Tasracing’s CEO Andrew Jenkins said: “It is important to acknowledge our hard-working industry participants for advocating the need to temporarily cease racing and related activities for greyhounds. 

“For many participants, racing is a major, if not primary, source of income,” he said. 

“The manner in which they have embraced the extensive restrictions shows just how much they love their racing animals and the priority they place on animal welfare.”

Tasracing Chief Veterinary & Animal Welfare Officer Dr Martin Lenz said Kennel Cough was not specific to greyhounds, and that it was too early to say if any greyhound had died specifically from Kennel Cough. 

“Tasracing has commissioned independent post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of death,” he said. “Kennel Cough is not typically fatal in isolation, there is usually a pre-existing or secondary factor that is causal.”

Mr Jenkins said Tasracing would continue to work closely with all stakeholders and openly share information while the Kennel Cough outbreak continued to be closely managed. 

“The steps we have taken alongside our participants to regulate and restrict movement of greyhounds are important to mitigate the risk of spread to the domestic canine population,” he said.