Race betting is one of the most popular gambling activities among Australian punters. While it is considered a largely harmless activity, Greyhound Racing New South Wales is in hot water after live baiting was discovered. Live baiting is a training tactic that conditions greyhounds to think that there is a reward at the finish line.
The trainer ties a live animal (such as a possum or a rabbit) to a mechanical lure, and the greyhound races after it. When they catch the animal, they maul it – conditioning them to think that there will be a similar reward at the end of a professional race. When baiting, trainers are supposed to use fake animals – but Greyhound Racing New South Wales has failed to prevent trainers from engaging in animal cruelty practices.
The issue came to light when hidden camera footage was aired during an episode of Four Corners. Since the story broke, NSW Racing Minister Troy Grant has dismissed Greyhound Racing New South Wales because the organisation has lost the trust of the local community.
"They have agreed with me that the community has lost confidence in the industry, and we now need the clear air in order to reform and reshape the industry," he says. It is certainly an unfortunate situation. In addition to causing the mistreatment of helpless animals, it has also resulted in the loss of the racing industry. There are 1600 participants and 15 000 people who are either employed or engaged in racing.
As a $300 million industry, racing offers a huge benefit to the local economy. Dozens of trainers have stood down – six from New South Wales, 10 from Victoria and 13 from Queensland. Still, there is plenty more that needs to be done before the racing industry can recover from this scandal.
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