[Note: Any donations made through Change.org go directly to Change.org. If you wish to donate to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports to support our campaigns, you can do so at https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports Thank you]
Greyhound Racing Ireland's stadiums were between 75% and 93% empty at races last year – statistics which leave no doubt that the public has largely rejected the cruel, dog-killing activity.
Attendance details for Greyhound Racing Ireland's tracks were released in response to a Dail Question from Mick Barry TD.
GRI has deceitfully attempted to boost its "attendance" by ridiculously including the presence of those involved in racing at tracks, i.e. greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers. However, when this large proportion of entries is removed, a true picture of actual attendance emerges.
Three tracks – Tralee, Youghal and Limerick Stadium (headquarters of Greyhound Racing Ireland) – were more than 90% empty on average at race meetings in 2022. The others were between 75% and 87% empty on average.
Only two of Greyhound Racing Ireland's tracks had an average attendance greater than 160 people, i.e. Curraheen Park in Cork City (229) and Shelbourne Park in the capital (561). The other tracks had average attendances ranging from 152 down to just 18 – Limerick (152), Galway (146), Newbridge (127), Tralee (116), Mullingar (66), Waterford (65) and Youghal (18). See below for more details.
Figures are not yet available for the privately-operated tracks.
Greyhound Racing Ireland's inclusion of greyhound owners/trainers and bookmakers in its "attendance" figures is an attempt to mislead and convey a level of public support for greyhound racing which does not exist.
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.
Growing awareness about suffering and death in greyhound racing is a contributing factor in low attendances.
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 behind the scenes 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/
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
Greyhound track attendance statistics for 2022
CURRAHEEN PARK
Stated “attendance”: 31,166 / Actual attendance: 23,637
Average attendance: 229
Race meetings: 103
83% empty
GALWAY
Stated “attendance”: 19,407 / Actual attendance: 14,043
Average attendance: 146
Race meetings: 96
85% empty
LIMERICK
Stated “attendance”: 25,548 / Actual attendance: 17,044
Average attendance: 152
Race meetings: 112
92% empty
MULLINGAR
Stated “attendance”: 12,264 / Actual attendance: 6,392
Average attendance: 66
Race meetings: 97
75% empty
NEWBRIDGE
Stated “attendance”: 9,402 / Actual attendance: 6,349
Average attendance: 127
Race meetings: 50
80% empty
SHELBOURNE
Stated “attendance”: 90,577 / Actual attendance: 80,175
Average attendance: 561
Race meetings: 143
87% empty
TRALEE
Stated “attendance”: 26,079 / Actual attendance: 16,757
Average attendance: 116
Race meetings: 145
91% empty
WATERFORD
Stated “attendance”: 13,064 / Actual attendance: 6,351
Average attendance: 65
Race meetings: 97
85% empty
YOUGHAL
Stated “attendance”: 9,483 / Actual attendance: 1,682
Average attendance: 18
Race meetings: 96
93% empty