64 Tracks
The Australian greyhound racing industry consists of eight different state and territory governing bodies.1 These bodies are responsible for regulating the greyhound racing activities at the clubs in their areas. There are 64 greyhound tracks in the country.2 Representatives from each of the state and territory bodies make up Greyhounds Australasia, the national supporting body for greyhound racing in Australia and New Zealand. In 2015, a total of 40,978 greyhound races were held throughout Australia.3
Five greyhounds die per week racing in Australia. (End Greyhound Cruelty)
A caged racing greyhound at an Australian kennel. (Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in NSW, Australia)
Puppies on a greyhound breeding farm in Australia. (Greyhound-Data)
Greyhounds buried in a mass grave at Keinbah Trial Track. (Clive Steirn)
Protesters against greyhound racing in Australia. (Coast to Coast Animal Friends)
A majority of the greyhounds racing in Australia were bred in the country. In 2015, there were 3,006 litters of greyhounds registered.4 There are 262 breeding kennels listed on greyhound-data.com, an online database maintained by dog racing gamblers.5
Each governing state and territory body has its own set of racing rules that include regulations regarding registrations for dogs, clubs and individuals, race meeting requirements and policies on doping.6 Greyhounds Australasia also has a set of regulations; however, the rules of local controlling bodies take precedence over them.7
Across Australia, 33,537 documented injuries were recorded from 2016 through 2021. 8 Between 2015 and 2021, 19,595 deaths have been reported across six of the states.9
Betting on greyhound races is legal in Australia. In the last five years, total wagering, or “turnover,” on races rose from $4.4 billion in 2017 to over $7.7 billion in 2021.10 Seventy-five percent of turnover in 2021 came from the states of Victoria and New South Wales.11
The mass slaughter of greyhounds in the greyhound industry is euphemistically called “wastage.” An internal Greyhounds Australasia report revealed that the industry is responsible for the unnecessary deaths of 13,000 to 17,000 healthy greyhounds each year.12
The “Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry,” known as the McHugh Report, was published in 2016.13 The report found that at least 50% of greyhound puppies whelped were deliberately killed because they were not fast enough. The evidence also showed that 40% of greyhounds whelped never make it to the track. The Commission found that breeding needed to be drastically reduced in order for the problem of the mass slaughter of greyhounds to be solved.14
More ways to help dogs
Sign our Australia
petition >
Stop the new Queensland dog track
Pledge monthly >
Australia News
Greyhound Recorder - Central Coast Trainer Disqualified Immediately
9NEWS - Greyhound industry under fire
ABC News - TasRacing accused of covering up greyhound injuries as opponents highlight editing of race videos
The Guardian - Australian racing industry ‘failing miserably’ to rehome greyhounds as adoption flatlines
Read more >
Australia Resources:
- "Members," Greyhounds Australasia, galtd.org.au (accessed October 6, 2014).
- "Greyhound Racing Tracks in Australia," Australian Racing Greyhound, australianracinggreyhound.com (accessed March 2, 2020). The current total number of tracks accounts for the ban in the ACT, discontinuing racing at Canberra Greyhound track.
- "Australasian Statistics," Greyhounds Australasia (accessed May 12, 2016).
- Ibid.
- "Greyhound breeder directory," Greyhound Data, greyhound-data.com (accessed August 25, 2016).
- "Rules of Greyhound Racing SA Limited," Greyhound Racing SA Limited, sa.thedogs.com.au (accessed October 6, 2014); "Local Rules of Racing (Greyhound Racing)" Racing Queensland, 2012, greyhoundracingqueensland.com (accessed October 6, 2014).
- "Greyhounds Australasia Rules," Greyhounds Australasia, sa.thedogs.com.au (accessed October 6, 2014).
- “Injury Reports,” Greyhound Racing New South Wales, grnsw.com.au (accessed April 1, 2020).
- Ibid; Rachel Riga, “Greyhounds still killed in the hundreds as government and industry accused of dragging feet on reforms,” ABC, abc.net.au (accessed April 2, 2020); Matt Corby, “Media Statement,” Greyhound Racing SA, September 21, 2016; “Reports,” Greyhound Racing South Australia, sa.thedogs.com.au (accessed April 3, 2020); Rod Andrewartha and Tony Murray, “Review of Arrangements for Animal Welfare in the Tasmanian Greyhound Racing Industry,” Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment, March 13, 2015; “2019 Annual Report,” tasracing, tasracingcorporate.com.au (accessed April 2, 2020); “Greyhound Racing Victoria Annual Report 2018/2019,” Greyhound Racing Victoria, grv.org.au(accessed April 2, 2020);"Lethal Tracks 2020," Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, greyhoundcoalition.com, February 2021 (accessed March 17, 2021).
- Annual Reports, All Codes Racing Industry Board (Queensland), 2015-2021; Annual Reports, Greyhound Racing New South Wales, 2015-2021; Annual Reports, Greyhound Racing South Australia, 2015-2021; Annual Reports, Greyhound Racing Victoria, 2015-2021; Annual Reports, TasRacing, 2015-2021; Annual Reports, Western Australia Greyhound Racing Association, 2015-2021.
- Ibid.
- Brown, Michelle. “Greyhound industry kills up to 17,000 young dogs, warned about being shut down, inquiry hears,” ABC News, September 28, 2015, abc.net.au (accessed September 6, 2019).
- McHugh, Michael, “Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry,” New South Wales Government, June 16, 2016, greyhoundracinginquiry.justice.nsw.gov.au (accessed September 6, 2019).
- “Key Findings of Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry,” The Sydney Morning Herald, July 7, 2016, smh.com.au (accessed September 5, 2019).
Stay up to date and learn how you can help.