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By Fred Rahi
The campaign to end greyhound racing at Wentworth Park, Sydney, is gaining significant traction as local communities intensify their efforts to close the racetrack. Recently, over 500 letters from concerned residents were delivered to Emma Hurst MP of the Animal Justice Party, marking another milestone in the fight to end greyhound racing at the inner-city venue.
The action group, “End Greyhound Racing at Wentworth Park,” consists of local residents, members of the Animal Justice Party, and the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds. Their collective goal is to shut down the racetrack and reclaim the space for the community.
The group’s most recent initiative saw letters delivered to MP Hurst, who will pass them on to NSW Lands and Property Minister Stephen Kamper, a key decision-maker in determining the future of the racetrack.
“The local community is against dog racing in the inner city and supports the 2020 Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which gave the racetrack area back to the community. However, the greyhound racing industry is working behind the scenes to get the lease for the Wentworth Park track extended beyond 2027,” said Kylie Field, from the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.
Devastating Toll Of Greyhound Racing
Field pointed out the devastating toll greyhound racing takes on animals. Since the ban was overturned in 2016, 64 greyhounds have died, and over 2,200 have been injured at Wentworth Park. This year alone, around 60 greyhounds have been injured at Wentworth Park.
Field stressed the importance of shifting public land from the racing industry to the community, saying, “The racetrack needs to be replaced by things that will benefit local residents, such as green space and housing.”
Prominent figures such as Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Alex Greenwich MP, and Dr Alex Brittan, the former chief vet for Greyhound Racing NSW, have voiced their opposition to the racetrack. According to Dr Brittan, dog racing is “cruel, barbaric, immoral, and unsustainable.”
“The public is sick of the gambling industry and its harmful impact on people and dogs. Greyhound racing is on borrowed time. It doesn’t belong in Sydney,” added Field.
Public Frustration Growing
The campaign has gained momentum through various public demonstrations. A protest held at Martin Place on August 17, 2024, attracted attention from animal rights activists and politicians alike, while a community dog walk on August 31 at Wentworth Park further highlighted public support for ending racing at the venue.
Future protests are planned, including one during the Million Dollar Chase final on 18 October.
Public frustration with greyhound racing has been growing for years, and the community is becoming increasingly vocal in its demand for an end to the sport. More than 13,000 signatures have been collected in petitions calling for an end to greyhound racing at Wentworth Park.
The action group has also launched the Greyhound Card Project, in which “Get Well Soon” and “Condolence” cards are sent to politicians to mark each injury or death of a racing dog. The symbolic initiative highlights the brutality of the sport, with injuries and fatalities occurring in nearly every race.
All Eyes On Minister
Community sentiment continues to shift toward reclaiming Wentworth Park as a public space. The 2020 Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which proposed converting the racetrack into green space, remains a focal point of the debate.
Residents argue that the land should be returned to the community, fulfilling a greater need for recreational space in Sydney’s densely populated inner city.
As the campaign intensifies, all eyes are on Minister Kamper and the Labor government’s decision on the future of greyhound racing at Wentworth Park.
For the growing movement of residents and animal advocates, the hope is that community interests and animal welfare will ultimately prevail over the greyhound racing industry’s interests.
Sign the Animal Justice Party’s petition to End Greyhound Racing at Wentworth Park, here.
