Tooradin Trial Track at centre of greyhound live-baiting scandal
A RAMSHACKLE collection of sheds at the end of a dirt road seems the unlikely location for the crisis that has engulfed greyhound racing.
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A RAMSHACKLE collection of sheds at the end of a dirt road seems the unlikely location for the crisis that has engulfed greyhound racing.
On a sign out the front of the Tooradin Trial Track they boast “your dogs are our dogs”, and also boast “education and breaking-in a specialty”.
But for now they are closed for business.
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Two animals peer out curiously from a row of cages on the side of the dusty track.
It’s a lot quieter than it was last Wednesday when a convoy of RSPCA and police cars roared in to execute warrants on the allegation that trainers were using live animals as bait to train their greyhounds.
Leading trainer Stuart Mills runs the track but was nowhere to be seen on the isolated rural property yesterday.
Neither was his brother, Andrew Mills, who was Greyhound Racing Victoria’s deputy chief steward and is now the regulator’s chief grader.
But their father, Tony Mills, lives at the track and jumped to his son’s defence.
He said he didn’t think Stuart had done anything wrong and he would be seeking legal advice.
Asked if he was aware of live baiting happening on the property, Mr Mills said: “Not to my knowledge”.
Mr Mills did watch the footage broadcast on the ABC’s Four Corners. “We are concerned ... I can’t say everything’s all right,” Mr Mills said.
“On the footage, there was a lot of non-evidence ... I’ve seen movies where things are altered. Things look real and they’re not real.
“Nobody’s been charged, there are no charges against Stuart.”
In 2013, Mr Mills was awarded the Ken Carr Medal, considered the top honour in Victoria’s greyhound racing industry.
The veteran racing figure said he didn’t think live baiting was widespread in Victoria, despite the evidence presented.
“You hear all sorts of rumours but as far as I’m aware ... it’s not as prevalent as they’d have you believe,” Mr Mills said.
The RSPCA raided the property after watching sickening surveillance footage provided by a tiny but determined group of Animals Australia activists.
The footage showed live rabbits tied to a mechanical lure so they could be chased — and brutally mauled to death — by the eager greyhounds.
The rabbits were kept in cages and dangled on leads as bait to excite the dogs.
Animals Australia chief investigator Lyn White said: “What we have documented is sickening, shocking and profoundly disturbing — not only because of the horrific cruelty but because of the human behaviour that is revealed.”
RSPCA Victoria chief executive Dr Liz Walker said it was the worst case of animal cruelty she had ever seen.
By the end of last week, 10 people had been suspended by Greyhound Racing Victoria and the Tooradin Trial Track had been shut down.