Greyhound killed after breaking her spine at Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club, Victoria

A greyhound was killed yesterday after breaking her spine at a dog racing event held by Greyhound Racing Victoria, bringing the death toll at Victorian racetracks to 22 dogs this year.

The greyhound died at the Ballarat dog racetrack on March 30, after colliding with other dogs within the first seconds of the race, before falling and breaking her spine, which resulted in her death. The dog was pronounced dead 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 "One Step Forwards", was trained by Michael Gibbons, a resident of Lara, Victoria, and owned by the Albiga syndicate. One Step Forwards had been made to race 67 times before her final race, earning her owners $18,605. She died at the age of 3 years old, just 2 days after her third birthday.

One Step Forwards’ death brings the national death toll to 62 greyhounds killed at racetracks in Australia this year.

Footage of the race in which One Step Forwards fractured her spine has since been released by Greyhound Racing Victoria, below (the injury occurs at around the 0:12 mark).

Greyhound Racing Victoria Veterinarian, Dr. Craig Finlayson (R) (Facebook: Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club)

The veterinary surgeon that oversaw yesterday’s race at Ballarat was Dr. Craig Finlayson, the owner of Warrnambool Quality Vet Care, a mobile vet service that operates in the local Warrnambool area. Finlayson is also employed by Greyhound Racing South Australia, and works as the veterinarian for the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club.

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. Finlayson holds his registration as a veterinarian in the state of Victoria.

*

The City of Ballarat Council, which currently permits greyhound racing in its local council area, deferred a request for comment to the state government due to the “current pandemic circumstances”.

The sponsor of the race in which One Step Forwards broke her spine was listed as JA Catering Services, a function and events business in Ballarat. The owner of JA Catering Services is yet to respond to a request for comment.

*

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 to continue.

In a recent post on Facebook, the Ballarat Greyhound Club told the public to remain home, while it continues to host races. “Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy!” the club wrote.

Dog racetracks have been permitted to remain open by the Victorian state government despite another threat, 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.”

Pakula was contacted for comment.