Tiggerlong Socks (third) fell over badly after making contact with another dog. Photo: Supplied.
A greyhound welfare group has accused Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) of covering up the severity of a racing incident in which a two-year-old black female dog was euthanised after breaking both front legs at Wagga on Tuesday night (18 August).
Tiggerlong Socks was leading race 11 when she made contact with another dog, Call Me Snuggles, on the first turn.
Tiggerlong Socks fell badly and crashed out of the race.
According to the stewards’ report, an on-track veterinarian examined the dog and found she had compound fractures to her front legs.
A compound fracture means a broken bone has pierced the skin.
The veterinarian euthanised Tiggerlong Socks because of the severity of her injuries.
“Strip away the spin and this is what happened: Tiggerlong Socks was seriously injured while racing at Wagga and was killed because her injuries were so severe she could not be treated,” NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said.
“That should horrify people in NSW in the same way such announcements about the killing of dogs horrified people in other countries that went on to ban greyhound racing such as Wales, New Zealand and Scotland.”
A replay of the race published on the GRNSW-owned TheDogs.com.au website does not show the fall.
In the video, Tiggerlong Socks disappears from view at about the 29-second mark.
NSW MP Emma Hurst said the Wagga track incident should horrify the public. Photo: Emma Hurst/Facebook.
Kylie Field, NSW director of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, said the removal of the incident amounted to a cover-up.
“As is their policy, GRNSW has censored the incident from the race video,” she said.
“They have to stop hiding the reality of greyhound racing from the public. All race videos must be unedited and uncensored.
“The industry is all smoke and mirrors.
“Tiggerlong Socks was only two years old when she suffered the unimaginable agony of fractures to both her front legs.”
GRNSW is the organisation set up by the NSW Government to run and develop greyhound racing in the state. It was created under NSW law and receives taxpayer funding.
GRNSW said the industry was committed to improving safety.
“Our condolences go out to the trainer, owners and connections of Tiggerlong Socks,” a GRNSW statement said.
“While such outcomes have reduced by more than 93 per cent since 2017-18, and financial year 2025-26 saw a 43 percent decrease in on-track euthanasia from FY 2024-25, the NSW Greyhound Racing industry remains committed to delivering the highest welfare for its canine athletes.
“As part of the industry’s renewed focus and determination to see ongoing reductions in serious injury rates, it has explored and implemented a range of strategies designed to substantially reduce serious injuries.”
GRNSW also said there had been no on-track euthanasia at Wagga in the past 22 months and that Tuesday’s death was the first in that time and only the third in more than three years.
Ms Hurst is not convinced.
“You cannot announce that yet another greyhound has been killed following a racing injury and, in the same breath, boast that you are becoming a ‘world leader in racing safety’. It is absolutely devastating that yet another dog has been killed as part of a pastime hobby,” she said.
Ms Field said GRNSW was misleading the public.
“The NSW Government’s Drake Inquiry into greyhound racing found that while on-track deaths had declined, more dogs were dying away from the tracks due to their racing injuries,” she said.
Ms Hurst wants more transparency around greyhound deaths and injuries.
“The public should be given the full veterinary assessment, the race footage showing the dog’s injury, the nature and severity of her injuries and the circumstances surrounding the decision to kill her. The reality is that the industry has never and probably never will be this transparent because putting a face and a name to yet another victim of this industry isn’t considered good PR,” she said.
“Every dog killed in this industry should come with the same question directed to GRNSW – how many dead dogs does the industry consider acceptable, and how many deaths will it take before this deadly hobby is stopped?”
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