Greyhound killed after race at Bendigo Greyhound Racing Club, Victoria

A greyhound was killed last week after breaking his leg at a dog racing event held by Greyhound Racing Victoria, bringing the death toll at Victorian racetracks to 21 dogs this year.

The greyhound died at the Bendigo dog racetrack on March 27, after colliding with other dogs at the first turn in the racetrack, before falling and breaking his leg as a result. The dog was then 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 "Rossington", was trained by Sheila Donlon, a resident of Burnbank, Victoria, and owned by Robert Britton. Rossington had been made to race 15 times before his final race, earning his owner $3,495, and died at the age of 2 years and 1 month old.

Rossington’s death brings the national death toll to 60 greyhounds killed at racetracks in Australia this year.

Footage of the race in which Rossington sustained his injury has since been released by Greyhound Racing Victoria, below (the injury occurs at around the 0:40 mark).

Greyhound Racing Victoria Veterinarian, Dr. Sue Collins. (Photo: McIvor Road Vet Centre)

The veterinary surgeon that oversaw the race at Bendigo last week was Dr Sue Collins, who also works at the McIvor Road Veterinary Centre in Bendigo, a business she owned until 2017.

McIvor Road Veterinary Centre has been a regular sponsor of greyhound racing in Victoria.

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. Collins holds her registration as a veterinarian in the state of Victoria, and has worked for Greyhound Racing Victoria for at least 5 years.

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A spokesperson for the City of Greater Bendigo Council, which currently permits greyhound racing in its local council area, stated that the city “has no involvement with Greyhound Racing so therefore has no position on the matter.”

Yet the spokesperson did acknowledge that the council had oversight of some of the racetrack venue operations, including food sales and planning issues: “The venue operates legally under the Greater Bendigo planning scheme which controls planning issues but does not manage animal welfare issues.”

“I suggest you make contact with Greyhound Racing Victoria for further information on how this facility operates and is licensed as it is not through local government,” they wrote.

The spokesperson also suggested contacting local state government politicians in Bendigo, Jacinta Allan and Maree Edwards.

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The sponsor of the race in which Rossington had his leg broken was listed as Bill Wilkinson Optical, a local business in Bendigo, owned by Nicole Baines and Jason Richter. Richter stated that while he had sponsored some greyhound races last year, the business had not engaged in any sponsorships this year and he was unsure as to why the name of his business had been listed in the official racing report published by Greyhound Racing Victoria.

“We are totally removed from the races,” Richter told me. “We have never been involved with it [greyhound racing] as a business prospect.”

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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.

Dog racetracks have been permitted to remain open by the Victorian state government despite several other threats, in addition to COVID-19, having taken hold in the industry. Canine enteric coronavirus has been spreading through racing dogs in the state, yet dogs have continued to be taken to racetracks and made to race in close proximity to each other.

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.

“I think there will be a period, and hopefully it won’t be a long period, when racing will more than likely have to stop,” Pakula said.

“But while we can race, we should enjoy it.”

The Bendigo Greyhound Club is continuing to promote a dog racing festival that is set to begin on April 2, with 7 race meetings to take place in the space of 11 days.

Pakula was contacted for comment.

*Note: This article has been updated to include comment from the City of Greater Bendigo.