The latest death of a young greyhound at Grafton yesterday has sparked calls for an independent review of Australia’s new and rebuilt taxpayer-funded racetracks.
According to the stewards’ report for Grafton for 25 September 2022, in Race 9 Lord Ability collided with other dogs at the first turn and fell. The report says Lord Ability, ‘Came together with other runners on the first turn and fell. As a result, the greyhound failed to finish the event.
‘A post-race veterinary examination of the greyhound revealed it had a comminuted fracture to its offside elbow and offside humorous bone.
‘The greyhound was humanely euthanised.’
A 25-second career
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds says that what the report doesn’t say is that Lord Ability would have turned two years old the next day (26 September). It was only his second race. His career lasted 25 seconds.
The Coalition says his death follows that of Bazza Bann, euthanased with a fractured spine at the Grafton track on 14 June 2022. He also fell at the first turn after colliding with other dogs.
The flagship Grafton greyhound racetrack reopened in June 2021 after a $4.6m rebuild funded by the NSW Government. It was billed as the biggest project ever undertaken by Greyhound Racing NSW, the track supposedly uses the latest safety technology and design. However, since June 2021, four greyhounds have been killed there and more than 200 injured, including 41 with major injuries.
The Coalition says that other new racetracks around Australia, promoted as ‘safe’, have kept killing greyhounds. Angle Park (SA) and Traralgon (VIC) cost a total of $9 million, were supported by governments, but have killed a total of 14 dogs since racing resumed.
In 2022 121 dogs have died nationwide
So far in 2022, 41 dogs have died racing in NSW, and 121 nationwide.
Greyhound welfare advocates said the death of Lord Ability highlighted the urgent need to audit and review the new generation of racetracks promoted as safe for greyhounds.
Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG), Kylie Field, said the racing industry and state governments have promoted the new generation of multimillion dollar greyhound racetracks as safe and improved, but greyhounds are still suffering violent injuries and deaths.
‘Grafton is Australia’s second-most expensive new track, behind the $6 million Traralgon facility in Victoria. $4.6 million of taxpayer funds built the Grafton track that has killed four dogs and injured hundreds.
Scandalous use of taxpayer dollars
‘Three new tracks in three states cost a total of $13.6 million and have killed 17 dogs. This is a scandalous use of taxpayer dollars. Where is the accountability and auditing?
Ms Field said Grafton is supposed to be a flagship safe racetrack. ‘We need an independent review and audit to examine how public funds are being wasted on these dog-killing tracks. Every animal welfare advocate knows that no racetrack can be made safe.’
‘Lord Ability died the day after the Million Dollar Chase event in Sydney, billed as the world’s richest dog race. The NSW greyhound racing industry can offer a million dollar prize, and another million dollars to an on-site lucky punter, but can’t save a Grafton greyhound with a broken leg!
‘It’s a blood sport’
The racing industry’s priorities are all wrong. Profits and prizemoney come before animal welfare. The NSW State Government has become a cheerleader for a dog-killing industry and must stop supporting it with public funds,’ she said.
‘Grafton was one of 18 NSW tracks used to stage heats for the Million Dollar Chase. These 18 tracks have seen the racing deaths of 36 dogs in 2022.
‘It’s a blood sport!’
For more information on this race you can view the Stewards’ report: Stewards report – Grafton 26sept022
Lord Ability’s Racing Profile: https://www.thegreyhoundrecorder.com.au/greyhounds/lord-ability
Race video – removed from GRNSW website: https://www.thedogs.com.au/racing/grafton/2022-09-25/9/yamba-pumps
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