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Youghal track was the worst for greyhound deaths in 2022, it has emerged.
The County Cork hellhole saw 36 injuries and 16 deaths between January and December.
It was the highest number of injuries and deaths at the track since records began.
The deaths included the killing of three greyhounds at a single meeting on 7th November 2022. The unfortunate dogs had suffered hock fracture, wrist fracture and ruptured tendon before being “euthanised” by a track vet. They were among five greyhounds injured at the meeting - the other two were treated for hock injuries.
Two greyhounds were also destroyed at a meeting on 30th May and another two at a meeting on 17th August. All four had suffered fractured hocks.
Greyhounds were also killed at trial events held at Youghal track. Two greyhounds who sustained hock injuries were destroyed at trials on 12 January and 26 March 2022.
Other injuries recorded at Youghal track included spinal injury, leg fracture, wrist fracture, toe fracture, shoulder injury and muscle injury.
It was reported last month that Greyhound Racing Ireland “intends to close [Youghal track] down”, with local TDs Sean Sherlock (Labour) and James O’Connor (Fianna Fail) shamefully pushing for it to remain open. This despite all the injuries and deaths at the track and revelations that thousands of dogs are mercilessly killed behind the scenes in Ireland every year because they are not fast enough to win races.
The Irish Examiner reported on 21 January 2023 that Tánaiste Micheál Martin has also pledged to help keep the track open. He was said to have had a “very positive and sympathetic” meeting with the lease holders of the track, spoke with them for almost 15 minutes and agreed to bring their concerns to the attention of Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.
ICABS has reminded the Tanaiste about the suffering and death in greyhound racing and drew his attention to a RED C poll which found that a two-thirds majority want the government to stop ploughing millions of euros of taxpayers’ money into this dog-killing gambling activity.
Previously, in 2019, an Indecon economic report commissioned by Greyhound Racing Ireland recommended that the loss-making Youghal track be closed down.
ACTION ALERT
Join us in telling the Tanaiste and Minister for Agriculture to stop funding greyhound racing and let it finally die a death.
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
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
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01 618 3199 or 01 607 2000
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
SEE ALSO
Resistance to plan for Youghal greyhound track closure
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41053814.html
At least 122 greyhounds killed in racing in 2022
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/02/08/at-least-122-greyhounds-killed-in-racing-in-2022/
Watch the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
REPORTED INJURIES AND DEATHS AT YOUGHAL TRACK
2022: 36 injuries, 16 deaths
2021: 20 injuries, 7 deaths
2020: 11 injuries, 9 deaths
2019: 10 injuries, 6 deaths
2018: 13 injuries, 6 deaths
2017: 07 injuries, 1 death
2016: 05 injuries, 3 deaths
2015: 07 injuries, 3 deaths
Injuries and deaths at Youghal track (2022)
3rd January 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
12th January 2022, Leg Fracture, Euthanised
2nd March 2022, Fractured Hock, Treated
18th May 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
23rd May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
30th May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
30th May 2022, Fractured Hock, Euthanised
6th June 2022, Hock Injury, Euthanised
8th June 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
25th July 2022, Hock Injury, Treated
27th July 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
15th August 2022, Spinal Injury, Euthanised
15th August 2022, Shoulder Injury, Treated
17th August 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
17th August 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
24th August 2022, Toe Injury, Treated
7th September 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
14th September 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
14th September 2022, Leg Injury, Treated
14th September 2022, Muscle Injury, Treated
10th October 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
26th October 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
2nd November 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
7th November 2022, Hock Fracture, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Ruptured Tendon, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Wrist Fracture, Euthanised
7th November 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated
7th November 2022, Hock Injury, Treated
9th November 2022, Wrist Injury, Euthanised
9th November 2022, Wrist Injury, Treated
14th November 2022, Leg Fracture, Euthanised
16th November 2022, Leg Injury, Treated
16th November 2022, Toe Fracture, Treated
21st November 2022, Leg Fracture, Treated
21st November 2022, Wrist Fracture, Treated
5th December 2022, Hock Fracture, Treated