Newly released statistics reveal that 197 greyhounds were killed at tracks around Ireland in 2025.
The sickening figures show that 344 greyhounds suffered injuries at races between January and the end of December and more than half of them (191) were "euthanised" by track vets. The deaths of 6 other injured greyhounds are listed as racing fatalities.
The 197 deaths are the second highest since records began and just 5 less than last year’s record high of 202 deaths.
The injury and death data – obtained by Paul Murphy TD further to a Dail Question to the Minister for Agriculture – shows that the 191 greyhounds who were killed by vets had suffered injuries including: jugular vein wound, suspected spinal bleed, spinal injury, broken/fractured/dislocated hock, badly torn hamstring, torn tendons, broken calcaneus with bone protruding, broken elbow/wrist/humerus bone, fractured leg/shoulder/wrist/toes/forelimb/stopper bone, complete radial fracture, dislocated wrist, severe dislocation of right wrist, possible nerve damage around pelvis and torn/ruptured Achilles tendon.
147 injured greyhounds who were treated had suffered injuries including: broken leg, broken/fractured hock, broken wrist, broken tail, dislocated hock/toe, fractured shoulder/shoulder blade/toe/leg/wrist, pelvic injury - possible spinal shock, injured hip, torn ligament/ventral cervical muscle/gracilis muscle/dew claw, elbow injury, muscle injury, hock hyper-extension, hock ligament injury, small wound on left leg, suspected dislocation of right hock joint, wound on toe/metatarsal, abrasion on leg, cut toe, cut above tendon on front leg, swollen gracilis, split web and sore pelvis.
The six "racing fatalities" involved three greyhounds dying after breaking their necks in races at Thurles (1st February), Galway (14 February) and Clonmel (16 May 2025) tracks, a greyhound who died with a lacerated artery at Lifford track on 28 June 2025, a greyhound who died at Kilkenny track on 15 October 2025 (no cause of death identified) and another who died at Curraheen Park track on 8 November 2025 (post-mortem inconclusive).
Among the victims were two greyhounds killed by a vet at a race meeting at Youghal track on 31 March 2025. They had suffered dislocated hock, torn tendons and an open fracture of the left toes. Two greyhounds were also killed at race meetings at Shelbourne Park (25 April 2025), Lifford (17 May 2025), Kilkenny (25 June 2025), Enniscorthy (30 June 2025), Kilcohan Park / Waterford (17 July 2025) and Youghal (7 July, 21 July, 26 July 2025). All were killed by track vets after they suffered broken or fractured hocks. Two greyhounds were also killed at Lifford track on 9 August 2025 (both suffered fractured radius & ulna).
The worst day for greyhound deaths in 2025 was 25 April when a total of SIX GREYHOUNDS WERE KILLED at Curraheen Park, Dundalk, Limerick, Newbridge and Shelbourne Park tracks. 26 July was the next worst day for deaths - five greyhounds were killed at Dundalk, Limerick, Thurles and Youghal tracks. On 9 August, four greyhounds were killed at Galway, Lifford and Curraheen Park tracks. On 20 September 2025, four greyhounds were killed at Limerick, Shelbourne Park, Thurles and Tralee tracks. Four greyhounds were also killed on 4 October 2025 at Curraheen Park, Kilcohan Park / Waterford, Limerick and Tralee tracks.
The track with the highest number of deaths (euthanised plus racing fatalities) was Limerick (24), followed by Youghal (21), Lifford (16), Shelbourne Park (15), Mullingar (14), Kilcohan Park / Waterford (13), Kilkenny (12), Clonmel (12), Tralee (11), Enniscorthy (11), Galway (11), Curraheen Park (10), Dundalk (10), Thurles (9) and Newbridge (8).
The track where the most injuries occurred (resulting in death or treatment) was Limerick (40), followed by Shelbourne Park (39), Mullingar (33), Curraheen Park (30), Tralee (27), Lifford (27), Youghal (24), Enniscorthy (19), Clonmel (18), Kilkenny (18), Thurles (17), Galway (16), Kilcohan Park / Waterford (16), Dundalk (12) and Newbridge (8).
In relation to the percentage of injured greyhounds who were euthanised at tracks, Newbridge was the worst with 100% of injured dogs killed (8 injured/8 killed). This was followed by
Youghal: 88% (24 injured/21 killed)
Dundalk: 83% (12 injured/10 killed)
Kilcohan Park / Waterford: 81% (16 injured/13 killed)
Galway: 66% (15 injured/10 killed)
Kilkenny: 65% (17 injured/11 killed)
Clonmel: 65% (17 injured/11 killed)
Limerick: 60% (40 injured/24 killed)
Enniscorthy: 58% (19 injured/11 killed)
Lifford: 58% (26 injured/15 killed)
Thurles: 50% (16 injured/8 killed)
Mullingar: 42% (33 injured/14 killed)
Tralee: 41% (27 injured/11 killed)
Shelbourne Park: 38% (39 injured/15 killed)
Curraheen Park: 31% (29 injured/9 killed)
Total: 56% killed - (344 injured, 191 killed by vets + 6 fatalities)
Note: Percentages exclude the six racing fatalities, i.e. injured greyhounds who died and were not euthanised by vets.
It is unknown how many of the injured greyhounds who were treated and taken away were subsequently killed.
The latest 2025 figures bring to 4,040 the number of greyhounds injured and 1,593 the number killed in racing at Irish tracks since 2014.
The Greyhound Racing Ireland figures for injuries and deaths at races do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere. In reply to a previous Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD, GRI admitted that their injury stats only cover greyhounds "seen" to have been injured at tracks and do not include greyhounds who were injured but taken away and not presented to the track vet. Also not included are greyhounds who sustained what they term "minor injuries".
In 2025, there was even more suffering and death at trials at tracks around the country. In its response to Deputy Murphy, Greyhound Racing Ireland revealed that “14 greyhounds were recorded as having been injured in trials and sales events.” Four of these greyhounds were “euthanised following trials” and 3 other greyhounds “died on the track or shortly after a trial”.
The four trial greyhounds who were euthanised were removed from Galway, Newbridge and Limerick tracks suffering hock and leg injuries and were later killed by the owners' vets.
There is no requirement for vets to be present at trials. Greyhound Racing Ireland has stated in the past that “a veterinary surgeon is not on duty for official trials or unofficial trials, but the contact details of nearby veterinary clinics are posted in the weigh room of each of the Greyhound Racing Ireland licensed stadia.” This means prolonged suffering for injured greyhounds who are transported away from tracks before they receive treatment.
The three other greyhounds who died at trials were recorded as “racing fatality”. They died at Shelbourne Park (broken neck), Dundalk track (cardiac failure) and Tralee track (acute cardiac failure).
The deaths at tracks are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more are killed out of sight.
As revealed in the award-winning “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives” documentary, thousands of greyhounds are killed behind the scenes every year simply because they are not fast enough. It included disturbing footage of greyhounds being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped in a skip. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
A damning report which Greyhound Racing Ireland attempted to hide, revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they don’t make the grade. The report estimated that, for example, a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.
How many more dogs have to suffer and die before the Irish Government stops the funding that is propping up greyhound racing? Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received €386,806,146 in grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports confirmed that a two-thirds majority of people want the government to stop this funding (with just 16% in favour of it continuing). The latest survey – carried out by Norstat on behalf of GREY2K USA Worldwide found that 70% oppose greyhound racing subsidies, while only 11% support them.
Petitions urging the government to end the funding have more than 400,000 signatures.
Scroll down for more details on the injuries and deaths in 2025 or download the Greyhound Racing Ireland statistics document:
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-2025.pdf
SEE ALSO:
Raced to death: 202 greyhounds killed at races in Ireland in 2024 https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/raced-to-death-202-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-ireland-in-2024/
Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish greyhound tracks
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-at-irish-greyhound-tracks/
Raced to death: 134 greyhounds killed at races in Ireland in 2023
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/raced-to-death-134-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-ireland-in-2023/
GRI’s greyhound injury stats do not include all injured greyhounds
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/gris-greyhound-injury-stats-do-not-include-all-injured-greyhounds/
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing. Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting funding to greyhound racing and back a ban on this dog-killing gambling activity.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Please sign and share the petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing
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
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2025: 344 injuries, 197 deaths
2024: 389 injuries, 202 deaths
2023: 257 injuries, 134 deaths
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)
GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT TRACKS AROUND IRELAND – 2025
Clonmel: 18 injured - 11 killed, 6 treated, 1 fatality
Curraheen Park: 30 injured - 9 killed, 20 treated, 1 fatality
Dundalk: 12 injured - 10 killed, 2 treated
Enniscorthy: 19 injured - 11 killed, 8 treated
Galway: 16 injured - 10 killed, 5 treated, 1 fatality
Kilkenny: 18 injured - 11 killed, 6 treated, 1 fatality
Lifford: 27 injured - 15 killed, 11 treated, 1 fatality
Limerick: 40 injured - 24 killed, 16 treated
Mullingar: 33 injured - 14 killed, 19 treated
Newbridge: 8 injured - 8 killed, 0 treated
Shelbourne Park: 39 injured - 15 killed, 24 treated
Thurles: 17 injured - 8 killed, 8 treated, 1 fatality
Tralee: 27 injured - 11 killed, 16 treated
Kilcohan Park / Waterford: 16 injured - 13 killed, 3 treated
Youghal: 24 injured - 21 killed, 3 treated
Total: 344 injured - 191 killed, 147 treated, 6 fatalities
Irish Government grants to greyhound racing
2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
2022 €17,600,000
2023 €18,200,000
2024 €19,000,000
2025 €19,820,000
2026 €19,820,000
TOTAL: €386,806,146
(€386 Million)