracture of offside radius and ulna, dislocated carpis
A SHOCKING RECORD: Dapto in the media
‘We must meet growing needs of community’: no more greyhound racing at iconic Dapto Dogs
25 May 2025, Illawarra Mercury
On Friday, the owners of the Dapto Showground, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, notified Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) that it would not be extending the lease on the Wollongong racetrack beyond June 30, 2026.
“However, the request for a tenure of up to 20 years presented a fundamental barrier to the Society’s ability to meet the evolving needs of the broader community. Even with design modifications, retaining racing operations would significantly limit our capacity to deliver on long-term goals,” Ms Novak said.
The Sunday Afternoon ‘Finish On’
2 June 2024, The Greyhound Recorder
Dapto and Wagga have a higher percentage of reported injuries per 100 starters of all two-turn tracks in NSW and it’s short course racing which amplifies that metric.
Greyhound racing to continue at Dapto after Supreme Court ruling
16 November 2019, Illawarra Mercury
It comes after a dispute where the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society chairman Noel Leslie announced an intention to shut down the Dapto Dogs last week, to push forward with plans to redevelop the site for commercial and community reasons ….
[DAHS]: “The court recognises the key fundamentals of this case: The Society isn’t just about Dapto Dogs – it’s a community facility offering much more,” the statement said.
“It’s home of the Dapto Rugby League Football Club, pigeon, poultry and dog clubs, Illawarra Cancer Carers, Learning Links Bingo, Dapto Markets, Aussie night markets, Accelerated training along with numerous other activities.
“The Society is well run, at a profit, despite Dapto Dogs events losing $275,596 in the last financial year. We intend to seek final orders from the Supreme Court declaring the appointment of the administrator invalid as soon as possible.”
The Society is well run, at a profit, despite Dapto Dogs events losing $275,596 in the last financial year.
Outrage over greyhound deaths
10 April 2013, ABC
Three greyhounds had to be put down at the event, with one dog suffering a broken back and another a broken neck.
The secretary of the Dapto Greyhound Racing Club, Paul Mack, says the track is one of the safest in the state.
But Tim Vasudeva from the state’s Animal Welfare League says no dog is safe in the racing industry. “It’s all relative isn’t it,” he said. “You’ve got three dead dogs at the end of the day, so it doesn’t sound particularly safe to me.
“It’s not just the racing, but also the breeding and the destruction of non-racing dogs.”
It’s not just the racing, but also the breeding and the destruction of non-racing dogs.
Dapto’s dogs back on course – $1.5m upgrade opens new era New Track for Dapto Greyhounds
13 December 2006, llawarra Mercury
“The old Dapto track remained unchanged for something like 70 years and the facilities needed attending to,” Secretary Wayne Billett said.
[grandstand seats, bar extension, function room]
NSW:Former NSW MP Rex Jackson dies
1 January 2012, Australian Associated Press
Mr Jackson was elected MP for Bulli, north of Wollongong, in 1955 and then MP for Heathcote, in Sydney’s south in 1971.
But he became best known for accepting bribes in exchange for the early release of prisoners in 1983 – a crime that led to his resignation from parliament and a jail term.
“He’d go to the Dapto dogs, he’d go to the Wentworth Park dogs; he was a fixture at those events.”
Dapto greyhound trainers charged
20 May 2000, Illawarra Mercury
Dapto greyhound trainers Ken Howe and Ray King are to face nine charges relating to dog doping and corruption.
The charges follow an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry in April.
Howe admitted to the inquiry that he had been doping dogs throughout his 35-year career and that he had paid Potter $15,000 over three years to make sure that the doped dogs were not banned.
Cartels had nothing on these trainers
13 April 2000, Daily Telegraph
For 35 years, one trainer has been throwing ritalin, dexedrine, amphetamines and, on occasion, cocaine down the throats of dogs in the hope they would go faster.
Earlier, corrupt trainer Ken Howe talked about his career as dog doper, saying it was ridiculous to rely on dogs to run consistently with no help.
“It was common knowledge what was going on,” he said.
“You can’t get dogs to perform 100 per cent without live kills or chemicals,” he said.
Ken Howe said he had trained dogs for 35 years and started his career by doping his first greyhound.
You can’t get dogs to perform 100 per cent without live kills or chemicals
Dapto dog track ‘shouldn’t look back’ to industry’s old ways: regulator
17 April 2018, Illawarra Mercury
The head of the state’s new greyhound racing regulator has urged the industry not to look back, telling trainers and breeders they must embrace the new rules and tougher penalties which will be rolled out from July.
“They shouldn’t look back, they shouldn’t consider that there is an opportunity to go back to the ways in which were acceptable before,” chief commissioner of the new Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission Alan Brown said.
Dogs used to chase a live hare. Kids were not allowed. A lot of gambling went on in those days – now there’s only one bookmaker.
Dapto Dogs turn 80
24 February 2017, Illawarra Mercury
Owner-trainer Garry Lynch has been coming to Dapto for 40 years.
In the 1970s the dogs were kept in wooden kennels – no air conditioning, just fans – and there were 30 bookmakers to take the punters’ money, he remembers.
“It was nothing like it is now,” Mr Lynch told the Mercury.
“Dogs used to chase a live hare. Kids were not allowed. A lot of gambling went on in those days – now there’s only one bookmaker.
Greens call for suspension until inquiry completed – dog racing will continue
19 February 2015, Illawarra Mercury
Greyhound Racing NSW said the call from the Greens to ban all racing at Dapto and Bulli was an inappropriate response to the revelation that live animals were being used for baiting in the training and racing of greyhounds.
The saving of Dapto dogs
29 February 2004, Daily Telegraph
NSW TAB boss Warren Wilson calls racing greyhounds “poker machines with legs”.
….The dark side of the dogs burst on to our TV screens on April Fool’s Day three years ago. Pictures of a furtive greyhound chief steward, Rodney Potter, emptying urine samples outside the drugs testing laboratory sent the dog racing world into disgrace.
Potter began a 2 1/2-year jail sentence before Christmas after accepting bribes in return for disposing of samples taken from drugged dogs. He was arrested at Dapto.
And just last week local trainer Ray King was warned off for life for his part in the conspiracy. King, a four-time winner of the NSW premiership, formerly trained dogs for broadcaster Alan Jones, rugby league’s Terry Hill and footballers’ agent Wayne Beavis.
Dapto continues to go to the dogs
15 April 2000, The Australian
“It’s very hard to tell if the dogs are geared (drugged) up,” gestures Julian Micall, the man on the other end of the straining leash as his greyhound thrashes like a whirlygig.
Bluey isn’t even racing tonight — gravel rash on the paw — but Micall and his dogs haven’t missed a Thursday meet at the Dapto Dogs for 40 years.
Neither, until recently, had Ron Gill, the trainer who allegedly lined the pockets of Greyhound Racing’s chief steward to ensure his doped dogs returned clean drug tests.
But fellow trainer Tony Pagano says he is leaving the greyhound business altogether, so disgusted is he with the evidence emerging at the ICAC.
“If the ones on top are corrupt, then I’m getting out of it,” he says.
If the ones on top are corrupt, then I’m getting out of it
Lockett In The Doghouse
17 September 1998, The Age
… it was here, squeezed in the wardrobe, that police found the substantial frame of one of the AFL’s biggest stars: Tony Lockett.
When police asked McDonald if they could see Black Pirate on the day of the raid, they were told the dog had broken its neck by running into a fence.
When they asked where the dog was buried, McDonald said he had dumped it in a bin which had “probably” gone to the tip.
The pair had met Lockett at the Dapto dogs, and Mr Clasby had seen Malawi’s Prince race “brilliantly“.
A hard-luck tale at The Dapto Dogs
23 March 23, 1991, The Sydney Morning Herald
Excitement turned to tears when the stewards declared “no race” moments after her dog, November Earl, had flashed past the post to win the Supercoat Petcare Classic – the world’s richest greyhound event.
A year’s planning turned into 30 seconds of chaos when one dog, Redstar Rocket, fell at the first turn after its back legs were clipped by another dog. It got up and headed back towards the on-coming field.
Starting funds for Dapto dogs
28 August 1997, Illawarra Mercury
Illawarra MP Terry Rumble yesterday confirmed an interest-free interminable loan of $3168 to the Dapto club had been approved by Gaming and Racing Minister Richard Face.
The money will be spent on replacing synthetic grass mats in front of the 600m starting boxes.
Funding is provided through the Racecourse Development Fund which, since its inception in 1972, has handed over more than $1.1 million for improvements at the Dapto Showground course.
A SHAMEFUL CULTURE: Doping and corruption
1 December 2023: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
“Charlie Azzopardi presented the greyhound ‘Smooth Avatar’ for the purposes of competing in race 1 at the Dapto meeting on 7 September 2023 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance.” [Theobromine]
18 May 2022: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
“Mr (Andrew) Bell presented the greyhound ‘King Reed’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 10 at the Dapto meeting on 16 December 2021 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance.” [Amphetamine, 4-hydroxyamphetamine and methamphetamine]
26 April 2022: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
(1) On 24 July 2021, at the Dapto meeting, Mr Taylor directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as an official;
(5) – (12) On 12 August 2021, 19 August 2021, 26 August 2021, 2 September 2021, 4 September 2021, 16 September 2021, 18 September 2021, and 23 September 2021, at the Dapto meetings, Mr Taylor directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as an official;
(14) – (23) On 14 October 2021, 21 October 2021, 11 November 2021, 18 November 2021, 25 November 2021, 9 December 2021, 30 December 2021, 27 January 2022, 10 February 2022, and 13 February 2022, at the Dapto meetings, Mr Taylor directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as an official;
(24) On 20 February 2022, at the Dapto meeting, Mr Taylor directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as an official.
25 November 2021: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
(1) On 15 July 2021, at the Dapto meeting, Mr Jones directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as a swab official;
(2) On 24 July 2021, at the Dapto meeting, Mr Jones directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as a swab official;
(3) On 19 August 2021, at the Dapto meeting, Mr Jones directly engaged in betting transactions on races in which he acted as a swab official.
6 May 2021: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
Mr (Clifford) Bell presented the greyhound ‘Cold Streak’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 3 at the Dapto meeting on 24 December 2020 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance. [Ketoprofen]
22 July 2020: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
Mr Boersma presented the greyhound ‘My Boy Chris’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 5 at the Dapto meeting on 26 March 2020 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance. [Theobromine]
1 May 2020: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
“Mr (Clifford) Bell presented the greyhound ‘Midnight Crash’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 5 at Dapto on 30 January 2020 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance.” [Carprofen]
1 May 2020: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
(1) Mr Spiteri presented the greyhound ‘Ritza Flame’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 6 at the Dapto meeting on 19 September 2019 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance;
(2) Mr Spiteri presented the greyhound ‘Ritza Fire’ (“Second Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 5 at the Dapto meeting on 10 October 2019 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance. [Caffeine and its metabolites theophylline, paraxanthine and theobromine]
27 February 2020: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
Mrs King presented the greyhound ‘Blinken Billy’ (“Greyhound”) for the purposes of competing in race 4 at the Dapto meeting on 5 December 2019 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance. [Cobalt]
31 January 2020: GREYHOUND WELFARE & INTEGRITY COMMISSION DISCIPLINARY ACTION DECISION
(1) Mr Arletos administered or caused to be administered a prohibited substance to the greyhound, ‘Spritely Mae’ (“Greyhound”) that was presented for racing at the Dapto meeting on 13 December 2018.
(2) Mr Arletos presented the Greyhound for the purposes of competing in race 6 at the Dapto meeting on 13 December 2018 in circumstances where the Greyhound was not free of any prohibited substance. [5β-androstane-3α, 17β-diol]
Source: Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission, Final Disciplinary Decisions. Excerpts from Decisions formatted in italics
88 YEARS OF SUFFERING: a handful of images
