Most Victorians know greyhound racing through a moment.
The roar of a Melbourne Cup crowd at Sandown. A Saturday night at The Meadows. A local fundraiser or family race day at a regional track.
What many don’t see is the industry behind it.
New research shows greyhound racing contributes almost $854 million in value-added economic activity to Victoria each year, supports 4,790 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $592 million in direct expenditure across the state.
But the story extends far beyond the racetrack.
Across Victoria, more than 6,600 greyhounds are in training, supported by 1,121 trainers, 5,405 owners, 234 breeders and hundreds of kennel employees, volunteers and club staff. Victoria’s 13 greyhound clubs conducted 1,193 race meetings and 14,560 races during the 2024-25 season, making it one of the most active greyhound racing jurisdictions in the world.
The industry’s impact is also felt through an extensive supplier network stretching across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Behind every race are veterinarians, feed suppliers, transport operators, photographers, tradespeople, hospitality providers, professional service firms, wagering staff, equipment manufacturers, local hardware stores and fuel retailers. For many businesses, greyhound racing provides an important source of year-round economic activity and helps sustain local jobs and services.
Importantly, greyhound racing is a predominantly regional story.
Almost 90 per cent of greyhound race meetings are conducted outside Melbourne, while regions including Latrobe-Gippsland, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo are home to significant training, breeding and racing activity. Regional clubs continue to play an important role as community gathering places, supporting charities, local organisations and fundraising initiatives across Victoria.
Greyhound racing is also part of something much bigger.
Together, Victoria’s thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing industries contribute $5.5 billion in economic activity, support 33,456 jobs, generate $2.9 billion in household income and involve more than 99,000 participants, employees and volunteers. The industry encompasses 109 clubs, 108 racetracks, 2,169 race meetings and almost 1.6 million attendances annually.
While racing is often viewed through the lens of what happens between the boxes, behind the barriers or on the track, the numbers tell a much broader story.
It’s a story of local businesses, regional communities, volunteers, trainers, breeders, owners and thousands of Victorians whose livelihoods are connected to racing every day.
And for greyhound racing, it’s a story that contributes nearly a billion dollars to the Victorian economy while supporting communities right across the state.
The full VRI economic report can be viewed here.
