Greyhound racing tracks are still causing injuries and deaths to greyhounds in Ireland.
A Dáil question by Paul Murphy TD to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has revealed that from January to the end of April, (2025) 106 greyhounds suffered injuries while racing and more than half of them, fifty-four, were euthanised by track vets. The deaths of two other injured greyhounds were listed as racing fatalities – they both died after suffering broken necks.
An analysis of the fifty-four kill figures revealed that the greyhounds suffered injuries including: broken/fractured hock, fractured humerus, jugular vein wound, suspected spinal bleed, ruptured achilles tendon, badly dislocated hock, dislocated wrist, broken wrist/radius & ulna/elbow, fractured shoulder/metacarpals/tibia and fibula, torn tendons, open fracture of toes and torn achilles tendon.
For the fifty greyhounds injured while racing, the list of injuries included broken/fractured hock, broken leg, broken wrist, dislocated hock/toe, fractured shoulder/shoulder blade/toe/leg/wrist, pelvic injury – possible spinal shock, torn ligament, elbow injury, hock hyper-extension, hock ligament injury, small wound on left leg, suspected dislocation of right hock joint and wound on toe.
The two “racing fatalities” involved two greyhounds dying after breaking their necks in races at Thurles Co. Tipperary track (1st February) and Galway track (14 February).
April Deaths
The 25th of April was the worst day for greyhound deaths so far this year. A total of six greyhounds were killed at Curraheen Park Co. Cork, Dundalk Co. Louth, Limerick, Newbridge Co. Kildare and Shelbourne Park Co. Dublin greyhound racing tracks.
The latest 2025 figures bring to 3,802 the number of greyhounds injured and 1,452 the number killed in racing at Irish greyhound 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 Dáil Question from Paul Murphy TD, GRI (Greyhound Racing Ireland), 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.
Greyhounds who sustained what they term “minor injuries” are not recorded in official injury/death figures.
Between January and the end of April 2025, there was even more suffering and death at trials and sales events at tracks around the country.
In its response to Deputy Murphy, Greyhound Racing Ireland revealed that “8 greyhounds were recorded as having been injured in trials and sales events”. Three of these greyhounds were killed – “2 greyhounds were euthanised following trials and 1 greyhound was fatally injured on track (broke neck)”.
The two greyhounds who were euthanised were removed from Galway and Newbridge Co. Kildare tracks in an injured state and 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”.
The absence of an on track vet can lead to prolonged suffering for injured greyhounds who are transported away from tracks before they receive treatment.
Enough is Enough
Animal rights organisations campaigning to ban greyhound racing have said enough is enough.
A spokesperson for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) said, “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 €366,986,146 in funding, including €18.2 million for 2023, €19 million for 2024 and €19.82 million for 2025. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.”
A RED C opinion poll commissioned by ICABS 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.
Read: Greyhound Injury and Death Report @ Ban Bloodsports (wordpress.com)
Reference Box:
Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI)
Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) / Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) (formerly known as the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) / Bord na gCon) – is a commercial semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland.
The governing body for Irish Greyhound Racing (Bord na gCon) was established under special legislation by the Irish government in 1958. The Greyhound Industry Act (1958) gave the organisation wide powers to regulate all aspects of greyhound racing in the Republic of Ireland including the licensing of the different tracks, the issuing of permits to officials, bookmakers, trainers and the implementation of the rules of racing.
On the 1st October 2020 the Irish Greyhound Board/Bord na gCon, rebranded to Greyhound Racing Ireland / Rásaíocht Con Éireann.Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly known as Irish Greyhound Board) has licensed a total of 15 tracks in the Republic, of which nine are owned and controlled by the organisation. The remainder are owned and operated by private enterprise.There are also a further two privately owned stadia in Northern Ireland.
Source: Greyhound racing Ireland (GRI), formally Irish Greyhound Board – about IGB Greyhound Racing Ireland. Available at: https://www.grireland.ie/About-GRI/about-gri/ (Accessed: 21 May 2025).
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