Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (2024)

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  • NSW
  • Greyhound racing
By Ben Cubby and Jordan Baker

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It was supposed to be a golden year for greyhound racing. In 2023, a record 13,650 races took place around the state, a new sponsorship deal with a global gambling giant had netted Greyhound Racing NSW a record funding boost, and prize money had doubled since the Baird government tried and failed to shut the industry down five years earlier.

But, according to industry insiders and a scathing report produced by the industry’s chief veterinarian, the positive spin glossed over many secrets – and many dead dogs.

Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (1)

The animal cruelty allegations detailed for the first time this week are sobering: a massive increase in injured dogs attributed to more frequent races, large numbers of greyhounds dying in cruel conditions, and public claims about the number of animals rehomed grossly inflated “in order to maintain a facade of cleanliness”.

The industry’s alleged problems were laid out in excruciating detail in the report written by Alex Brittan, a former chief veterinarian for Greyhound Racing NSW, the corporate body established by the state government to oversee greyhound racing across the state.

“The industry is unsustainable,” Brittan wrote. “GRNSW’s internal stance and attitude to indentured animal welfare concerns is reprehensible.”

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While the report had been circulated among a group of greyhound racing stakeholders for some time, the government was compelled to act when it was tabled in parliament on Tuesday. Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Rob Macaulay disputed Brittan’s allegations and resigned later that day.

Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris announced on Thursday that Lea Drake, the former head of integrity at the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, had been appointed to run an independent inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW.

The inquiry will examine Brittan’s animal cruelty claims and a wide range of alleged problems within Greyhound Racing NSW’s management, internal processes, and workplace culture.

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Harris has previously been made aware of complaints about the organisation.

A former company secretary of Greyhound Racing NSW, Ian Londish, wrote to the then chair of the body, John Williams, last year with a list of complaints about the organisation’s governance.

Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (2)

The complaint, echoed by other former staff members the Herald spoke to, raised concerns about high-paying consulting and contracting roles with Greyhound Racing NSW and called on the board to review staff appointments.

“There have been senior staff appointments which have not been advertised and which have been made not following a proper selection process,” he wrote.

A law firm, PTW, was appointed to manage the greyhound group’s legal affairs by a previous chief executive, Tony Mestrov, and approved by the board. Other staff at PTW were subsequently appointed to roles within GRNSW.

Macaulay was accused of delaying freedom of information requests, which the organisation is obliged to comply with despite being a corporate body established by the government and not a government agency.

Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (3)

“Rob became quite angry and publicly ordered [the staff member] to wait until the last day to respond,” Londish wrote. “As you will understand, this is … certainly a very poor example of compliance culture by a CEO.”

The complaint also alleged that Macaulay dismissed staff via text message or while staff were away on holiday, and required other managers to break the news of dismissals to staff while Macaulay was out of the office.

Macaulay has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations raised by Londish. He and Greyhound Racing NSW declined to comment when contacted by the Herald this week.

An external law firm was retained by the greyhound body to investigate the allegations, but its findings have not been made public.

‘It is utterly immoral to allow yet more greyhounds to enter this unsustainable morass of exploitation and suffering.’

Alex Brittan, former chief veterinarian of Greyhound Racing NSW

A freedom of information request lodged by the Herald last year seeking information about payments from Greyhound Racing NSW to external companies was largely denied.

Racing Minister David Harris said at the time: “It’s vital that the governing bodies and senior leadership of the state’s racing codes meet the highest standards of integrity.”

The veterinarian’s report, which became known in greyhound racing circles as the Brittan Communique, was lobbed into this already tense situation on June 15.

The 54-page document outlines a litany of animal welfare and corporate governance allegations.

The experienced vet wrote that greyhounds born in the system had only two options for leaving – to be rehomed or to die. Yet, the numbers didn’t add up, with rehoming rates falling far short of the necessary number, resulting in more and more dogs being held in industrial kennels.

Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (4)

“The internal acceptance is that this hidden population is a Gordian knot, an unsolvable problem, that will need to just die,” Brittan wrote.

“The rehoming rate is so poor that, even if the export quota reached the required rate of 3600 [per annum] in 18 months, a further 3500–4000 greyhounds will have already been added to this unrehomable mass of greyhounds trapped within the industry with no hope of a domestic life,” he wrote.

“Until the existing backlog of unrehomed greyhounds is acknowledged and addressed, it is utterly immoral to allow yet more greyhounds to enter this unsustainable morass of exploitation and suffering.”

Numerous welfare issues

The industry fiercely contested the numbers in Brittan’s report and said he misinterpreted the data. However, some in the racing community expressed scepticism about the practicalities of rehoming. One Greyhound Racing NSW staff member said an expensive radio advertising campaign yielded just a single applicant.

Brittan identified numerous other animal welfare issues. In a separate research paper written for Greyhound Racing NSW, he wrote that travel compensation payments made to racing dog owners appeared to create an incentive to race dogs more frequently and enter races that dogs had little chance of winning. The payments had coincided with a sharp rise in the number of injured dogs. Around 11 dogs a day suffered a race or post-race injury in NSW.

The research is potent ammunition for animal welfare groups, who point out that Australia is one of only seven nations where dog racing is legal and has more tracks than the rest of the world combined.

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Premier Chris Minns has indicated that, whatever the findings of the Drake inquiry, the sport will not be banned. NSW Labor was a staunch supporter of the industry when former Liberal premier Mike Baird sought to ban it in 2016 following a raft of animal abuse findings.

Baird faced fierce resistance from within the Coalition as many Nationals opposed the ban, and the then-premier was pummelled by sections of the media, including News Corp and talkback radio commentator Alan Jones.

Jones dined with the premier at his Circular Quay apartment the night before Baird announced his backflip. “You can overplay this animal welfare thing,” Jones said afterwards. “At the end of the day, there are people here who are being driven to penury and suicide, and when I explained that to him, he understood. He just kept saying, ‘I was wrong’.”

The sport still has many friends, including former senator John Williams, who wrote an opinion piece in The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday backing Macaulay and his determination to implement the findings of the 2016 McHugh report into racing cruelty.

“Macaulay took on the job with an energy you rarely see,” Williams wrote. “Others told me that Macaulay slept with the McHugh Report and its list of industry failings and recommendations under his pillow. It wasn’t a joke.”

But as race day attendances have dwindled, the sport’s heavy reliance on online betting money has left it vulnerable, supporters believe.

Macaulay wrote to industry stakeholders in August last year, warning them that a federal House of Representatives committee had recommended a ban on online gambling inducements and ads. He urged them to mobilise and “take a stand against this threat”, contact MPs, and start a campaign against online gambling changes.

“As you know, racing is funded by state taxes on wagering,” he wrote. “If they kill wagering, they kill the sport.”

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Secrets and spin: How greyhound racing’s golden year went to the dogs (2024)

FAQs

What happens to greyhound racing dogs? ›

Some “retired” greyhounds are put up for adoption, others are sent to breeding farms, and the fate of many is unknown. The National Greyhound Association, which registers all greyhounds for racing, doesn't keep track of the dogs after they leave the track.

What happens to old greyhounds? ›

Following the end of their racing careers, ex-racing greyhounds typically enter a period of transition, the exact nature of which varies depending on various factors, but often lead to adoption, rehabilitation or early retirement homes.

Is greyhound racing animal cruelty? ›

There are numerous animal welfare issues inherent to greyhound racing. Overbreeding of dogs, problematic training methods, injuries and deaths during training and races, continuing instances of live-baiting, and the fate of unwanted greyhounds all remain significant concerns.

Why did they ban greyhound racing? ›

Beginning in roughly 1990, and continuing over the next three decades, the vast majority of greyhound tracks have closed due to declining betting revenue, encroachment by Native American gaming and commercial casino gambling into states with greyhound racing, the legalization of sports betting and concerns over the ...

What is the dark side of greyhound racing? ›

Cruel methods are often used to dispose of unwanted dogs and the dogs who do survive in the industry are forced to live in cramped crates, pens or fenced enclosures. Many racing dogs suffer injuries while racing; according to state records, a racing greyhound dies every three days on a Florida track.

Do dogs get hurt in dog racing? ›

Every year, thousands of young and healthy Greyhound dogs are killed merely because they lack winning potential, were injured while racing or are no longer competitive.

Where are greyhounds kept when not racing? ›

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.

What is the life expectancy of an ex racing greyhound? ›

The average life expectancy of a former racer is 12 – 15 years. What is the size of a greyhound? Greyhounds normally are between 24 and 29 inches at the shoulder, and weigh between 50 and 80 pounds. Females are usually smaller than males.

Do retired racing greyhounds make good pets? ›

With their longer life expectancy and unbreakable gentle spirit, Greyhounds can provide great companionship long after their racing career is over. Many wind up in rescues or shelters; an estimated 18,000 Greyhounds have been placed into homes every year.

What states still allow dog racing? ›

Today, the only states that still allow greyhound racing and have active tracks are Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Texas and West Virginia. There are four states that do not have active racetracks, but still have laws legalizing greyhound racing. Those states are Wisconsin, Connecticut, Kansas, and Oregon.

How are greyhounds kept when racing? ›

They are confined for long hours each day with bedding that consists of carpet remnants or shredded newspaper. In the United States, dogs are confined for 20 to 23 hours per day with intermittent turn outs and official races about once every four days. Kennels vary widely across jurisdictions.

What is the fastest dog in the world? ›

Taking the top honor for the fastest dog is the Greyhound! They are spectacularly good movers and their tall stature makes for a beautiful picture as they speed by at 45 mph. They are one of the most-gentle breeds ever and are just as happy in pursuit of their favorite small animal as they are lounging by your side.

Why do people not like greyhound racing? ›

While there are trainers and owners who do care for and love their dogs, there are too many recorded instances of greyhounds' basic welfare needs not being met. These include little, if any, enrichment, poor diet and uncomfortable conditions including lack of space and access to light.

Why did Florida stop greyhound racing? ›

Dorchak said the campaign's ultimately decisive, strategic goal was to inform the voting public about the sport's "corruption and cruelty." She said, in general, a dog died every three days and suffered devastating injuries from broken legs to severed necks running in circles to enrich bettors and dog-track owners.

Why do greyhounds wear muzzles? ›

Preventing biting: While greyhounds are typically non-aggressive, their high prey drive and competitive nature during races can sometimes cause them to react instinctively and unexpectedly. Biting or nipping at other dogs can lead to severe injuries, so wearing muzzles can effectively mitigate this risk.

What will happen to the greyhound breed? ›

As of January 2021, however, only four racing venues remain open in all of the U.S. The sport is taking its last gasp. Greyhounds won't actually vanish afterwards, but some of their defining qualities are likely to change. Cosmetic factors will start to play a role in their breeding.

How long do greyhounds live after racing? ›

How old are retired racers? How long do they live? Greyhounds are usually 2-5 years old when they are retired, though sometimes we have older dogs available for adoption. The typical life expectancy of a greyhound is 12-14 years.

What is the trauma of racing greyhounds? ›

Injuries are very common in greyhound racing causing intense pain, suffering and distress. Serious bone fractures of the leg are the most common injury. Some fractures are communited which is a high velocity injury more commonly associated with car accidents or being shot. Muscle injuries are also very common.

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