There were more greyhound fatalities at Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) licensed tracks last year than in any year since 2020, with thousands of dogs also experiencing injuries as a result of racing.
That’s according to shocking new statistics released by GBGB – the organisation responsible for licensing greyhound tracks in Great Britain – which reveal there were 123 fatalities at tracks in 2024, a total of 346 racing-related deaths and 3,809 injuries.
Reasons for last year’s deaths include the fatalities at tracks (123), but also being put to sleep on veterinary advice away from a racecourse (88), sudden death (77), being designated unsuitable for rehoming (51), because a home could not be found for them (four), and because of treatment costs (three).
Since 2017, there have now been 1,357 fatalities at licensed tracks, 4,034 greyhounds have died or been put to sleep because of their involvement with racing, while more than 35,000 have experienced injuries.
Leading animal welfare charities, under the banner of the Cut the Chase coalition, say the data is “further proof” that greyhound racing needs to be phased out in all UK nations.
The coalition believes that greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, as running at speed around oval tracks can cause significant injury. In some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary to euthanise competing dogs, and the scale of track fatalities last year further demonstrates how dangerous the sport is.
The new statistics also show that the number of retired dogs being used for breeding purposes has more than doubled since 2023, at a time when rescue and rehoming centres are already struggling against serious capacity issues.
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government announced plans to phase out greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible” – which would make Wales the first nation in the UK to phase out the activity; potentially protecting countless greyhounds from the inherent risks that come with competitive racing.
In the Senedd, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS reaffirmed that an Implementation Group is being established to take proposals forward, ahead of legislation being introduced in the autumn.
A spokesperson for the Cut the Chase coalition said: “These statistics paint another grim picture of the impact of greyhound racing – and mark the second year in a row that trackside fatalities at GBGB licensed tracks have risen.
“Racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved – and rising fatalities proves this. Tens of thousands of greyhounds have been injured in recent years as a result of competing.
“Each and every life matters – and to think 1,100 have lost their lives in trackside fatalities since 2018 is heartbreaking, while many others have died as a result of racing in other ways.
“The Cut the Chase coalition passionately believes that all dogs deserve a good life – but racing is simply incompatible with this. The only way to protect greyhound welfare is to phase out greyhound racing across the UK, starting in Wales.”
These latest stats on injuries and fatalities mark the first full year that Wales’ only greyhound track – Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach – has been under the auspices of GBGB.
Marshall’s Story
Marshall was retired from racing at the Valley Greyhound Stadium after a hock injury and arrived at Greyhound Rescue Wales with a pin in his leg.
His medical history was not provided on handover, so when he began limping he was referred to a specialist who recommended his pin be removed.
Greyhound Rescue Wales paid out over £2,200 to treat Marshall, and are continuing to cover the ongoing cost of caring for his hock injury through their Last Hope Fund. As an organisation that speaks out against greyhound racing, Greyhound Rescue Wales is blocked from accessing any industry funding to cover Marshall’s costs.
The Cut the Chase coalition’s priority has always been the welfare of the dogs involved in greyhound racing, and member organisations remain committed to ensuring that this is not negatively impacted by any future ban – in Wales, or elsewhere in the UK.
Since the Welsh Government announced its intention to phase out greyhound racing, a collective of nine animal rescue organisations, including members of the Cut the Chase coalition, have formed the Welsh Greyhound Partnership. The partnership aims to provide care for every single dog leaving the industry in Wales as it is phased out.
The coalition hopes to see other UK nations follow Wales’ lead in ending the industry. While the UK Government said it has “absolutely no plans” to end the sport in England, support for an end to greyhound racing in Scotland is growing.
In July 2024, Mark Ruskell MSP, whose Mid Scotland and Fife constituency is home to the last unlicensed racetrack in Scotland, secured the required support to table a Private Member’s Bill in support of a ban. The Proposed Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament and seeks to promote the welfare of the animals by introducing an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland.
