Yet Another Horrific Greyhound Death At Wentworth Park Sparks Outrage

The horrific death of another greyhound and serious injuries to other dogs at on the Wentworth Park racetrack have sparked more calls for the Sydney track to be closed. 

On Thursday, November 14, two-year-old greyhound Knighted Storm tumbled down the Wentworth Park track, suffering a neck fracture, causing her to be euthanised by the on-track vet. 

Just two days prior, 20 dogs were injured before racing was called off due to unsafe racing conditions. On Wednesday, five dogs fell during one race, resulting in three of them being injured. 

Despite the Greyhound Racing NSW removing the injury from Thursday’s race video, the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) obtained the full version, which has been sighted by City Hub, in which one can see Knighted Storm experiencing a truly horrific fall.

In other races at the Wentworth Park track, three greyhounds – Forever Spirit, Zipping Snape, and Darkest Gunn – suffered leg fractures while two other dogs were also injured. 

The death of Knighted Storm is the fifth on the inner city track this year, with the previous four deaths due to head trauma and seizures, spinal fractures, or fractured legs.

According to the CPG, two dogs have died on the track in the whole of 2023, but over 200 have died off-track due to injuries sustained while racing. 

Knighted Storm is 34th greyhound to die on the track since racing resumed in 2016

Knighted Storm is the 34th greyhound to die racing on Wentworth Park since racing resumed in October 2016 after the ban. Another 32 dogs have been killed off-track after suffering broken legs or other injuries in their races.  

At the current Drake Inquiry into the unethical nature of NSW greyhound racing, counsel assisting Leo Saunders said, “Not a single one meets, or has ever met, all the minimum track standards set by Greyhound Racing NSW concerning animal welfare.”

The Wentworth Park track has been mentioned multiple times at the Inquiry hearings. 

“The Drake Inquiry has already raised serious questions about the operation of greyhound racing in NSW. At the least, Minister Harris should pause racing at Wentworth Park until the Drake Inquiry presents its findings,” said NSW Director for the CPG Kylie Field.

17 greyhounds have now died on NSW tracks in 2024, with more than 3,600 injured.

“The Wentworth Park racetrack has witnessed many appalling scenes of animal cruelty. This year dogs have died from head trauma, spinal fractures, and shattered legs,” said Field.

The racing conditions are often not safe for the dogs, causing them to slip, trip, fall, and tumble, due to races taking place in even the most extreme weather conditions, such as heat, cold, rain, or wind. 

“Even though the racing industry is lobbying for the track’s lease to be extended past 2027, the community won’t tolerate the ongoing deaths and agony of more young dogs,” Field said.

Greyhound racing must end immediately at Wentworth Park and the land returned to the public, according to Field.

“(Greyhound racing at) Wentworth Park serves no purpose for the community,” she said.