Greyhound killed at Angle Park in third dog death since $3m ‘safety upgrade’

Greyhound Racing SA’s Angle Park track in Adelaide.

A young greyhound was killed at Adelaide’s Angle Park racetrack on Monday after breaking two bones in her leg while racing. The dog’s death is the first greyhound racetrack death for the year in South Australia, and the third death at Greyhound Racing South Australia’s flagship Angle Park track since it underwent a $3 million ‘safety upgrade’ late last year.

According to the steward’s report published by Greyhound Racing SA, the greyhound 'Naughty Miss' became injured after colliding with other dogs while entering the back straight in Race 4 on Monday, January 24. The race veterinarian found her to have sustained a fractured tibia and fibia. Race footage shows Naughty Miss falling behind the pack after sustaining her injury, but still attempting to sprint despite her broken leg.

Naughty Miss’ trainer made the decision to have her euthanised by Greyhound Racing SA’s on-track veterinarian, Dr. Brian Agnew. Alongside his work in greyhound racing, Dr. Agnew regularly provides veterinary services to South Australia’s horse racing industry as the owner of the Horsemed SA veterinary clinics, having previously worked for livestock companies in Saudi Arabia and China.

Naughty Miss was just 23 months old, in her fifth race.

Naughty Miss had won $1,500 for her owner and trainer, Rebecca Romyn, who is based in Two Wells. Ms. Romyn trains at the Germantown Road property owned by racehorse owner Jack Eugenio Savaglia, which this publication revealed last year to be the alleged site of a historical mass greyhound grave that serviced the greyhound racing industry.

At the same race meeting at Angle Park on Monday, five other dogs were injured, two with major injuries, with one suffering a fractured ankle.

Naughty Miss (circled) as she falls behind due to injury at Angle Park on Monday January 24, 2022.

Naughty Miss is the third greyhound to die at Angle Park since extensive “safety upgrades” were completed at the track last year. The Angle Park track was closed for a major $2.9 million redevelopment in April 2021, reopening in late August 2021.

The upgrades were officially unveiled in October by Premier Steven Marshall when he attended the TAB Corp Adelaide Cup along with SA Minister for Racing Corey Wingard. A greyhound died at that event.

Greyhound Racing SA has stated the Angle Park upgrade was intended to “renew ageing track infrastructure and reconfigure the track design so as to incorporate best practice modern design standards in safety,” and “included transitional turns, increased cambers, new fencing, and a SafeChase lure.” The upgrades have been promoted as beneficial to animal welfare, with GRSA saying they were “expected to mitigate the risk of injury and reduce interference in support of optimal welfare outcomes”.

Yet in their Annual Report from last year, Greyhound Racing SA also said the upgrades would benefit their gambling business, stating: “A longer run to the first turn and better ‘traction’ through the turns will resonate more broadly with our wagering audience.”

The “best practice” safety upgrades do not seem to have achieved much in the way of improving safety outcomes for greyhounds raced at Angle Park.

In the 54 race meetings held at the track since its reopening, three greyhounds have died. ‘Withers Monelli’ died at the Adelaide Cup event Premier Marshall attended on October 8, and another dog, ‘Basman’, was killed a month later on November 11 last year.

107 dogs have been injured since the track has reopened, with 20 dogs suffering major injuries such as broken bones. Additionally, at a single race meeting on December 20, eight greyhounds were injured—an unusually high number for a single race meet.

20 greyhounds were killed on SA tracks in 2021, compared to 18 in 2020. Greyhound Racing SA was contacted for comment.

SA Premier Steven Marshall speaking at the Adelaide Cup last year. A dog died at the event. [Source: Greyhound Racing SA]

Animal welfare advocates say the greyhound deaths at Angle Park on a supposedly “safe” track prove again that there is no safe form of dog racing. 

Kylie Field, a director with the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, said: “Millions of dollars have been spent to supposedly make Angle Park safe. This has seen three dogs killed and more than 100 injured. No amount of marketing spin and glossy reports can hide those distressing facts.”

“Angle Park is a curved track. These are inherently dangerous for greyhounds and can’t be made safe,” she said.

“GRSA also has to review its euthanasia policy. Too many dogs are being killed with treatable leg injuries – they’re considered mere disposable commodities that aren’t worth the cost of rehabilitation,” Ms. Field added. 

“GRSA runs a Track Injury Surgery Rebate Scheme. Was Naughty Miss considered for this? There needs to be more transparency and accountability,” she continued.

For at least 7 years, Greens MLC Tammy Franks has been pushing for an inquiry into South Australian greyhound racing and for greater transparency from Greyhound Racing SA, which is currently permitted by the SA Government to self-regulate its own racing activities. She is currently working to pass legislation that would see Greyhound Racing SA become subject to Freedom of Information law—which the body is currently exempt from—that would allow the public to seek access to basic information about the greyhound racing industry.

“This death is another tragic reminder that this so-called sport simply perpetuates cruelty so that a handful of people can make some money. Those making bets might win on occasion, but the greyhounds always lose,” Ms. Franks said.

“This is why transparency from this industry is vital, and why the recommendations of the inquiry into my Statutes Amendment (Animal Welfare Reforms) Bill — regarding that transparency — must be implemented,” she said.

Dr Rosemary Elliott is the President of Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics. “The tragic death of all these greyhounds shows why greyhound racing must end,” she said. “There is no way of protecting dogs from catastrophic injuries, particularly at track turns.”

Naughty Miss’ final race can be viewed below (she is in the blue and white striped vest).