Greyhound Racing Research Articles

Incidence and risk factors for limb fracture in greyhound racing in Western Australia.

Identification of risk factors for race day injury can improve greyhound welfare. Race day fractures are the most significant injury event and have the greatest negative impact on dog welfare and the industry's social license to operate. This study aimed to describe the incidence and risk factors for race-related fractures in greyhounds racing in Western Australia. Electronic extracts describing race level data and race day injuries were provided by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA). The incidence rate (IR) of fractures for all greyhound race starts in Western Australia from 1 January 2017-31/12/2023 was calculated per 1000 starts. Univariable and multivariable models using Poisson regression were used to calculate the IR ratio of fracture type based on race and greyhound-level factors. There were 198,008 racing starts and 662 (n = 643, 97.1% involving the limbs) fractures resulting in an IR of 3.3 fractures per 1000 starts (95%CI 3.1-3.6). Greyhounds that had an injury in their previous race were 2.3 times (95%CI1.4-4.3) more likely to have a forelimb fracture than greyhounds that did not have an injury (P = 0.013). The risk of tarsal bone fracture was greater in greyhounds older than 30 months and greyhounds that had not raced in the previous 15 days. Risk factors for fractures in the forelimb were associated with trauma after interference or dog collisions, whereas tarsal fractures were associated with strain and cyclic loading from race training/racing. Changes to racing structure, rules and policies based on these risk factors may help to reduce fracture incidence in racing greyhounds.

Establishing harmonised screening limits and detection times in greyhound racing - A considered approach.

An outline of the approach taken by international greyhound regulators to establish internationally harmonised screening limits and detection times in greyhound racing, which included a program of administration studies and an extensive and recognised risk assessment process, to ensure delivery of an effective anti-doping and medication control program.

Confirmation of ethanol administration in racing greyhounds by LC-MS-MS.

Ethanol is a prohibited substance in professional animal racing as its administration causes physiological effects such as depression of the central nervous system. Regulation of potential doping agents, including those that inhibit performance, is critical to ensure integrity and animal welfare in greyhound racing, but the detection of ethanol is complicated by dietary and/or environmental exposure. In response, a reliable analytical method capable of detecting recent ethanol administration in greyhound urine samples was validated and implemented. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was used to investigate the variation in urinary ethanol metabolites; ethyl-β-D glucuronide (EG; = 1.0μg/ml, = 3.3μg/ml) and ethyl sulfate (ES; = 0.9μg/ml, = 1.9μg/ml) levels from a reference population of 202 racing greyhounds. These were compared to urine samples collected following administration of ethanol to one male and one female greyhound. Results were used to establish a threshold within the national rules of greyhound racing: and > 20 μg/ml in urine are defensible criteria to confirm ethanol administration to greyhounds. Case studies of competition samples are provided to demonstrate the forensic translation of this work.

Cross-Sectional Survey of Public Perception of Commercial Greyhound Racing in New Zealand.

The commercial greyhound racing industry in New Zealand is struggling with an eroding social license and 'on-notice' status. Multiple independent reviews of the industry have identified ongoing issues of animal welfare during and between races, euthanasia decisions, poor data tracking, a lack of transparency and problems with rehoming dogs, resulting in New Zealand animal advocacy agencies and the general public questioning the continuation of greyhound racing. The current paper assessed the New Zealand public's awareness and familiarity with commercial greyhound racing, identified current levels of public support or opposition for racing, and provided context in terms of engagement with greyhound racing using a comprehensive survey of a robust sample of New Zealanders. The results confirm that the social license of the greyhound industry is under challenge with most respondents expressing disagreement with or lack of knowledge of current industry practices and indicating they would vote in support of a ban. There is scope for increasing public acceptability by addressing welfare issues, increasing awareness of positive industry practices, and encouraging transparency of the greyhound racing agency. However, as greyhound racing is on the decline worldwide, calls are likely to continue for a phase-out of commercial greyhound racing.

Money for nothing and kicks for free? – Aspects of the long-term relationship between sport and gambling in Britain

Summary The intention here is to trace the development of the sport-gambling nexus in Britain from the early-nineteenth to the late-twentieth century. An overview of this kind facilitates an understanding of a relationship that has often been characterized as symbiotic. Over the long run, as Britain has transitioned from a pre-industrial to an industrial and then to a post-industrial society, the relationship between sport and gambling has remained intact. In particular, it survived a long period between the mid-nineteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries when the ideological hegemony of amateurism in British sport predisposed governing bodies to view gambling with suspicion and even, at times, hostility. The article draws extensively on recent published research into the history of sport in Britain and outlines key developments in the relationship between particular sports and gambling, notably cricket, football, horseracing, greyhound racing and pedestrianism. Recent changes related to the advent of online gambling are identified and briefly discussed, with particular reference to cricket.

Greyhound racing under pressure.

Greyhound racing under pressure.

Greyhounds in a Sin City: Animal Welfare under Macao's Gambling Culture

For a few years in the 1930s and then for another fifty-five years since 1963, greyhound racing was one of the attractions that helped boost Macau's repertoire as the Monte Carlo of the East. Adopting the Marxist framework of commodification of non-human animals, this study explores the shaping of human-animal interaction in the context of a gambling city. I argue that the cultural assigning of greyhound puppies to the purpose of dog racing not only resulted in the construction of a general understanding of greyhounds as objects that could only belong to a canidrome, but also tied their lives to the fluctuating dynamics of the city's gambling sector. Ultimately, this study calls for a reappraisal of the ways we have tied non-humans with labels such as ‘racers’ or ‘rescues’ and the place of non-human animals in the city beyond the framework of capitalism.

Greyhound morbidity and mortality in Australia: A descriptive analysis of reported data from regulatory racing agencies.

Commercial greyhound racing is legal in Australia but controversial due to concerns around animal welfare. To make evidence-based recommendations of animal welfare standards, a comprehensive analysis of available data on race events, animal health, injuries and fatalities is required. We undertook a review of publicly available data and reports published by official greyhound racing bodies for the purpose of determining how morbidity and mortality events associated with dog training and racing could be benchmarked. 6 years of available data from stewards' reports, quarterly and annual reports were descriptively analyzed from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Whole-of-life tracking for individual dogs was sparse. Although stewards' reports were published in all three states, the availability of aggregated quarterly and annual reports varied. When available these provided additional information such as injury incidents standardized per thousand starts. In Queensland, quarterly and annual reports provided an overview of greyhound mortality and morbidity rates. In contrast with Victoria, quarterly reports were unavailable and only annual reports were published, meaning quarterly trends could not be determined. Therefore, injuries categorized by severity that were routinely included in quarterly reports in Queensland and New South Wales were unavailable in Victoria. Our findings demonstrate that data recording and reporting practices must be standardized to accurately evaluate whether animal welfare standards are being met in the Australian greyhound racing industry. Our recommendation is to have national standardized reporting of injuries and deaths, and a publicly available database for whole-of-life tracking for individual racing greyhounds.

Research on Impact Attenuation Characteristics of Greyhound Racing Track Padding for Injury Prevention

To reduce injuries to greyhounds caused by collisions with fixed racing track objects such as the outside fence or the catching pen structures, padding systems are widely adopted. However, there are currently neither recognised standards nor minimum performance thresholds for greyhound industry padding systems. This research is the first of its kind to investigate the impact attenuation characteristics of different padding systems for use within the greyhound racing industry for the enhanced safety and welfare of racing greyhounds. A standard head injury criterion (HIC) meter was used to examine padding impact attenuation performance based on the maximum g-force, HIC level and the HIC duration. Initially, greyhound racing speed was recorded and analysed with the IsoLynx system to understand the potential impact hazard to greyhounds during racing which indicates the necessity for injury prevention with padding. A laboratory test was subsequently conducted to compare the impact attenuation performance of different kinds of padding. Since padding impact attenuation characteristics are also affected by the installation and substrate, onsite testing was conducted to obtain the padding system impact attenuation performance in actual greyhound racing track applications. The test results confirm that the padding currently used within the greyhound industry is adequate for the fence but inadequate when used for rigid structural members such as the catching pen gate supports. Thus, increasing the padding thickness is strongly recommended if it is used at such locations. More importantly, it is also recommended that, after the installation of padding on the track, its impact attenuation characteristics be tested according to the methodology developed herein to verify the suitability for protecting greyhounds from injury.

Welfare worries: a preliminary, cross-sectional study of general practice, small animal veterinarians perceptions and management of canine and feline behaviour problems.

Behavioural disease is one of the leading reasons for euthanasia in shelter dogs and cats. Information acquired via a survey of veterinarians (n=59) was used to understand the way canine and feline behaviour problems are viewed and managed by nonshelter, small animal general practice veterinarians. Participants (20%, n=12) felt that the following diseases were more of a welfare issue than behaviour problems: food sensitivity, osteoarthritis, puppy/kitten farms, skin disease, nutritional disease, parasitic disease, dental disease, obesity, in-breeding, over-population, neoplasia, greyhound racing, hyperthyroidism and renal disease. Behaviour problems in dogs and cats were not ranked in the top four welfare problems by 40% (n=23) of respondents. Behaviour case follow-up was poorer than physical health case follow-up. Respondents (20%, n=12) felt that veterinarians should 'possibly' be able to identify behaviour problems in dogs and cats, and 54% (n=32) felt that this was 'absolutely' their professional responsibility. Twelve percent (n=7) would reschedule behaviour appointments that had been booked in for them. Behaviour was more likely to be seen as a welfare issue by more experienced veterinarians and also, those with shelter experience. Half of respondents felt reluctant to discuss behaviour problems with clients because of deficiencies in behaviour knowledge. Eighty percent (n=47) felt their education equipped them poorly or extremely poorly in dealing with behaviour problems in dogs and cats. Consideration should be given for the inclusion of adequate behavioural medicine content in veterinary medicine curriculum to allow for graduates to possess a basic level of training and competency in this discipline.

Gone to the Dogs? A case study evaluation of contemporary greyhound racing regulation in New South Wales

Gone to the Dogs? A case study evaluation of contemporary greyhound racing regulation in New South Wales

Greyhound Racing Track Lure Systems—Acoustical Measurements within and Adjacent to the Starting Boxes

This study investigates and compares the acoustic signatures of a traditional wire-cable-pulled lure system and two alternative battery-operated lure systems jointly developed by Covey Associates Pty. Ltd. and Steriline Pty. Ltd. to eliminate the hazardous steel-wire cable and make the sport of greyhound racing safer for greyhounds, participants and spectators. The acoustical measurements of these three lure systems were conducted at the Murray Bridge greyhound racing track. The lure sounds were measured by the high-frequency Brüel & Kjær (B&K) Type 4191 microphones for the 395 m and 455 m starts at two positions: within the starting box and on the track adjacent to the starting boxes. The measurements capture the sounds that the greyhounds hear before and after the opening of the starting box gate. The frequency-domain analysis and sound quality analysis were conducted to compare the lure sounds. It was found when the battery-lure was installed with all nylon rollers, it presented less sound energy and lower frequency than the traditional wire-cable-pulled lure. When two of the nylon rollers were replaced with steel rollers, the battery-operated lure emitted a louder and higher frequency sound than the traditional wire-cable-pulled lure. The different acoustic characteristics of these lure systems suggest future research is warranted on the reaction of greyhounds to different lure sounds, particularly their excitement level within the starting box as the lure approaches. This initial research also suggests some greyhounds may not clearly hear the battery-operated lure with all nylon rollers approaching the starting boxes and the timing of these greyhounds to jump may be delayed, particularly during high wind conditions.

The in vivo metabolism of Furazadrol in greyhounds.

Samples of the 'dietary supplement' Furazadrol sourced through the internet have been reported to contain the designer anabolic androgenic steroids [1',2']isoxazolo[4',5':2,3]-5α-androstan-17β-ol (furazadrol F) and [1',2']isoxazolo[4',3':2,3]-5α-androstan-17β-ol (isofurazadrol IF). These steroids contain an isoxazole fused to the A-ring and were designed to offer anabolic activity while evading detection, raising concerns over the potential for abuse of this preparation in sports. The metabolism of Furazadrol (F:IF, 10:1) was studied by in vivo methods in greyhounds. Urinary phase II Furazadrol metabolites were detected as glucuronides after a controlled administration. These phase II metabolites were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase to afford the corresponding phase I metabolites. Using a library of synthetically derived reference materials, the identities of seven urinary Furazadrol metabolites were confirmed. Major confirmed metabolites were isofurazadrol IF, 4α-hydroxyfurazadrol 4α-HF and 16α-hydroxy oxidised furazadrol 16α-HOF, whereas the minor confirmed metabolites were furazadrol F, 4β-hydroxyfurazadrol 4β-HF, 16β-hydroxyfurazadrol 16β-HF and 16β-hydroxy oxidised furazadrol 16β-HOF. One major hydroxyfurazadrol and two dihydroxyfurazadrol metabolites remained unidentified. Qualitative excretion profiles, limits of detection and extraction recoveries were established for furazadrol F and major confirmed metabolites. These investigations identify the key urinary metabolites of Furazadrol following oral administration, which can be incorporated into routine screening by anti-doping laboratories to aid the regulation of greyhound racing.

Companion interview

Greyhound racing may not have the high public profile that it enjoyed in Britain years ago but, as a vehicle for off-course gambling, it still attracts a large international television audience. Olivia Cook is one of the vets working to assure punters that the races are fair and the dogs are well cared for.

Influences on Infrared Thermography of the Canine Eye in Relation to the Stress and Arousal of Racing Greyhounds.

Infrared thermography (IRT) can be used to identify stressors associated with greyhound racing procedures. However, factors unrelated to stress may influence measurements. Validation of an eye side (right or left) and a reference point on the eye is required if IRT is to be standardised for industry use. Infrared images of greyhound heads (n = 465) were taken pre-racing and post-racing at three racetracks. Average temperature was recorded at seven different locations on each eye. A multivariate analysis model determined how several factors influenced eye temperature (ET) pre-racing and post-racing. As expected, ET increased after racing, which may be attributed to physical exertion, stress and arousal. The right eye and lacrimal caruncle had the highest sensitivity to temperature changes and could be considered reference points for future studies. Additionally, dogs that raced later had higher ET, and Richmond racetrack had the lowest pre-race ET, but the highest post-race ET. This may suggest that arousal increases as the race meet progresses and certain track attributes could increase stress. Furthermore, ET increased as humidity increased, and higher post-race ET was associated with light-coloured, young and low-performing dogs. Environmental and biological factors need to be considered if IRT is to become accurate in the detection of canine stress and monitoring of greyhound welfare.

Social License and Animal Welfare: Developments from the Past Decade in Australia.

Simple Summary“Social license to operate” (SLO) is the process by which a community grants or withholds permission to an industry to conduct its business. This article describes how animal welfare has recently become arguably the most crucial consideration underpinning SLO for Australian animal use industries in the past decade. Such industries include animal racing, wildlife harvesting, and the farming and live export of livestock. We posit that these industries are at risk of loss of SLO unless policies shift to proactive engagement with stakeholders and transparent monitoring of animal welfare outcomes. “Social license to operate” (SLO) refers to the implicit process by which a community gives an industry approval to conduct its current business activities. It has become an important focus for many natural resource management fields (especially mining), but there is less awareness of its role in animal use industries. This article describes how animal welfare has recently become arguably the most crucial consideration underpinning the SLO for Australian animal use industries. It describes several industries in Australia that have faced animal welfare scrutiny in the past decade (2010–2020) to illustrate how persistent issues can erode SLO, lead to regulatory bans, and decimate previously profitable industries. Industries described include the live export of livestock, greyhound and horse racing, kangaroo harvesting, and dairy and sheep farming. In these cases, there has been intense public discourse but little scholarly progress. This article examines factors that may have contributed to these developments and suggests approaches that may assist these industries in maintaining their SLO. Animal welfare has become a mainstream societal concern in Australia, and effective management of the community’s expectations will be essential for the maintenance of SLO for many animal use industries.

Dynamic Behaviour of High Performance of Sand Surfaces Used in the Sports Industry

The sand surface is considered a critical injury and performance contributing factor in different sports, from beach volleyball to greyhound racing. However, there is still a significant gap in understanding the dynamic behaviour of sport sand surfaces, particularly their vibration behaviour under impact loads. The purpose of this research was to introduce different measurement techniques to the study of sports sand surface dynamic behaviour. This study utilised an experimental drop test, accelerometry, in-situ moisture content and firmness data, to investigate the possible correlation between the sand surface and injuries. The analysis is underpinned by data gathered from greyhound racing and discussed where relevant.

Shares, shirts and soap suds: women and rugby league football in Liverpool, 1934–1950

ABSTRACT The development of rugby league in Liverpool has been a constant struggle, not only against the prevailing popularity of soccer, but other sports in the city such as baseball, athletics and greyhound racing. Nevertheless, prior to the outbreak of World War Two rugby league looked to be gaining momentum, as Liverpool Stanley RLFC had successive top four finishes in 1936 and 1937. Yet the promise of success was hampered by its greyhound racing owner and the outbreak of war, disrupting the burgeoning culture that was building around the sport. But rugby league in Liverpool did not disappear quietly, as its small, strong community rallied round to save their club. This article shows both the extent to which women were part of Liverpool's rugby league community, investing both time and money in the sport, at Stanley and at junior grassroots level. The article considers how circumstances brought women to the fore in the vital efforts to keep Stanley going, and that how they operated, utilising skills, both domestic and of the workplace, blurring lines between work and leisure. In doing so, the article sheds new light on the complex and extensive involvement of women in sport beyond playing and spectatorship.

Pharmacokinetics of carprofen and firocoxib for medication control in racing greyhounds.

Animals used in sport should be treated as required to ensure animal welfare but any such use of medication should also be controlled to ensure integrity. Pharmacokinetic studies on groups of six greyhounds were performed to measure plasma and urine levels of carprofen and firocoxib to inform medication control advice. Using the standard methodology for medication control the Irrelevant Plasma Concentration was determined as 20 and 2 ng/mL for carprofen and firocoxib, respectively. The Irrelevant Urine Concentration was also determined as 0.3 and 2 ng/mL for carprofen and firocoxib, respectively. These Irrelevant Plasma and Urine Concentrations will allow laboratory Screening Limits, Detection Times and Withdrawal Time advice to be determined and publicised by regulators of greyhound racing. The Screening Limits will also inform Recommended Limits of Detection if meat-containing residues of these medications are fed to greyhounds.

Patterns of Racing and Career Duration of Racing Greyhounds in New Zealand.

Simple SummaryThere is limited information on the career length and patterns of racing for greyhounds. Performance outcomes, including number of racing starts, career length and the age at which greyhounds finish racing, provide insight into causes of attrition in the greyhound racing industry. To investigate trends in greyhound racing careers a baseline is required. This paper presents results from a retrospective cohort study exploring career duration and patterns of racing of greyhounds in New Zealand. The welfare and wastage of racing greyhounds is a topic of public concern. Little is published about the racing patterns of these dogs in New Zealand. The aim of this study is to describe the pattern of greyhound racing in New Zealand. Data on all race starts between 1 August 2011 and 25 March 2018 were supplied by Greyhound Racing New Zealand. A cohort was created containing dogs that had a racing career between 1 August 2013 and 31 July 2017. Data were collated within a customized Microsoft Access database from electronic records of all racing starts for every dog within the 2013–2016 racing seasons. For this cohort of racing dogs, there were 97,973 race starts across 22,277 races involving 2393 individual greyhounds. The median number of days between racing starts was 7 days (inter-quartile range (IQR): 4–10 days). The median career length was 424 days (IQR: 206–647 days) and the median number of racing starts throughout a racing career was 35 (IQR: 16–59 starts). Dogs of similar ability finished their career at a similar age.