Greyhound racing in Australia
Greyhound racing in Australia is a sport and regular gambling activity. In 2015, there were more than 300,000 greyhounds in 40,000 races in Australia. 4 billion a year is gambled on the results. Australia is one of several countries with a significant greyhound racing industry. The industry laws are governed by the State Government but the keeping of greyhounds are governed by the Local Authority. Regulation. Each Australian state and territory has a greyhound racing body that regulates the racing, training and animal welfare of greyhounds in that state or territory. Greyhound Racing New South Wales  (GRNSW) and Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) are the two largest authorities, governing over 40 racetracks. The Queensland Greyhound Racing Authority (QGRA), the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Association (WAGRA), Tasracing, Greyhound Racing South Australia (GRSA) and the Northern Territory Racing Authority all contribute to running and monitoring of greyhound racing and animal welfare of greyhounds in Australia. Australian Capital Territory. There is currently no racing in the ACT following a territory ban in 2018. The Canberra Greyhound Racing Club (CGRC) is still active using their Symonston track as a training facility but the club races at Goulburn in NSW. Venues New  South Wales. In 1927 Frederick 'Judge' Swindell established the Greyhound Coursing Association and the first meeting was held using a 'tin hare' at Epping Racecourse (Harold Park) on 28 May 1927. From 1928 until 1931 betting was banned. Harold Park continued to be the only venue to have a licence until July 1938 when the government granted a second licence (consisting of 26 fixtures) for Wentworth Park. Although the licence was granted in July 1938 it was not until Saturday 28 October 1939 that the new track opened. The opening had been delayed due to the construction of the track  taking longer than expected. In 1939 the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association was founded. In 1979, live hare coursing and other similar activities, including live baiting, was banned in NSW under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and in 1985 Wentworth Park became the racing headquarters of NSW. In 2009, the government formed a new legislation, known as the Greyhound Racing Act 2009 which made provisions in regards to the control and regulation of the industry and the Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) then became responsible for the regulatory affairs of the sport in addition to the commercial  aspects. In February 2015, the industry came under severe scrutiny following the airing of the ABC program Four Corners. A series of media reports called the Australian greyhound racing live baiting scandal detailed the use of live bait animals in the training of racing greyhounds. Despite self-regulatory efforts to address the issue of live baiting and other animal welfare issues, the investigation led to suspensions, inquiries, condemnation of the practice and the banning of greyhound racing in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from 1 July 2017, following the passage of legislation. However the ban was repealed  by Mike Baird on 11 October 2016. The appointment of the NSW Greyhound Reform Panel made 122 recommendations to the NSW government, of which 121 were adopted. Victoria commissioned the Perna Report and Queensland the MacSporran report.As part of the NSW government recommendations, it created GWIC (Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission), which is a taxpayer funded, non-industry regulator of the greyhound racing industry. The NSW Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice came into effect on 1 January 2021, with 58 code practice standards (out of 124 in total) relating to retired greyhounds. The Code is the benchmark for expected  conduct and behaviour and has an Enforcement Protocol. Venues There are 29 current venues in New South Wales of which 19 are Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) operated. Active tracks are highlighted in blue. + TAB operated Northern Territory. Greyhound racing in the Northern Territory (NT) is regulated by Licensing NT on behalf of the NT Racing Commission There is one active track in the NT. Venues Queensland. There are six current venues in Queensland. Venues South Australia. There are four active tracks in South Australia. Venues Tasmania. Tasracing which was established in November 2008 is responsible for the strategic direction  and funding, while the Office of Racing Integrity Tasmania (ORI) is responsible for probity and integrity. There are three active tracks in Tasmania. Venues Victoria. See Greyhound Racing Victoria. Venues Western Australia. In 1981, the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Association (WAGRA) was established under the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Association Act. Cannington Greyhounds was the first track in Western Australia, opening in 1974 and was consequently transferred to the WAGRA. This was later followed by the merger of the Mandurah Greyhound Racing Association. There are three active tracks in Western Australia. Venues Major races. The Melbourne Cup for greyhounds was  previously the world's richest greyhound race, with a prize pool of 600,000 in 2015. NSW hosts the world's richest race, the Million Dollar Chase in October at Wentworth Park. In Sydney, the 2013 Golden Easter Egg had a first prize of 250,000. Adoption. Many adoption programs have been set up throughout Australia. There are industry programs and non-industry rescue groups (which are usually charities). Greyhounds are available for adoption in most parts of Australia. Families that have adopted greyhounds soon discover that these dogs are naturally gentle, loving and, surprisingly, don't need a lot of exercise . The industry's Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) operates in most states but does not re-home all ex-racing greyhounds. In 2018, 257 greyhounds (38%) failed the New South Wales rehoming test. However the validity of this report should be questioned based on the fact that in the United States the estimated adoption rate is over 95% and in the United Kingdom the 2018 Greyhound Commitment has pledged to home 100% of all ex-racers under the Greyhound Retirement Scheme. Adoption has been hampered in states and territories which cling to old-fashioned beliefs about the need to muzzle pet  greyhounds. Both the RSPCA and the Australian Veterinary Association recommend against muzzles for companion animal greyhounds. Some states and councils still require greyhounds to wear a muzzle in public, while NSW, Victoria and the ACT have removed the requirement. Greyhounds are one of the most gentle breeds and highly suitable for adoption if properly socialised. Criticism. In 2013, ABC News revealed that some greyhounds were given to vets as blood donors and then euthanised. In 2015, the Australian Veterinary Association stated that all greyhounds bred for racing should be registered with an independent authority in order to track their life  time movements. In June 2016, Australian former High Court judge Michael McHugh conducted a Special Commission of Inquiry for the Australian state of New South Wales. Other key findings in the report included: a high death rate, where at least 48,891 uncompetitive greyhounds were euthanised over the past twelve years and the under reporting of greyhound deaths and injuries. Also in 2016, 179 trainers were charged with illegal exports to Macau, China, a practice that was banned in 2013. This led to Qantas announcing they would no longer transport ex-racers. Popular culture. In Australian slang, the term "Dapto dog  is rhyming slang for wog, a pejorative for a person of Mediterranean background, active in greyhound racing in Dapto in the 1950s as represented on stage by the Griffin Theatre Company with the 2015 production of Dapto Chaser". Dapto is also home to Australia's largest greyhound pup auctions in Australia. Notable Australian owners of racing greyhounds include Tony Lockett, Tim Cahill, and Ricky Ponting. In Australian English, the term "plumpton" (named for the village in Sussex) has been used for an enclosed racecourse for greyhounds.