Lismore greyhound racing to end at flood-prone track

Greyhound industry stakeholders have made a tough call on the Lismore track, but see why there’s fresh hope for the “sport of the working class” in Northern NSW.

Racing won't return to Ladbrokes Park in Lismore. Photo: The Greyhound Recorder

The NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association has made the “difficult and emotional” decision to walk away from the Lismore track.

In a statement on Facebook, association CEO Allan Hilzinger said the move was driven by minimum standards for infrastructure.

“If a rebuild of Lismore requires a 6m (wide) track (as all new tracks must), that is physically not possible,” Mr Hilzinger said.

But the association has confirmed its commitment to greyhound racing in Northern NSW, while a local state MP has called for investment in the industry.

The breeders, owners and trainers association has also noted the Lismore track is positioned in a particularly flood-prone part of the city, which made a return to racing unviable.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis pictured with Grafton Greyhound Racing Club president John Corrigan (left), Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Tony Mestrov and 'Rusty' the greyhound.

Outgoing Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis was disheartened by the news, describing it as “really sad”.

“Greyhound racing is not the sport of kings, it’s the sport of the working class, and Lismore has suffered significantly,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“The people of Lismore love greyhound racing and they love their dogs - they’ll miss that interaction with each other and the social engagement that they have.

“What we probably need to do is have some premier tracks in the northern region (where) we can hold strong competitions.

“There was a massive $4.6m upgrade to Grafton, and it was made one of the safest tracks in NSW.”

Mr Gulaptis crossed the floor against the then-Baird Coalition Government on its 2016 Greyhound Racing Prohibition Bill, voting with Labor to oppose the bill alongside fellow Nationals MPs Kevin Humphries and Katrina Hodgkinson.

The bill was introduced after a special commission of inquiry in response to a 2015 Four Corners program which found animal safety issues in the industry.

Meanwhile, the breeders, owners and trainers association is reportedly in discussions with the Casino greyhound club about moving the Lismore Cup and Ladbrokes Maiden to that facility.

“Greyhound racing won’t die - hopefully people in Lismore can look to the track at Casino,” Mr Gulaptis said.