THE second greyhound to die at a racemeet in Horsham this year has prompted a renewed debate about the safety of the sport.
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On Thursday, December 3, Nhill-trained two-year-old Irina Bale was euthanised after a collision during a race.
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds said the incident reflected "inherent" problems in the greyhound racing industry.
Greyhound Racing Victoria however said safety standards were continually improving.
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GRV reported 687 euthanised Victorian-owned greyhounds in the 2018-2019 season; a 28 per cent decrease on the previous racing season, and a significant decrease on the 3,488 greyhounds euthanised in 2014-2015.
"Greyhound racing has undergone massive reform in the past five years with welfare and integrity priorities for all involved," Greyhound Racing Victoria said in a statement.
"GRV introduced the Greyhound Recovery Initiative in December 2016 which provides financial support for treatment of greyhounds seriously injured at a race meeting.
"The Victorian Government's Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds has welfare requirements over and above that of any other animal."
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds however said more should be done.
Irina Bale suffered its injury and consequent death during a seven-dog race in Horsham on Thursday.
Coalition president Dennis Anderson said seven-dog races on curved tracks should be stopped.
"The racing industry's own research shows that six-dog races and straight tracks are safer, yet still they persist in putting greyhounds in harm's way," he said.
GRV did not comment on reducing the number of seven or eight-dog races, but said they were working to make tracks safer.
They said recent renovations at Horsham had improved safety standards.
"The loss of a greyhound is distressing for all concerned," they said.
"GRV has a long-term strategy to make our tracks safer and we are collaborating with Professor David Eager from UTS to develop a scientific underpinning for safe racing.
"GRV has used this approach to rebuild the Horsham track and in the current rebuilding of the Traralgon track.
"Any changes we make at other tracks will be based on sound research and scientific evidence."
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Richard Crabtree
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
