Greyhounds' natural speed and grace have been exploited for human benefit since the days of the ancient Egyptians. The dogs have been used for centuries in hunting and coursing events, but the advent of modern dog racing at the turn of the 20th century caused greyhound breeders and racetrack proprietors to think of this breed as a mere commodity.

Greyhound racing began in the UK in 1926 and has been alternately in and out of favour with the paying public. The industry claims that the sport is currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity, but according to campaigners, 13 official greyhound stadiums and 27 independent tracks have closed since 1985. The industry's board estimates that there are 4 million racetrack attendees each year and that £2.9 billion is wagered on and off the course. Greyhound racing undoubtedly is big business, and greyhounds are the ultimate losers.

The Industry

The greyhound racing industry is divided into two sectors: registered and independent. The registered sector is governed by the National Greyhound Racing Club, and there are 31 tracks in Britain. The independent sector, with 21 tracks, is totally unregulated, and the greyhounds used in this sector have no protection at all. Even dogs who are raced in the regulated sector are vulnerable because regulations often go unenforced. Dogs retired from the registered sector as well as older and home-bred dogs may end up racing on the unregistered, independent tracks.

Race-fixing is rife, especially on the unregistered tracks, and a variety of drugs, including cocaine, are used to ensure that dogs lose vital races. One London dealer claims to have made £29,000 in one day by fixing greyhound races.

Winners and Losers

As many as 60,000 greyhounds are estimated to be bred every year for the racing industry, and between 10,000 and 40,000 puppies are killed. The remaining dogs enter the racing industry. The "winners" - the dogs who survive the early years and training - routinely risk their lives on the tracks. Two dogs were killed in the same race at Belle Vue track in Manchester in May 2002 when they fell and broke their necks. In the same month, Santa Power broke his leg in a race at Hall Green greyhound track and was allegedly left "screaming in agony". A kennel hand said that the dog was now worthless and would be put down. In August 2002, a greyhound named Football Focus died of heat exhaustion following a race at Catford. An unidentified trainer said that his death was "an accident waiting to happen".

For the survivors, injuries are commonplace. Races are run all year round, even when the track is frozen, and this contributes to injuries. Injured toes, torn muscles, strained tendons and arthritic joints are everyday problems. Paddy Sweeney, a vet who specialises in greyhound injuries, believes that the long straights and the tight bends of traditional racing tracks contribute to these injuries. It is thought that as much as 10 per cent of the dogs race despite injuries.

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