Newbridge greyhound track recorded the lowest attendance among Greyhound Racing Ireland's tracks last year, recently released statistics reveal.

GRI's so-called attendance figure for the County Kildare track was presented as 9,402. However, this figure ridiculously includes the presence of those involved in racing at the track, i.e. greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers.

Excluding the figure of 2,982 for owners/trainers and 71 for bookmakers, the actual attendance is substantially lower at 6,349. With 50 meetings at Newbridge track in 2022, the average attendance at race meetings was just 127.

This means that the stadium, which has a stated capacity of 630 (between ground and first floor), was around 80% empty on average at race meetings.

The low level of public interest in greyhound racing has been brought to the attention of the government as part of a renewed appeal to politicians to end the massive state grants that keep greyhound racing afloat. Since 2001, over €309 million in funding has been shamefully handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €18.2 million for 2023.

The latest Greyhound Racing Ireland "attendance" stats were released further to a Dail Question from Mick Barry TD. The figures cover GRI's tracks and don't include attendance at the private tracks. The "attendance" figure for Newbridge was lowest compared to Shelbourne Park, Curraheen Park, Galway, Limerick, Mullingar, Tralee, Waterford and Youghal. Excluding greyhound owners/trainers/bookmakers, the latter recorded an average attendance per race meeting of just 18.

Growing awareness about suffering and death in greyhound racing is a contributing factor in low attendances.

For example, at Newbridge stadium over the past eight years, 121 greyhounds were injured and 54 died or were killed by a track vet. This includes 16 greyhounds injured and 7 killed at the track in 2022. The 7 greyhounds who were killed had suffered injured/fractured leg (3), injured/fractured wrist (3) and fractured hock (1).

At races around Ireland in 2022, 287 greyhounds were injured and 122 killed. Since 2014, at least 3,050 greyhounds sustained injuries and 1,060 died or were killed at races. The Irish Greyhound Board figures are based on “reported” injuries and deaths, suggesting that the actual number could be even higher. They do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere, or the thousands of greyhounds who are killed every year because they are not fast enough to win races.

Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM

SEE ALSO

287 greyhounds injured and 122 killed in racing in 2022
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/122-greyhounds-killed-in-racing-in-2022/

16 greyhounds injured, 7 killed at Newbridge stadium in 2022 
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/03/02/16-greyhounds-injured-7-killed-at-newbridge-stadium-in-2022/

Remembering greyhound who was killed at Newbridge track
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/remembering-greyhound-who-was-killed-at-newbridge-track/

Department refuses to release results of post-mortems on greyhounds found dumped in Newbridge bog
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/03/18/deparment-refuses-to-release-results-of-greyhound-post-mortems/

Horrific Discovery of Greyhound Remains at Newbridge Bog
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/horrific-discovery-of-greyhound-remains-at-newbridge-bog/

ACTION ALERT

Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks. Please join us in urging the government to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.

Since 2001, over €309 million in funding has been handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €19.2 million for 2021, €17.6 million for 2022 and €18.2 million for 2023. It’s time for politicians to stop the funding and allow unpopular greyhound racing to die a death.

Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradka

Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/

Please sign and share the petitions

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing

INJURIES AND DEATHS AT NEWBRIDGE STADIUM

2022: 16 injuries, 7 deaths
2021: 15 injuries, 8 deaths
2020: 09 injuries, 6 deaths
2019: 16 injuries, 8 deaths
2018: 16 injuries, 8 deaths
2017: 17 injuries, 4 deaths
2016: 21 injuries, 6 deaths
2015: 11 injuries, 7 deaths

INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS

2022: 287 injuries. 122 deaths
2021: 351 injuries. 154 deaths
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
2014: 266 injuries. 69 deaths (July to Dec 2014)