Wentworth Park, the showcase city racetrack in NSW, has recorded a sharp rise in injuries in 2024 despite so-called safety initiatives.

• One greyhound was killed on 17 February 2024.
• For the period  1 Jan – 17 Feb (13 race meetings)
  • 2023 – 42 injuries
  • 2024 – 70 injuries
• In two race meetings alone, 22 dogs were injured and one killed.
• In 5 race meetings in Feb 2024, 37 dogs have been injured and one killed.

A history of death and carnage at Wentworth Park

2023: 2 deaths, 402 injuries (including 81 serious)

2020-2023: 16 on-track deaths,  1,185 injuries

More dogs will have died off-track.  For example:

• Black Fox – suffered hock fracture and dislocation 5/5/2023 – euthanased due to “injury”
• Mister Perfect – suffered hock fracture 21/6/2023 – died of “accidental causes”

Failed Safety Initiatives

• 2017: NSW Government announces $30m in funding for a Greyhound Racing Capital Grants Program designed to bring all NSW racetracks up to minimum standards.

• 2019: Wentworth Park track and infrastructure project at a cost of $552,895.  This redevelopment included work on the track profile and starting boxes, safety rail, and parade area.

• 2023: GRNSW Race Injury Reduction Action Plan focuses on double-arm lures and preferred box draws. GWIC Chief Commissioner Alby Taylor stated: “we expect they will have a major impact”.

• August 2023: preferred box draws introduced at Wentworth Park.

• January 2024: double-arm lures introduced at Wentworth Park.

The Dangerous First Turn

When racing at Wentworth Park you get “carnage on the first turn”.

Comment from Racing participant
December 2023

Location of most injuries Wentworth Park
“Heat Map”
University of Technology Sydney research

Racing Injuries in 2024

5 January 

Oceanside – Abrasion nearside shoulder 

Ritza Debra – Nearside shoulder soreness and mild concussion

Hennessey – Nearside adductor 

Bobby Ville – Nearside hock pain 

Complainer – Abrasion nearside hind 

 

6 January

Zipping Sterling – “Spike” injury to left fore foot

 

12 January 

Zipping Optimise – Spike wound nearside hind 

Morton – Abrasion nearside fore leg and below stopper pad 

Nangar Jim – Flexor muscle strain offside fore 

Zipping Bentley – Offside carpel soreness 

Weblec Wolf – Nearside hind pad abrasion 

Candice Keeping – Offside hind abductor soreness

She Is Fire – Dislocated toe offside fore 

 

13 January 

Slick Soldier – Offside back muscle injury 

 

19 January

Fancy Chick – Offside groin soreness 

Bolt Charlm Bolt – Offside groin soreness

 

20 January

Zipping Swift – Nearside hind laceration

Charlm Outlaw – spike wound nearside hind toe

Aunt Virginia – spike wounds both hinds 

Good Odds Cobber – nearside shoulder and multiple spike wounds

Eyes To Eyes – off side hip support 

Nangar Larry – torn dew claw off side fore 

Taw Commander – laceration nearside fore and bruising nearside shoulder 

 

26 January

Rivello – Abrasions to the left stopper pad, a spike injury to the right Dew Claw and right Hock pain

Foran Banner – Left Hip Support Muscle injury

Blaze Wave – Small laceration left fore leg 

Aggie’s Dream – Fractured Right Hock 

Oscar Ville – Multiple spike injuries on both front legs 

 

27 January 

Grander Makaira – Offside back muscle 

Fascinate Trump – nearside shoulder 

Aussie Brad – Nearside wrist sprain, nearside hind stifle soreness

Canya Catch Me – Nearside stopper pad abrasion 

Exude Lightness – Nearside wrist sprain and stopper abrasion 

 

2 February

Estelle Soldier – Offside hock sprain and a nearside hip support injury 

Comet A Cost – Multiple abrasions to both nearside legs and offside hind leg 

Saka Boom – Nearside displaced hock fracture 

Can’t Bluff Me – Nearside stopper pad abrasion

 

9 February 

Little Man Jay – Nearside fore pad abrasion, nearside hind foot spike wound and

offside groin soreness

Cait Rod’s Pearl – Nearside hind leg laceration 

Ando Prince – Offside groin tear 

Ruby’s Wish – Nearside groin 

Fancy Chick – Offside hock injury and offside groin soreness

Tricky Ethics – Offside fore sprung toe 

Askey – Nearside groin soreness 

Sirius Cuddles – Offside hip support 

Bolt Wave Race – Nearside groin 

Blind Ambition – Offside groin soreness 

Towering Larry – Offside Pin muscle 

 

10 February 

Zipping Fenoli – Dislocated left fore toe 

Battle Royal – Multiple spike wounds both hind legs and feet 

Fascinate Mel – Abrasion to the right hind 

Blazing Raso – Abrasion to the left fore foot 

Evie On Gas – Right hind abductor soreness 

 

16 February 

Calamity Ethics – offside hamstring sprain 

Zip Zipper Zoom – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain, and an abrasion to the nearside hind pad 

Ted Lasso – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain 

Toad’s Turnpike – offside quadriceps and hamstring sprain 

Peaky Joe – offside wrist sprain

Super Aussie – nearside hind foot split webbing 

Corless Insane – nearside foreleg and offside hind leg spike wounds

 

17 February 

Sunshine Gal – Offside hip support and offside shoulder soreness 

Great North – Nearside stopper pad abrasion 

Lipstick Chaser – Spike wound and abrasions nearside hind 

Good Deed – Offside hock soreness 

Masterful Mia – Offside groin and nearside shoulder 

Charcoal Cheetah – Abrasion to nearside pad 

Agent Spaghetti – Offside pin muscle, Nearside groin and lower back soreness

Awesome Ethics – Nearside hip support 

Tiggerlong Car – Spike wounds both hind legs 

Zipping Caleb – Spike wound offside hind and nearside fore 

Freydis – Offside deltoid soreness 

Omega Texas – Offside comminuted open distal radius and ulnar fracture, and a nearside radius ulnar fracture. KILLED