GRV’s Board, management and clubs are committed to reducing the number of serious racetrack injuries as a critical priority for the industry.
GRV has worked with clubs over the past couple of years on a number of initiatives to help reduce injuries and is now implementing or considering a range of further initiatives to address this problem including:
- Forums with On Track Vets (OTV) and Racetrack Managers to review data, discuss the issue and develop further options
- Enhancement of OTV training
- The potential need for a new rule requiring greyhounds which haven’t raced for three months or more to perform a solo clearance trial at a track before their nomination is accepted
- GRV to conduct a statistical assessment of risk factors associated with racetrack injury and provide a report to OTVs identifying greyhounds which may require a more detailed pre-race veterinary inspection
- Looking at measures to increase the amount of time OTVs spend assessing greyhounds immediately prior to racing
- Fixed cameras to be installed on the first turn and in all catching pens at every track
- Thorough inspection by Stewards of the area/position on the track where serious injuries have occurred
- Stewards and OTVs to provide more detailed reports in situations where track deaths have occurred
- Epidemiological review of all major and catastrophic injuries that occur on Victorian racetracks to refine the understanding of the key risk factors
- Further research to be undertaken on the location and operation of catching pens, including training and accreditation of catching pen staff as suitable to perform the task.
