Fourth greyhound killed at Adelaide’s Angle Park, making track deadliest in the country so far this year

Greyhound Racing SA’s Angle Park track in Adelaide.

A greyhound was killed at Adelaide’s Angle Park racetrack on Wednesday last week on after breaking her leg while racing. The dog’s death is the fourth greyhound death this year at South Australian racetracks and the sixth death at Greyhound Racing South Australia’s flagship Angle Park track since it underwent a $3 million ‘safety upgrade’ late last year.

The death also makes Angle Park Australia’s deadliest track for greyhounds so far this year. Victoria’s Shepparton track is not far behind, having already seen three dog deaths.

In just the first 3.5 months of this year, 72 dogs have already sustained injuries at the Angle Park track.

According to the steward’s report published by Greyhound Racing SA, a greyhound raced under the name of ‘Loose Leaf Chai’ broke her front right radius and ulna bones after colliding with another dog, Ritzy Star, before falling to the track.

The incident took place in the fourth race of a meet at Angle Park on Wednesday, March 9.

The race footage of Loose Leaf Chai’s fall is partially obscured by the track racing rails, but she can be seen losing her footing and falling heavily to the ground as the other dogs leave her behind.

Race commentators can be heard callously describing the incident as a “bit of a tumble”.

At the end of the race, the race commentator goes on to call Loose Leaf Chai a “tumbler” and describes her running back on her broken leg.

“And there was a, er, tumbler who didn’t finish the race,” the commentator says, “Loose Leaf Chai, that is heading down the back straight…bit of a messy race here.”

Loose Leaf Chai falling in front of another dog on Wednesday March 9. [Source: Greyhound Racing SA race footage]

Loose Leaf Chai on the ground in the moments the race pack leaves her behind on Wednesday March 9. [Source: Greyhound Racing SA race footage]

Greyhound Racing SA’s new “Greyhounds As Pets” adoption program branding can be seen around the track as Loose Leaf Chai falls and breaks her leg.

Loose Leaf Chai was owned by a gambling syndicated named ‘Zala’. The syndicate made the decision to have her euthanised at the racetrack by Greyhound Racing SA’s on-track veterinarian,Dr. Michelle Hague.

Dr. Michelle Hague also works for the Adelaide Plains Veterinary Clinic in Two Wells, run by the former Greyhound Racing South Australia board member and nationally-known racing greyhound vet Dr. John Katakasi.

At the same race meeting, another dog, ‘No Plans’, collided with the track railings in a race supported by the Greyhound Racing SA slogan “We Love Our Dogs”.

The race meet was sponsored by Australia’s biggest owner of racing greyhounds and a former SA greyhound trainer, Raymond Borda, via his Fresh Pet Food company.

Loose Leaf Chai is the fourth dog to die at Angle Park this year, after the deaths of Naughty Miss on January 24, Twin Pick on January 27, followed by Rugged and Ready on February 14. All four dogs were killed after suffering leg fractures sustained at track turns.

Loose Leaf Chai was bred by Steven Coates and trained by Lester Harris of Magdala, north of Gawler.

Loose Leaf Chai had raced 29 times between South Australia’s Gawler and Angle Park dog racetracks, earning the gambling syndicate that owned her almost $5,000.

In the months preceding her death, she was made to race 4 times in January, 3 times in December and 5 times in November.

She died at 2 years old.

Rugged and Ready (circled) in her second to last race at Angle Park on January 24, 2022.

The Angle Park track was closed for a major $2.9 million redevelopment and “safety upgrade” 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.

The Greyhound Racing SA CEO has stated the track “features a layout that sets the standard for modern best-practice design," and is “based on track safety research commissioned by the industry, and undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney."

SA Premier Steven Marshall speaking at the Adelaide Cup last year alongside Matthew Corby and Corey Wingard. A dog died at the event. [Source: Greyhound Racing SA]

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG), a greyhound welfare advocacy group, said that the SA Racing Minister, Corey Wingard, and Greyhound Racing South Australia could no longer ignore the ongoing deaths at the state’s premier track.  

“How much more proof do we need that greyhound racetracks are dangerous and can’t be made safe? Six poor dogs have been killed since Angle Park’s multimillion dollar upgrade,” said Kylie Field, a director at CPG.

“Instead of wasting money on make-believe safety upgrades, the industry should be doing more to keep greyhounds alive and reduce the rate of euthanasia,” she said.

“The racing industry tries to sell the myth that greyhound racing is safe. However, almost $10m has now been wasted on trying to make just three tracks safer in Victoria and South Australia. These so-called safety upgrades have seen at least 14 greyhounds killed,” she said.

Greyhound Racing SA was contacted for comment.

Loose Leaf Chai’s final race can be viewed below (she is in the black vest with the number 7).