~ Independently verified track injury and retirement data shows that licensed greyhound racing continues to uphold the highest standards of welfare ~
~ Homing, Fatality and Injury Rates remain consistent with (and in many cases better than) last year which showed significant improvements since 2018 ~
~ Data shows more greyhounds are being successfully treated following injury and able to retire to enjoy life as pets ~
~ Data shows that initiatives launched in recent years are having a positive impact on welfare ~
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the regulator of licensed greyhound racing, is today publishing its track injury and retirement data for the sport in 2022. The data is consistent with and – in many cases – an improvement on the data for 2021 which demonstrated significant progress compared to previous years.
GBGB is required by DEFRA to publish annual injury and retirement data by the end of June the following year. As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability, the data published by GBGB is independently audited and goes beyond what has been asked for by DEFRA.
The data published today shows strong progress on a number of key indicators – all of which signal that not only is GBGB consolidating the excellent progress it has made in recent years but it is continuing to drive welfare standards forward throughout the sport.
Most notably, the data shows:
- Despite the current economic situation and associated general challenges in homing dogs being experienced by the canine charity sector, the number of greyhounds successfully retired from the sport remains high at 95% thanks to initiatives such as the Greyhound Retirement Scheme which means a greyhound’s retirement is secure before they start their racing career;
- The track injury rate has remained consistent at 1.2% of all runs and GBGB remains committed to reducing this figure over the next few years;
- Fewer greyhounds than ever were put to sleep or died naturally over the course of the year; overall, 306 greyhounds were put to sleep or died naturally in 2022; in 2018, the comparative figure was 932 representing a reduction of 67%. Greyhounds are put to sleep for a number of reasons – some of which are not linked to racing such as illness and natural causes.
- More greyhounds are being successfully treated following a track injury; in 2022, the number of greyhounds put to sleep at the track on humane grounds was 99, compared to 120 in 2021 and 242 in 2018 (a reduction of 59%). Away from the track, in 2022, 43 greyhounds were put to sleep on vet’s advice compared to 74 in 2021 and 144 in 2018 (a reduction of 70%). This reduction is in part due to the enhanced veterinary expertise across the sport as well as the additional checks GBGB now carries out to ensure that trainers are following the track vet’s advice following an injury;
- The sport continues to make excellent progress in reducing economic euthanasias; like last year, very few (ten) greyhounds were put to sleep because of the cost of medical treatment; in 2018, this figure was 175 (a reduction of 94%).
- For the fourth year running, no greyhounds were put to sleep because no home could be found.
Through the implementation of its welfare strategy, A Good Life for Every Greyhound, which was launched last year, GBGB aims to drive further improvements. These include a host of initiatives around enhanced training for trainers, track staff and vets as well as continuing to work with track safety experts, STRI, to make racing surfaces safer, promoting British breeding and further research into injury detection and prevention.
Through the strategy, GBGB has already enhanced its veterinary resource and expertise as a result of the appointment of a Veterinary Executive and a field force of Regulatory Regional Vets. These vets are providing additional advice and guidance to trainers, owners, track vets and stadia so that they can provide better care and treatment to greyhounds.
Commenting on the progress achieved, Mark Bird, Chief Executive of GBGB, said: “This data once again demonstrates the significant improvements we have achieved in welfare over the past few years. It shows that the approach licensed racing is taking is the right one and demonstrates our ongoing to commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our racing greyhounds.
“Over the past year, we have begun the roll-out of our ambitious welfare strategy and it is fantastic that a number of initiatives are already underway and delivering benefits – particularly around our enhanced veterinary resources. I would like to thank everyone across the sport who has supported our strategy and has played their part in its implementation.
“We are whole-heartedly committed to raising standards further and I have every confidence that we will continue to do so. As we said last year, to realise our strategy in full requires enhanced, long-term and sustainable funding from the betting industry. We continue to work closely with them and show how the successful implementation of the strategy is vital for the future prosperity of licensed greyhound racing in this country.”
Commenting on the 2022 data, Jeremy Cooper, GBGB Chairman, said: “The GBGB Board welcomes this data which provides an accurate and credible picture of welfare within licensed greyhound racing. It is encouraging that the sport has consolidated the excellent progress that it has made in recent years and, in a number of cases, seen further improvements.
“Whilst there are those who seek to undermine our welfare standards and discredit the immense progress we have made, I am heartened by this data which provides firm, unequivocal proof that licensed racing takes the welfare of our greyhounds extremely seriously. This sits in stark contrast to those who attack our sport and who are yet to offer any credible scientific or factual-based evidence that justifies their criticism of us.”
Animal Welfare Minister Lord Benyon said: “Greyhounds deserve the highest level of care not only during their racing career but also in their retirement.
“It is reassuring to see a continued upward trend in improvements to greyhound welfare and that progress made last year, especially in reducing the number of greyhound fatalities at tracks, has been sustained, and I look forward to seeing what further improvements can be delivered through the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s welfare strategy, A Good Life for Every Greyhound.”
