By Andrew Jenkins
CEO, Tasracing
Tasracing and the Tasmanian racing industry have become used to criticism regarding animal welfare issues that are baseless, lacking context, misleading or just plain wrong.
The latest example of this is the opinion piece published in this masthead on Wednesday 5 February authored by the CEO’s of the RSPCA and the Dogs Homes of Tasmania.
The authors make a number of baseless and unqualified statements about the animals the industry loves.
It is easy to write such things, but where is the evidence? If it is as they say, instead of just writing about it, take appropriate action and report it to either the recently-appointed Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner or Tasracing’s recently-established Racing Integrity Unit.
Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll has established a new Racing Integrity Hotline which provides individuals the opportunity to report issues of concern. Those wishing to make a report to the Racing Integrity Commissioner can do so by using the online reporting form, or by phone, email or post. They can remain anonymous if they wish.
The reforms introduced by the Tasmanian Government are some of the strongest in Australian sport. They are designed to ensure the public and racing participants have the utmost confidence in animal welfare standards in our state’s racing industry.
If the RSPCA or the Dogs Homes of Tasmania have any evidence to their claims I would encourage them to report them.
The authors also reference the decision by the New Zealand government to ban greyhound racing in that country.
It is irrelevant to compare the New Zealand experience with that of Tasmania.
The New Zealand government’s decision was in response to a very specific set of circumstances related to that jurisdiction after a number of reviews into the greyhound industry in that country over the past decade.
As we have said on countless occasions, the industry has zero tolerance for any type of animal cruelty and are focused on achieving the best possible animal welfare outcomes possible for our animal participants.
To demonstrate this, we invest more than $1 million every year into animal welfare programs and have strict rules and policies in place specifically for greyhounds – as a result litters are responsibly bred, fewer greyhounds are being euthanised and more dogs are being rehomed.
While on the subject, reports that greyhound injury rates are higher than New Zealand’s are simply untrue. In Tasmania we are tracking at a race day mortality rate of two per 1000 starters. This number has been steadily declining since 2017/18.
The statement that no Tasracing funding has been provided or is available also needs to be challenged.
Tasracing provided $100,000 to the RSPCA to assist in its investigation into two animal welfare matters from the Murrihy Report that were referred to the RSPCA by the Tasmanian Government.
In addition, Tasracing annually allocates $100,000 for racing animal welfare initiatives through its Racing Animal Welfare (RAW) Grants Program. The program was established last financial year to provide support to eligible organisations and individuals to assist in providing good animal welfare outcomes for racing animals. Both the RSPCA and the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania are welcome to apply for funding. Neither have.
Furthermore, under the rules of racing, all greyhounds retiring from the racing industry are required to be de-sexed. Tasracing funds the cost of this procedure, as well as providing a rebate for any dental work and vaccinations that may be required by each dog on retirement. These costs are covered by Tasracing, up to $1,100 for each greyhound, and therefore do not have to be borne by any rehoming organisation.
Finally, I would strongly argue against the statement that “…greyhound racing is a dying entertainment, one very few people support or attend.” The facts do not back this up.
Every year, many thousands of Tasmanians not only support but attend greyhound racing in Tasmania.
A Size and Scope of the Tasmanian racing industry report, that was finalised and released last year, found that the Tasmanian racing industry generated total direct spending of $189.6 million in Tasmania in 2021/22, with flow-on effects increasing the size of the value-added economic contribution to close to $208 million.
The greyhound code is a major contributor to this figure, particularly in regional parts of the state.