A greyhound jumped away from the track during a race at Mullingar stadium on Monday (8th February 2021). Two-year-old Lazy Carthage could be seen leaping over the trackside rail in the final race of a meeting which saw dogs forced to run through a snow shower.
Lazy Carthage “did not finish” what was her 18th race at the track. It is unknown if she sustained an injury. Video footage of the race published on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website was later removed.
Also unavailable to view is footage of greyhounds falling in other races. A greyhound fell at the first bend in Race 4 and two dogs in Race 9 “did not finish” - one of them fell at the third bend. During Race 11, a greyhound was knocked over on the back straight and also did not finish.
Footage of Race 5 shows that racing continued despite snow falling on to the track
https://www.grireland.ie/videos/videos/?raceid=MGR_2021_02_08_05
Mullingar stadium was the worst track for greyhound deaths last year. Sickening statistics show that 19 greyhounds suffered injuries there in 2020 and 12 were destroyed by a track vet. In the past six years alone, 270 greyhounds were injured at the Mullingar track and 78 were killed. Among the injuries suffered by dogs there are “severed spine” and fractured hock bones. In December 2019, a greyhound died at the end of a race after falling and suffering a broken neck.
Greyhound Racing Ireland’s footage from Monday also reveals more instances of social distancing breaches. These have been brought to the attention of Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue who last week stated that Greyhound Racing Ireland “has assured my Department that it has consistently operated in accordance with decisions of government and general guidance regarding compliance with all measures necessary to combat the spread of Covid-19.”
There are renewed calls on the government to shut down greyhound racing
“Greyhound racing is entirely incompatible with social distancing,” ICABS stated in an appeal to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. “Typically at the start of each race, up to six greyhound owners lift greyhounds into the traps. Again, at the end of the races, the same six people rush in together to retrieve and remove their dogs to clear the track for the next race, meaning multiple close contacts are occurring at each meeting. Greyhound Racing Ireland assured the government that social distancing (which it acknowledged is ‘a critical measure to be observed by all’) would be ‘fully observed at all times’ at tracks. This has certainly not happened.”
While most people are being told to stay within 5km of home, those involved in greyhound racing have been exempted from the restrictions and remain free to travel from all corners of the country to attend races. There are fears that this is a factor in the spread of Covid-19.
The continuation of greyhound racing is making a mockery of public health guidelines and must be stopped.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar today and urge them to shut down greyhound racing NOW.
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: (01) 618 3199
Email: charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Watch RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds Running For Their Lives" documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM