All About Greyound Racing

Every year, an estimated 18,000* greyhounds are born in Australia, with the goal of breeding the fastest dog [2]. The exact number is unknown as there is a lack of transparency within the industry. The industry fails to publish data regarding the life cycle of the greyhounds, including the number born each year, the number of named greyhounds, and the euthanasia rates [3].

At 8-16 weeks old, greyhounds begin lead training and are exposed to chasing games, at 16 weeks they commence reward-based training and racing related activities. They can be entered into their first race at just 16 months old [4]. Due to the stress of racing, many are retired by the age of two, while some last until they are five [5].

A greyhound can be kept in a tiny kennel, 3.5 metres squared (1.2m wide by 1.8m tall). The typical greyhound is 68cm to 76cm tall, meaning the cages barely offer room for movement. Greyhounds who are training or racing can be kept in these confined spaces all day, only being released for training or racing and a minimum of 30 minutes of “free” exercise [6]. Those who are spelled (having a break from racing or training), breeding, or retired, are allowed to stay in here for 23 hours a day.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds has analysed the steward reports for all races in 2020. In just one year, 9,681 greyhounds sustained an injury on Australian tracks [7]. These injuries range from abrasions to muscle soreness and tears, broken and fractured bones, concussions, bruising, internal and external bleeding, deep lacerations, dislocations, and vomiting [8, 9]. Although not all greyhounds will sustain an injury while racing, it is evident that it is incredibly dangerous for them.

On Australian race tracks, approximately one greyhound dies every 1.6 days. In 2020, 202 greyhounds were killed on the tracks or died from the injuries [10]. Their injuries consisted of spinal fractures, broken necks, torn ligaments, and broken or fractured bones – the latter which could be treated but instead, deems them “useless” to the industry and results in them being killed [11]. While the industry claims this is a low percentage in comparison to the number of races, from a welfare perspective, one death is too many.

Live baiting refers to using live animals to train greyhounds to chase. It is illegal in Australia. In 2015, a Four Corners exposé revealed shocking footage of live piglets, possums, and rabbits being used to “blood” greyhounds during training sessions. The footage showed the live animals being fixed to the mechanical lures and catapulted around the track, while the dogs chase and eventually maul them to death. The investigation by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation QLD showed this was routinely accepted by trainers across NSW, Victoria, and Queensland [12, 13].

The industry refers to those who do not race, fail to be successful or are ‘retired’ as ‘wastage’. Approximately 40% of the greyhounds bred in Australia every year are a surplus and will never even make it to the tracks [14]. The greyhound racing industry has incredibly low rehoming rates. Annually, thousands of greyhounds ‘disappear’ and healthy, trainable dogs are killed instead of being re-homed [15]. In 2015, the industry admitted to killing approximately 17,000 healthy greyhounds a year – 7,000 of which were puppies [16]. More recently, the Greens state this figure is closer to 18,000 [17]. This is because the industry views “euthanasia” as acceptable and normal practice for greyhounds who are “unsuitable for racing”.

In NSW alone, over 97,783 greyhounds were whelped between 2004 and 2016. Based on an average life expectancy (12-15 years), 90,974 greyhounds should still be alive, yet, the Commission found that only 26,852 greyhounds are currently registered with GWIC – comprising of 6,505 greyhounds who are actively racing, 6,970 greyhounds who have been whelped but are yet to race, and 13,377 greyhounds who have been retired to industry participants [18, 19]. This leaves over 60,000 unaccounted for in NSW alone.

Other investigations have found that unwanted greyhounds are being used for their blood or are experimented on. In 2013, veterinary nurses came forward saying they were forced to drain dogs’ blood and then kill them. Why? To help with the treatment of other dogs. Greyhounds have a somewhat universal blood-type meaning their blood can be used for transfusions for other companion dogs [20].

Did you know that your tax money is being used to prop up this cruel industry? The Australian government artificially inflates prize money, gives pay incentives for breeding, props up clubs and builds unwanted tracks. The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds put together a summary of the money trail here.