Racing Queensland responds to criticism of ‘deadliest’ greyhound track

Racing Queensland has insisted it takes animal welfare seriously following damning criticism of its new $85 million facility near Ipswich, which has been dubbed Australia’s “deadliest” greyhound track.

The Q, to which the former Labor state government committed more than $44 million in taxpayers’ money to build, officially opened last month, but races were suspended on the weekend over concerns about track safety.

Greyhound advocates have roundly criticised the three-track Purga facility, with claims at least 11 dogs have died of injuries sustained on the tracks since March, before its official opening – a figure Racing Queensland has not disputed.

The Q officially opened last month, at a cost of more than $80 million.Credit: The Q

Responding to criticism over the weekend, a Racing Queensland spokesman said the organisation was committed to the dogs’ safety.

“Racing Queensland places the welfare of its animals at the heart of its decision-making, with close to $1 million in funding delivered in FY24 to support its greyhound welfare schemes,” he said.

“In collaboration with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, we continue to explore – and adopt – new strategies to reduce the incidence of injury in greyhounds at race meetings in Queensland.

“This includes analysis of injury data and research into risk factors for injury, and strategies to optimise track curation processes.

“The management of on-course injuries, and the adoption of the Race Meeting Injury Scheme, supports industry participants to treat and rehabilitate greyhounds that have sustained serious injuries at race meetings.”

Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds president Amy MacMahon said that along with the 11 dead greyhounds, their analysis showed more than 160 injuries at The Q.

One of those dogs was three-year-old Reiterate, which, according to the steward’s report, received a right hock fracture during the first race on Saturday, before racing was abandoned.

“If the government and Racing Queensland really put animal welfare front and centre, why is The Q now one of the deadliest and costliest tracks in the country?” MacMahon said.

Reiterate running with a right hock fracture at The Q in the first race on Saturday, before racing was suspended.Credit: Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds

“If animal welfare is front and centre, why does Racing Queensland censor videos of falls and injuries?

“The Queensland government spent $44 million on a greyhound racing track that is now too unsafe to use – explain that to the people waiting for public housing or sitting in emergency department waiting rooms.”

Comment has been sought from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, which a CPG spokesman described on Tuesday as “weak, ineffective and conflicted”.

The RSPCA, meanwhile, said the number of reported greyhound track deaths and injuries in the state was alarming.

“These dogs aren’t just statistics, they’re individuals,” spokeswoman Emma Lagoon said.

“But track deaths and injuries aren’t the only animal welfare issues within the industry that need to be addressed.

“RSPCA Queensland has discussed numerous animal welfare concerns with QRIC and Queensland Racing, and provided several recommendations to improve animal welfare across greyhound racing in the government’s 2025 Racing Review.”

The most recent dog known to have died at The Q, Beau Ripple, was euthanised on the track on June 28 after suffering a foreleg injury. That followed on from the deaths of Texas Wedge and Divided By Nine on June 16, Spring Freya on June 3 and Travis’s Scrub on May 17.

Then-NSW premier Mike Baird announced a ban on greyhound racing in the state in 2016, only to capitulate three months later following intense industry pressure.

Responding to the suspension of racing on the weekend, including the $1 million Brisbane Cup, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the industry as “an important part of the fabric of who we are as Queenslanders”.

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