Third track death in a week in Victoria after greyhound killed at Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club, Victoria

(Facebook: Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club)

Three greyhounds have died at Victorian racetracks in the space of a week, after a dog was killed yesterday after breaking his leg during a dog racing event held by Greyhound Racing Victoria.

Victoria’s racetracks have been the deadliest for racing greyhounds in Australia this year, with a death toll of 23 dogs in just over 3 months.

The greyhound died at the Warrnambool dog racetrack on April 2, after colliding with other dogs approaching the final turn in the race and fracturing his leg. The dog was subsequently euthanised by an on-course veterinarian, according to a race report written by officials working for Greyhound Racing Victoria.

The dog, who had been assigned a racing name of "Cloona Reward", was trained and owned by Kevin Mugavin, a resident of Killarney, Victoria. Cloona Reward had been made to race 44 times before his final race, earning his owner $16,610. He died at the age of 3 years and 1 month old.

Cloona Reward’s death brings the national death toll to 63 greyhounds killed at racetracks in Australia this year.

Footage of the race in which Cloona Reward breaks his leg has been released by Greyhound Racing Victoria, below (the injury occurs at around the 0:16 mark).

The veterinary surgeon that oversaw yesterday’s race at Warrnambool was Dr. Harriet Weston, who also works at The Vet Group veterinary clinic in Warrnambool.

The rules of greyhound racing, as stipulated by the Australian regulator, Greyhounds Australasia, state that any veterinary surgeons appointed by greyhound racing organisations—including Greyhound Racing Victoria—may have their “powers and duties specified” by the racing organisations that appoint them.

Dr. Weston holds her registration as a veterinarian in the state of Victoria.

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The Warrnambool Council, which currently permits greyhound racing in its local council area, was contacted for comment.

The sponsor of the race in which Cloona Reward broke his leg was listed as the Premier Speedway, a car racetrack venue in Warrnambool.

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As many businesses and non-essential services around Australia have been forced to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exceptions have been made for greyhound racing.

Victoria’s Minister for Racing, Martin Pakula, said last week that the greyhound racing industry is “doing everything right” to keep the sport safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and told participants to enjoy dog racing while they can.

Yesterday Tasmania became the first Australian state to close down horse and greyhound racing due to the pandemic. Victorian tracks remain open, despite the introduction of lockdown regulations in the state.