Hundreds of Tasmanian dog owners targeted in campaign to end taxpayer funding for racing

Hundreds of Tasmanian dog owners are being targeted in a letter-boxing campaign calling for an end to taxpayer funding of greyhound racing. FULL STORY + HAVE YOUR SAY >>

HUNDREDS of Tasmanian dog owners are being mobilised in a letter-boxing campaign to end taxpayer funding of greyhound racing.

A petition launched last December, to be tabled in the House of Assembly by Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, calling on the government to end taxpayer subsidy of the industry, has 3500 signatures with the aim of 12,000 by June.

Petition organiser Deb Bauer said the letter-boxing campaign was aimed at alerting Tasmania’s quarter of a million dog owners to taxpayer funding to “prop up commercial greyhound racing in Tasmania, against the wishes of the vast majority of the population”.

“Tasmania has the highest percentage of dog owners in Australia – nearly every second home contains a dog,” Ms Bauer said.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We have a big army of supporters and we are just starting to take the campaign to the streets and into as many pet owning homes as possible.”

Maddie Gowans, who manages a doggy day-care and training facility will drop leaflets in letterboxes when she walks six-year-old greyhound Eton.

“Most people I speak too have no idea that this is what is happening, and are quite upset by it,” she said.

“It is such an archaic sport, the practices are so outdated, many people across the world are realising this and putting an end to it.

Elsa Rector with Cotton and Maddie Gowns with Elton. Save Greyhounds Campaign. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It’s quite embarrassing and sad for us as a country that our government is the one that is pouring money in and holding the industry together.”

Ms Gowans said in the past year she and her partner had fostered greyhounds through Brightside Farm Sanctuary.

“Every single one of them had their own mental and physical scars from the industry.

“It seems so unfair they can be treated as commodities when they are such loving and gentle dogs who just want their own place to call home.”

Friend Elsa Rector said she was upset to learn taxpayer money helped fund greyhound racing.

“After getting to know Elton and other greyhounds it’s hard to see why they are treated differently than any other breed of dog,” she said.

A Tasracing spokesman said the greyhound racing industry contributed more than $53m to the economy and supported 433 full-time equivalent jobs..”

“More than 20,000 people attend a greyhound race meeting in Tasmania each year,” he said.

“And wagering turnover on Tasmanian greyhound racing is increasing year-on-year.”

End of an era for racing at popular Tassie track

HARNESS and greyhound racing will no longer be held at the Devonport showgrounds from the end of March with North West trainers to be offered a subsidy to take their horses and dogs to Launceston or Hobart instead.

TasRacing CEO Paul Eriksson wrote to trainers this week saying its lease with the Devonport Agricultural Pastoral Society would expire on March 25.

The original date was March 1 but Racing Minister Jane Howlett said that had been extended.

The last harness race meeting will be held at the showgrounds on March 20 and the last greyhound meeting on March 22.

Harness racing on the track at Spreyton, Shelley Barnes (LHS) and Tessanzo on their way to victory in race one at Devonport. (RHS) Gareth Rattray and Bumble Don

A subsidy program is being finalised, TasRacing said.

It will apply to licensed trainers and drivers residing in the northwest who are participating in a transferred race meeting or trial session.

Four scheduled harness meetings have been moved to Launceston. Of the 18 greyhound meetings planned, eight have been moved to Launceston and 10 to Hobart.

Tasracing and the two Devonport race clubs (harness and greyhound) hold 67 meetings annually at the showgrounds servicing more than 170 participants and generating about $1.85m.

The agricultural society has decided to sell the ground to affordable housing advocates Ian Ugarte and Simon Want, who founded the Australian Housing Initiative and are involved in projects across the city.

There is work underway to build a new harness and greyhound tracks in the North West - on private and Crown land at Palmers Rd in Latrobe.

The Tasmanian Government has contributed $8million and TasRacing will soon engage with residents about its initial plans and explain directly what the proposal looks like.

Victorian greyhound Zevatron winning his Devonport Chase heat.

Devonport Harness Club presidnet Claire MacDonald said ultimately, greyhound and harness racers n the North West would have the best facility in the State.

“There is no definite timline for th Latrobe track but it will be worth waiing for,” Ms MacDonald said.

“This has come not come as a suprrise but it will be hard for people wanting to get their horses and dogs ready for a race and it will add time to the trip to the track.

“We just have to keep our eye on the end prize.”