Victorian greyhound racing set new records for participant returns, rehoming and wagering during 2020-21, as detailed in Greyhound Racing Victoria’s (GRV) Annual Report, tabled in the Victorian Parliament today.
GRV’s CEO, Alan Clayton, said the sport’s agility allowed the racing program to not just continue but grow throughout the year during the pandemic.
“GRV, participants and the clubs all worked together to keep the sport racing over the year and secure participant livelihoods and greyhound welfare,” Mr Clayton said.
In 2020-21, Victorian’s greyhound racing program grew by more than 10 percent to 1,321 meetings, which included developing the Saturday morning racing program, more provincial races and new marquee events such as the VIC BRED Pink Diamond series.
The expanded racing program drove record levels of wagering while more than $52 million in prizemoney and participants returns was distributed over the year, Mr Clayton said.
“GRV’s innovative and expanded racing program over the year now makes Victoria the world’s largest greyhound racing jurisdiction by meetings, prizemoney and wagering, Mr Clayton said.
New greyhound welfare records were also set over the year with nearly 3000 greyhounds rehomed and euthanasia numbers down by nearly 90 percent since 2015-16, and 20 percent less this financial year compared to last. Race injuries and fatalities also continued to fall throughout in 2020-21 driven by GRV’s Safer Racing Program.
Also covered in the Report are new racing events introduced over the year, expanded national and international media coverage of Victorian greyhound racing and progress on GRV’s Safer Racing Program which includes the new $6 million Traralgon track, scientifically designed to optimise safer racing.
“This report also charts strong progress by GRV in delivering on its 2019-24 Strategic Priorities which include an increased focus on commercial growth and customer engagement while also ensuring greyhound welfare and the code’s strong focus on integrity as key priorities”, said GRV Chair, Peita Duncan.
Ms Duncan said GRV’s priorities for the coming year would be to continue reviewing opportunities for increasing participant prizemoney and other returns, building international markets, investing in GRV’s Safer Racing Program and improving service delivery while containing costs.
“On behalf of GRV, I thank Victoria’s greyhound racing community and all our partners and stakeholders for their support, co-operation and patience over a difficult year, but one which has positioned the code for a strong and sustainable future,” added Ms Duncan.
GRV’s 2020-21 Annual Report is available online at: grv.org.au/about-us/grv-annual-reports
