A greyhound who suffered panic attacks was given a Diazepam tablet by her owner and subsequently tested positive for Nordiazepam (desmethyldiazepam), Temazepam (3- hydroxydiazepam) and Oxazepam (desmethyl-3- hydroxydiazepam).
According to the latest Greyhound Racing Control Committee report (April 2026), the prohibited substances were detected in a urine sample taken from 3-year old greyhound Hit The Floor at Lifford track on 23 August 2025. On the day, the greyhound suffered a fall and finished last in a race.
Greyhound owner Robert Montgomery of Gortnavern, Coolboy, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal was not in attendance at a meeting of the control committee.
The committee "noted the evidence given by Mr Mongomery where he was not challenging the sampling process or the laboratory findings and there was an admission to being in breach of the regulations. Mr Montgomery advised that the greyhound Hit The Floor who was racing on the night often takes panic-attacks. Mr Mongomery thought he was helping his greyhound by giving him* one of his Diazepam tablets. The Greyhound Racing Control Committee also noted that Mr Montgomery made the Control Steward aware at an early stage during the sampling process that he had administered one of his Diazepam tablets to the greyhound Hit The Floor to deal with the panic-attacks.”
[* Note: The report referred to the greyhound as male but a profile page on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website lists the gender as female]
The committee "noted the very comprehensive Investigation Report Form and the evidence received around the procurement of the sample where Mr Montgomery highlighted to the Control Steward that he gave the greyhound a Diazepam tablet as he suffers from panic attacks and these were seen as mitigating factors by the Greyhound Racing Control Committee.”
They “imposed a sanction payment of €250 on Mr Montgomery and awarded costs of €250 in favour of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.”
According to the Veterinary Council of Ireland, Diazepam is a controlled drug and “only a Registered Veterinary Practitioner can prescribe controlled drugs for animals, following a clinical examination or proper assessment of the animal’s health status”.
After 23 August 2025, Hit The Floor was used in 3 more races, the last one being on 27 September 2025 at Lifford track where she finished last.
The Greyhound Racing Ireland website shows that Robert Montgomery has had 219 Recorded Race Entries.
Hit The Floor is among a growing list of greyhounds testing positive for prohibited substances at tracks around Ireland. Find out more at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/more-and-more-greyhound-testing-positive-for-prohibited-substances/
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