Racing itself is on notice and any sport that involves animals

THE Baird government’s decision to wipe out greyhound racing is both a shock and a firm tap on the shoulder not just to greyhound racing but any sport that involves animals.

Pictures taken at Wentworth park Greyhound Races. Pixs from: Race 2 1st Place - TWO TREE HILL 4 2nd Place - DIRECT BULLET 6 3rd Place - TURBO VAPOUR 8 4th Place -

TO say that the abhorrent crimes and practices of the few have wiped out the existence of the many is to tell only part of the story.

The Baird government’s decision to wipe out greyhound racing in NSW is both a shock and a firm tap on the shoulder not just to greyhound racing but any sport that involves animals.

The message is that complacency can mean death; that sports involving animals and gambling — two of society’s most sensitive subjects — are on notice by their very nature.

The Victorian state government was quick to reassure the local industry that greyhound racing has survived recent scrutiny, including three separate reports, and emerged the better for it; sustainable, justifiable.

Racing Victoria also quickly realised it was not detached from this story, shooting off a press release to assure society that its animal welfare practices are good and improving.

“This is not necessarily a greyhound racing story, it is an animal welfare story and horse racing cannot escape animal welfare scrutiny,’’ said Racing Victoria chairman David Moodie.

“In any racing code, without the animal you have nothing.’’

No amount of apology to the 80 per cent who hadn’t live-baited, no amount of compo or “detailed industry shutdown plan’’ will ease the carnage of Baird’s decision, the most dramatic and sweeping in the history of any racing code in this country.

None of the Perna, Milne or Bittar reports recommended the shut down of Victorian greyhound racing. It is an industry that employs thousands

— Martin Pakula (@MartinPakulaMP) July 7, 2016

We must have zero tolerance for cruelty but to wipe out an industry without giving it a chance to change is madness. Baird is in for a fight

— Richard Irvine (@riracing) July 7, 2016

One thing is clear!Animal cruelty on any level is despicable & jailable. But @mikebairdMP u have just destroyed thousands of livelihoods MTC

— NEIL EVANS (@NeilEvansmail) July 7, 2016

Greyhound people are not millionaires. They exist on the margins. Their dogs are in many cases their measly meal ticket and also their life.

“It’s a huge upheaval,’’ said leading Victorian greyhound commentator Ron Hawkswell. “They’ve had the rug pulled from right under them.’’

People who are already struggling will be joining unemployment queues. The world’s biggest greyhound breeder, NSW based Paul Wheeler, will have to relocate or sell up. There aren’t enough happy homes for his hundreds of redundant dogs.

Fit and able greyhounds will be destroyed, one of the true ironies of this wipeout.

Hundreds of greyhound tracks, many in prime land like Sydney’s Wentwork Park, will become something else; apartments, parks.

A chasm will be created on TV screens in pubs and TABS. Over $500 million is wagered on NSW greyhounds on the TAB each year, five per cent of overall turnover across the three codes.

Over 9000 greyhound races are run in NSW each year, filling the coffers of the TAB and the sport.

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The TAB was still getting its head around the revenue cost of the Baird decision on Thursday.

The catalyst for the obliteration of greyhound racing in NSW was a Four Corners report that revealed widespread live-baiting, slaughtering of slow and injured dogs; “widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals,’’ Baird said.

Other states featured in that report.

Our leading trainer, Darren McDonald, was secretly filmed strapping s squealing piglet to a crude greyhound lure, to be chased down and torn apart by greyhounds.

NSW might be the fall guy but the sport itself is on strict notice, regardless of reassurances in other states.

Racing itself is on notice.

Outsiders don’t separate greyhounds from trotters and gallopers when they contemplate animals as a medium for gambling. Starving horses at Bulla, pits full of dead dogs, trotters on drug cocktails; one in the same.

The world has changed and is changing.

Welfare defines racing. If it slips, the cost can be terminal.

The ABC uncovered the livebaiting scandal last year, showing disturbing footage of live animals being used to train greyhounds.

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The recent NSW government report was damming of the state’s greyhound industry, finding up to 20 per cent of trainers engaged in livebaiting.

TIMELINE OF A SCANDAL

* February 16 2015: Four Corners reveals the use of live piglets, possums and rabbits to train greyhounds across three states.

* Early 2015: Following the report there is wide condemnation of trainers.

* May 6 2015: Honourable Michael McHugh AC QC appointed to head up an inquiry into the NSW greyhound industry.

A disturbing image captured on the ABC program Four Corners into the use of live piglets, possums and rabbits to train greyhounds.

* June 2 2015: Queensland abolishes all racing boards in response to the growing scandal.

* Late 2015-early 2016: NSW and Queensland police charge several greyhound trainers with livebaiting.

* June 16 2016: Commissioner McHugh hands down his report.

* July 7 2016: NSW Premier Mike Baird announces industry shut down based on the report.

* July 1 2017: NSW greyhound racing industry to be shut down.

NSW Premier Mike Baird (left) and Deputy Premier Troy Grand announce their intention to shut down greyhound racing in NSW. Picture: Stephen Cooper

GREYHOUND INDUSTRY KEY FIGURES

* About 17,500 greyhound pups are born in Australia each year, with NSW having the biggest number — 8000 in 2014

* 7000 of the 17,500 pups born (40 per cent) will never race

* Only 600 greyhounds are “rehomed” annually under Greyhounds As Pets programs

* Confidential April 2015 Greyhounds Australasia report says the industry is “responsible for the unnecessary deaths of anywhere between 13,000 and 17,000 healthy greyhounds a year”

* 74 per cent to 96 per cent of greyhounds are put down before the age of 42 months

* The RSPCA has a euthanasia rate of 15.9 per cent

* Australia has 3800 active greyhound breeders.

Kyle Vos and sister Tammy Vos have both adopted greyhounds Teddy and Charlie. The shutdown will include a strategy for rehoming dogs. Picture: Peter Ristevski