This page will be updated with news about greyhound racing and horse racing abuse worldwide.
GREYHOUNDS KILLED AT PETERBOROUGH STADIUM
One dog put to death for playing
Another breaks his neck in race
Volunteers needed for campaign against track
Greyhound Action has received inside information about two recent appalling
incidents involving the deaths of greyhounds at Peterborough Stadium.
On Thursday, July 3rd, during a trial race, a young greyhound, called Milo
Blackbird, tried to play with the other dogs instead of chasing after the mechanical hare.
The greyhound's owner/trainer,John Reid, took him straight to the track vet and had him "put down".
On Saturday, July 12th, in the second race of the evening, a 4½ year old greyhound,
called He's A Cheetah, hit the rails on the first bend and broke his neck.
He was carried lifeless from the track with blood pouring from his mouth.
After confiming that the information received was true,
we issued a press release to the local media,
which was taken up by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and featured in their early morning news programme last Friday (July 18th).
During the programme, one of the news reporters interviewed a man who said he had witnessed the horrific death of He's A Cheetah.
The gentleman in question said he had been a fairly regular visitor to dog tracks,
but had begun to have serious misgivings, after becoming aware of the large number of greyhounds that get put to death,
and had now come to the conclusion that the dog racing industry should be done away with.
One greyhound trainer he had spoken to described the Peterborough track as a "death trap".
These two recent incidents follow the conviction in April of former greyhound trainer Rebecca Hagger
for causing unnecessary suffering to three greyhounds and failing to meet the welfare needs of another four.
Peterborough Magistrates banned Hagger from keeping animals for 10 years and ordered her to do community service.
See www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Dogs-left-to-suffer-in.4028724.jp and
www.actionforgreyhounds.co.uk/news75.htm
July 17th, 2008
GOLD Coast greyhound racing will be given $10 million in taxpayer funding to
help it find a new racetrack after it moves out of its taxpayer-owned
Parklands site which has been earmarked for the $1.5 billion Gold Coast
University Hospital.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser yesterday told a parliamentary estimates hearing the
State Government did not legally have to give Greyhounds Queensland the
compensation as they were on public-owned land administered by the Parklands
Trust on behalf of the state.
He also said he would not stand in the way of the organisation if it wanted
to use the money to exit its part-ownership of Albion Park in Brisbane and
seek to combine the industry's resources at a new site, possibly at Logan.
The Gold Coast club off-icially closes on July 30 after 22 years so planning
can begin for the hospital. The Salvation Army and the Church of Christ,
also on the site, have already been found new homes to relocate to.
The greyhound organisation pays $130,000 a year in a leasehold arrangement.
Mr Fraser said he had met Greyhounds Queensland Limited last Friday to
discuss compensation and possible alternative sites.
"There has been debate for some time over the future facilities for
greyhound racing in the region," he said.
"I know trainers and breeders have been debating the industry's future in
south-east Queensland and this announcement will help industry move
forward."
He said the compensation payment was on condition the industry used it to
fund new facilities.
"Where they might be and in what form is a matter for them," he said.
"This funding provides the means for the industry to marshal its resources
and plan for the long-term future.
"Industry leaders need to put forward the best plan for the industry as a
whole."
Mr Fraser said the Government had no objection to the possibility of
Greyhounds Queensland exiting their part-ownership of Albion Park.
"If they wish to, we would be happy to help them enter into a proposal with
their co-tenants Queensland Harness Ltd to exit Albion Park," he said.
"While Logan has been mooted a possible alternative site for a 'super
track', this is something for the industry to decide.
"It is now a corporatised entity in charge of its own destiny. With the
benefit of the transfer of the half-share of Albion Park in the past and now
with the $10 million in compensation at Parklands, we think that sets it up
with the ability to make those decisions."
From www.news.com.au Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
Detention for man who left dog to die
By Amy Coopes
July 16, 2008 12:03pm
Darragh left greyhound in hot car after collision
Greyhound 'would have suffered enormous pain'
Darragh launches appeal against severity of sentences
A GREYHOUND trainer who left his dog to die in the back of his car has been sentenced to five months' weekend detention by a Sydney court.
Terry John Darragh, 37, also was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and was fined $1000 at Balmain Local Court today.
Magistrate Ross Clugston told the court Darragh's $10,000 greyhound Go Bronco would have suffered "enormous pain" as he lay in the back of a station wagon for about 12 hours between January 12 and 13 this year.
Mr Clugston said the dog was howling in pain when a passerby discovered him.
The witness managed to force open the car door so he could pour water over the dog, but despite veterinary intervention, Go Bronco died as a result of heat exhaustion and dehydration three days later.
Darragh left the dog in the car after colliding with a bus on Glebe Point Road as he left the Wentworth Park racing track on the evening of January 12.
The trainer told police he "panicked" and fled the scene.
Darragh falsely reported his car stolen to police the following morning and did not come clean about what he had done for a further six days.
Mr Clugston today sentenced Darragh to five months periodic detention on a charge of animal cruelty and ordered him to complete 150 hours of community service for making the false report to police.
Darragh also was fined $1000 for negligent driving and for failing to stop and exchange details with the bus driver following the crash.
Darragh's solicitor Benjamin Goh told the court the Harness and Greyhound Racing Authority had launched an inquiry into Go Bronco's death and he foreshadowed that the trainer could face further penalties and sanctions.
Mr Goh said Darragh had raised the dog from a pup and was devastated by its death.
"He is obviously deeply mortified that he has allowed this dog to pass away in the way that it did," Mr Goh.
"He's clearly guilt ridden, remorseful and saddened."
Darragh launched an immediate appeal against the severity of his sentences for the animal cruelty and false representation charges.
He was granted bail, and will not serve any of his sentence prior to the appeal being finalised.
From www.coventrytelegraph.net CV5 Coventry Communities -
Coventry,England,UK
Greyhound is Supermum to roe deer fawn
May 29, 2008 12:00am
GREYHOUND racing was rocked yesterday with news that the cash-strapped
National Coursing Association - one of Sydney's two clubs - is quitting
Wentworth Park.
In a deal brokered to allow the NCA to stay in business, the NSW Greyhound
Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, will take control of the NCA's 52
annual metropolitan racing dates. The NCA will be "compensated" by the GBOTA
for relinquishing its WP meetings.
Since it opened its own track in 2005 - The Gardens, near Wallsend - the NCA
has been beset by financial problems.
Former chairman Richard Zammit said yesterday: "For the past 80 years
greyhound clubs have mostly been tenants and we wanted to give the sport its
own racetrack.
"Before establishing The Gardens the NCA had $1 million in the bank and we
could have sat on that and done nothing.
"But in trying to do something for the industry we have been faced with
massive bank repayments. Sometimes The Gardens made $400,000 to $500,000 a
year but that got swallowed up by loan and interest payments."
Murray Nicol, NCA executive chairman, said: "The last straw for us was when
GRNSW recently reduced the rebate the NCA received on totalisator turnover
at Wentworth Park. Instead of getting 7.35 per cent of turnover we were cut
back to five per cent.
"After TAB distribution, tote rebates are our biggest source of income. That
slashing of tote rebates was a sign things were not going to get any easier
for us.
"The money we will get from the GBOTA will ensure the NCA remains viable and
will allow us to develop The Gardens into the top provincial greyhound
facility in Australia.
"From 2009, the NCA's flagship race, the Group One Paws Of Thunder, will be
run at The Gardens."
But the NCA's other blue riband events, the National Derby and National
Futurity, will be staged at Wentworth Park. The NSW Greyhound of the Year
award will continue as an industry-backed event.
Limerick stadium dream moves a step closer
Published Date: 27 May 2008
By Jerome O'Connell
THE dream of a new Greyhound Stadium for Limerick has moved a step closer.
The planning application for the new multi-million stadium in the old Greenpark Racecourse has now moved into the final stage and a decision will be made before the end of June.
"We are delighted to be entering the final stages of this process and we are hopeful that people see the huge contribution that a state-ofthe-art greyhound facility will make to the entire mid-west region.
"Given we have not opened any new facility since 2001, then a new Limerick will give this industry a significant push forward," said IGB Chairman Dick O'Sullivan, who enthusiastically greeted the news from the City Council.
Meanwhile a statement from the Irish Greyhound Board confirmed the latest update on the planning process. "The proposed new Limerick Greyhound Stadium has progressed significantly following the announcement that Limerick City Council intends to consider deciding to grant a permission for the development of a greyhound racing stadium and headquarter offices for Bord na gCon at the former Greenpark Racecourse, Dock Road, Limerick," said the IGB statement.
Effectively, the City Council's decision means they have granted planning for the track and stadium.
However, the Irish Greyhound Board intends relocating the Head Office at Greenpark from Henry Street in Limerick City and this is currently deemed a material contravention of the planning zone in that location.
The situation now is that there will be a public notice period of four weeks from May 20 and it is expected that the City Councillors will then vote on the head quarters permission on June 23.
Hopes are high among the greyhound fraternity that the machines will be moving into Greenpark during the summer and that work can finally begin on the development.
From www.peterbroughtoday.co.uk Peterborough Today - Peterborough,England,UK
Activists stage greyhound protest
Peterborough's greyhound stadium was the scene of a lively animal rights protest, with protesters waving placards calling for an end to racing.
A group of around 16 demonstrators gathered outside the venue, in Fengate, Peterborough, on Saturday evening (May 24).
They claim tens of thousands of dogs are disposed of by the industry every year if they don't make the grade.
The group, called Greyhound Action, which is based in Kidderminster, also urged people to lobby their MPs.
However, Peter Laurie, from the British Greyhound Racing Board, said: "Greyhound Action is a small group of activists that refuses to acknowledge the tremendous progress that greyhound racing has made in recent years to improve welfare standards. They distribute propaganda featuring wildly inaccurate and highly offensive claims and out of date statistics and images."
Obscene handout to race winners
A $9 million handout to wealthy race horse owners is a disgrace says the Problem Gambling Foundation.
CEO John Stansfield says it is obscene that the racing industry that already receives $1.8 million a month in pokie funding and generous tax concessions is getting even more taxpayer money in this week's budget.
Two years ago the racing industry was given duty relief of $32 million. About $18 went towards increasing stakes.
"A week or so ago the Child Poverty Action Group published a damning report on child poverty in New Zealand," Mr Stansfield says.
"Every school in the country is crying out for more funding.
"The list of things this money could be spent on goes on and on."
Mr Stansfield says that a couple of weeks ago a spokesperson for NZ Thoroughbred Racing was reported as saying his organisation received enough money from the TAB to run successful race meetings.
"We have NZTR saying they don't even need the pokie money they get, let alone a huge handout of taxpayer money on top of that.
"This is an extraordinary way for government funding to work.
"I suspect it is about who you know, and what favours you owe, not what your need is."
The racing industry is celebrating its new capacity to fund more $1 million stakes races but Mr Stansfield says there appears to be little evidence that increasing the number of high stake races was bringing any real benefit to racing or the country as a whole.
"You won't see the small racing clubs that are struggling benefiting from this money. It will end up in the hands of an elite group who already have more money than they know what to do with.
"The minute this handout is cemented in the champagne crowd who are rich enough to have horses in this sort of race will just start demanding $2million stakes paid for by the taxpayer.
"You can be sure they will never be happy no matter how much we give them.
"Meanwhile manufacturers struggle to keep people in employment and ordinary Kiwis battle to meet soaring food and petrol prices."
For more information contact:
John Stansfield
CEO, Problem Gambling Foundation
09 369 0606
027 448 1520
Campaigners torpedo greyhound racing's Bismarck
GA's greatest ever victory as top track goes under
Now help us get rid of the rest!
A 12 month leafletting campaign by Greyhound Action's North London
co-ordinator Steve Norman and his small, but intrepid, crew of volunteers, has brought about the closure of Walthamstow Stadium, the flagship of the British greyhound racing industry.
The group's persistent leafletting of Walthamstow race-goers, almost every Saturday evening, drove down attendances to such an extent that the stadium's owners have now announced that it is to be sold for house-building and greyhound racing will cease there in August.
The closure of the stadium is a massive victory for the cause of greyhound protection, as the existence of the Walthamstow track is responsible for the slaughter of over 500 of these dogs every year.
It is also a spectacular triumph for Greyhound Action's Winning Words! campaign, which is based on our belief that most ordinary people in this country are fond of dogs and would not support greyhound racing, if they were aware of the killing and cruelty involved.
For Anna - Our victory at Walthamstow is dedicated to local animal protection campaigner Anna Smith, whose sudden death just recently saddened us deeply. Anna devoted her life to fighting against animal abuse and had been a Greyhound Action supporter for many years.
Winning Words! is aimed at educating members of the public who are going for "a night at the dogs" about the suffering and slaughter caused by the greyhound racing industry in order to persuade them never to go to greyhound racing again.
The main idea of the campaign is for our leaflets to be distributed as often as possible to people going into major greyhound tracks on race-nights, especially on Saturdays, when they have their biggest attendances. To hold large demonstrations outside such tracks requires a considerable number of participants, but such leafletting sessions can be successfully carried out by just two or three people at a time.
Walthamstow is going under, but 29 major tracks still remain in British greyhound racing's flotilla of death. Help us to sink them all by getting involved with Winning Words! Regular leafletting is currently taking place at several, but our aim is to eventually cover every single one.
Since Greyhound Action's campaign began in 1997, more than 20 UK greyhound tracks have been forced to close and we have been instrumental in preventing over a dozen proposed ones from opening. Now help us get rid of the rest!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23689089-11088,00.html
Turf's alarm bells
Matt Stewart
May 13, 2008 12:00am
THE global image of horse racing has probably never shifted so dramatically as in those tragic strides that followed Big Brown's Kentucky Derby win.
Horse racing in the US has a major image problem, one that has the sport on the verge of being shamed out of existence.
For a few hundred metres at Churchill Downs last Saturday week, racing had stolen back some acceptance.
Big Brown, a mighty and handsome colt, streaked away from his rivals, a reminder even to those who detest the sport that there are few more beautiful sights than a thoroughbred in full flight.
Then, moments after Big Brown surged past the post, runner-up Eight Belles, the only filly in the race, stumbled badly on pulling up.
She had shattered her front ankles and within minutes had been destroyed, in front of 150,000 racegoers and millions of TV viewers.
The mood at Churchill Downs shifted from one extreme to another as news filtered through the course of Eight Belles' demise. For racing, the timing and the setting could not have been worse.
The Derby is one of few US races telecast to a free-to-air national audience.
Last year brilliant but brittle Barbaro won the Derby and then shattered a hind leg attempting to win the Preakness Stakes a fortnight later.
The battle to save Barbaro became a soap opera, one that ended with the horse being put down.
The whole nation staged a virtual bedside vigil for Barbaro.
Racing causes barely a ripple of interest in the US. But Barbaro's death caused a national outcry, manipulated to the full by the radicals at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Barbaro's owners were accused of animal cruelty not just for racing him, but for crudely attempting to save his life.
The death of George Washington at the Breeders Cup meeting maintained the anti-racing sentiment, and now Eight Belles.
The tone of the backlash is in all likelihood a watershed moment for racing worldwide.
Experts in major US newspapers this past week have accused racing of manufacturing fast horses incapable of standing up to the rigours of the sport.
The very evolution of the breed, which has been carefully and strategically orchestrated all over the world, was described as a disaster.
Andrew Bayer, one of the US's most respected turf commentators, wrote in the Washington Post that the US breeding industry was "producing increasingly fragile thoroughbreds . . . going to stud to beget even more fragile offspring".
Another expert said racing in the US would "run itself out of business as a legitimate sport" if it did not address this evolution issue.
Another suggested racing was "breeding itself to death".
Australia's most prominent breeder, John Messara, says US concerns should be shared worldwide.
Messara conceded he was a "prime culprit" in breeding fast horses for a quick return.
"But maybe this is a wake-up call for all of us," Messara said.
"Maybe there should be an international forum to address this before we find ourselves in an irreversible situation. Maybe we've created a recipe for disaster."
Messara said the focus on short dashes for immature two-year-olds here - and perhaps drug treatment issues with horses in the US - meant more brittle horses were being bred for short-term gains.
He said the recent breakdown of super two-year-old filly Amelia's Dream in Sydney was a prime example.
"Her legs were simply too fast for her body," he said.
Messara said the sight of horses breaking down in public, whether at Churchill Downs or Caulfield, was devastating for the future of the sport.
"Racing needs to attract a broader audience," he said.
"Incidents such as these terrible incidents in the United States are terrible for the sport."
updated 07/25/2008