Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) is appalled at misinformation being spread by anti-racing activists such as NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd.
Ms Boyd has today published on social media that the “greyhound racing industry is still forcing greyhounds to race in extreme temperatures of up to 40°C, putting them at severe risk of heat stress, dehydration, collapse and death.”
“This statement is ludicrous and Ms Boyd’s portrayal of the greyhound industry is again lacking evidence and borders on dishonesty,” GRNSW’s Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.
“If Ms Boyd had done some research she would have easily found the industry’s Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy.
“Greyhound Racing NSW works closely with the regulator the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) at all times particularly around matters such as extreme weather, and race meetings have been this weekend - and regularly are – moved to new timeslots where weather is more acceptable, be it afternoons to cooler mornings or evenings, or as the case was with this week, the race meeting at Wagga Wagga was moved from Friday to Sunday.
“As part of our Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy, Stewards must abandon any meeting or race where the temperature rises above 38°c, or the temperature is forecast to rise above 38°c during the period in which the meeting is scheduled to occur. This is very closely monitored and adhered to.
“As for Ms Boyd’s ridiculous statement of the industry ‘forcing’ greyhounds to race, our policy states that trainers are also permitted to withdraw their greyhounds from events without penalty where the Bureau of Meteorology’s official forecast temperature is 32°C or higher at the track.
“And let’s not forget that all kennelling facilities at NSW are fully air conditioned and kept between 19°c and 22°c, and most, if not all greyhounds are transported to and from the track in air conditioned vehicles.
“The on-track vets closely monitor our greyhounds for any signs of stress caused by heat, and hydration of our animals is a major part of the policy.
“But again we have anti-racing politicians looking to grandstand and push their agendas during a time when people on the East Coast of Australia are in the midst of severe stress due to the uncertainty of the weather, and yet again doing so through misinformation and without presenting the facts.
"And Ms Boyd's suggestion that the industry is risking the lives of our animals, tantamounts to fear mongering."
