Trapped: there are fewer dog tracks operating under licence today, but dog fatalities have increased
There were more greyhound fatalities at licensed dog tracks in 2024 than in any year since 2020, despite the number of approved race tracks having fallen to just 19.
It is the second successive year that trackside fatalities at dog tracks in this country have increased.
Thousands more dogs also experienced serious injuries as a result of racing.
That’s according to shocking new statistics from GBGB – the Greyhound Board of Great Britain – the organisation responsible for licensing greyhound tracks in England, Scotland and Wales.
The official figures show that there were 123 fatalities at tracks in 2024, a total of 346 racing-related deaths and 3,809 injuries.
Leading animal welfare charities have formed a campaign coalition, called Cut the Chase, and say that this deadly data is further proof that greyhound racing needs to be phased out across the country.
Reasons for last year’s deaths include the fatalities at tracks, but also dogs being put to sleep on veterinary advice away from the track (88), sudden deaths (77), being designated unsuitable for rehoming (51), because a home could not be found for them (4), and because of treatment costs (3).
Ex-racing greyhounds remain among the largest category of dogs seeking re-homing through Battersea Dogs Home, while other specialist greyhound rehomers, such as Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare, based at Hersham, routinely have dozens of ex-racers in their kennels, awaiting adoption.
Rescue and rehoming centres are “struggling against serious capacity issues”, according to the animal charities. They often take on badly injured dogs, incurring thousands of pounds of vets’ bills, as well as other ex-racers who have been traumatised by the lives at racing kennels.
The owners of the licensed dog tracks – often betting firms – make only the most modest of contributions to greyhound rehoming. In the past, the industry-funded Retired Greyhound Trust claimed that their 72 adoption branches find homes for around 4,000 dogs, which was about half the number of greyhounds that were retired each year.
At its peak, there were 250 licensed dog tracks in Britain. In 1947, 60,000 spectators paid to see that year’s Greyhound Derby at White City, when it was one of 21 greyhound tracks operating in London alone. By 2011, attendance for that year’s Derby, staged at Wimbledon, was 2,423.
Wimbledon dog track staged its final race in 2017. It was the last dog track in Greater London. Dog racing at Catford, south London’s other track, ceased in 2003.
According to GBGB figures, there have been 1,357 fatalities at licensed tracks since 2017, 4,034 greyhounds have died or been put to sleep because of their involvement with racing, while more than 35,000 have experienced injuries.
Rescue and rehome: charities such as Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare are always seeking homes for retired racers, who usually make devoted pets
Cut the Chase believes that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous, often causing significant injury. In some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanise competing dogs.
“The scale of track fatalities last year further demonstrates how dangerous the sport is,” the coalition says.
The number of casualties may also indicate that racing is now being staged at tracks which are inherently less safe. Dog racing staged at larger stadiums, including Wembley, the White City and Wimbledon, used wider, larger circuits, where the bends were not as tight for the dogs to navigate, often at speeds approaching 45mph. Many of the tracks which remain are smaller, with tighter bends, where collisions can occur.
There is just one licensed track in Wales, at Hengoed in South Wales, but earlier this year, the Welsh government announced plans to phase out greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible”. Legislation is expected to be introduced at the Senedd in the autumn.
The latest fatalities and injuries statistics from GBGB, Cut the Chase said, “paint another grim picture of the impact of greyhound racing”.
Finding a new life: rehomed ex-racing greyhounds can enjoy their retirements, but many are badly scarred, physically and psychologically, from their racing careers
Cut the Chase members include the RSPCA, the Dogs Trust, Hope Rescue, Greyhound Rescue Wales and the Blue Cross.
“Racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved – and rising fatalities proves this,” said a spokesperson for Cut the Chase.
“The Cut the Chase coalition passionately believes that all dogs deserve a good life – but racing is simply incompatible with this. The only way to protect greyhound welfare is to phase out greyhound racing across the UK.”
Read more: Farewell to the Wimbledon Dogs
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Thanks for highlighting this, this “sport” belongs in history.