Fallout spreads as industry braces for Four Corners probe
THE shockwaves in the industry from the co-ordinated RSPCA-police raids targeting alleged live baiting continue to spread and the raids may be about to net their biggest name yet.
While the ruling body down south, Greyhound Racing Victoria, has stood down 10 participants, it has refused to name them or the offences with which they are to be charged.
Most are believed to have been stood down because of alleged activities at the Tooradin Trial Track, an establishment run by Stuart Mills which has had its registration suspended.
Tooradin Trial Track is a family-run operation, with the Mills name synonymous with greyhound racing in Victoria. Stuart Mills' father Tony was the 2013 winner of the Ken Carr Medal, the highest award for excellence within the Victorian greyhound industry.
Stuart Mills refused to comment on the allegations on Sunday, neither confirming nor denying he was one of those stood down.
CEO of Greyhound Racing Victoria Adam Wallish said in a letter addressed to participants at the weekend that the organisation had no tolerance for people who chose to engage in live-baiting activities.
“It is extremely disappointing that there are still people in this sport that appear to partake in this practice or are complicit in its continuation,” he said.
“GRV has been very clear that community standards regarding the treatment of animals have changed significantly over the years and it is disappointing that some in this sport have not moved with the times.”
In other developments:
The taskforce is also set to identify whether GRNSW and all relevant agencies have the power to properly investigate claims of animal welfare breaches and cruelty themselves and to ensure GRNSW is fulfilling its duties in regards to welfare and integrity.
The live-baiting furore comes as the ABC's Four Corners is to on Monday night broadcast an episode entitled “Making A Killing”, which it says exposes the dark underbelly of the sport and will change it forever.
Wallish's letter cautioned participants the Four Corners program would be hard hitting and potentially upsetting for some members of the greyhound racing fraternity.
“Make no mistake, this story will be explosive, emotive and extremely damaging to the future of this sport in Australia,” he wrote.
“As a group of people that love the greyhound breed we should all be shocked and outraged by the allegations in the story and prepared to fight the small minority that continue to partake in such practices jeopardising the future of the sport and indeed the future of the breed itself.
“You will be emotional, you might be angry. Don't be angry at those that attack us, regardless of their position. Be angry at those within the sport that are doing the wrong thing and undermining the values for which we stand.”
Last week, police and RSPCA officials raided properties in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, with seven industry participants immediately stood down in Queensland, six in NSW and 10 in Victoria.
Robynne Black
let’s see the evidence before making any allegations
Rachel Stokman-Farr
Katherine, the culture of the industry has entrenched such unlawful practices such as live baiting. Indeed is is a part of the culture. The Governing bodies only care about managing the fall out. They all know of live baiting occurring in the past and they are Liersch if they are deniers. The problem with greyhound racing is they suspend the cheats and then allow their wives or partners to take over. This clearly demonstrates how weak the Governing bodies are. It is a joke. Nothing will change. GRV needs to have the CEO and Board dismissed for insufficient action in… Read more »
Agree Gavin in alot of ways what you have said just look at bates but then again if you ban the whole family where do 100+ dogs in some cases aka bates go?!?!
I dont think Stuart Mills was stood down seeing as he had a runner today up at Healesville ;)
I see D McD has no dogs in his name effective as of yesterday ……..
This is not good for the sport however we have had setbacks before amd have risen above the hype of our distractors chins up we will prevail again our sport is a great one
Nobody watches the ABC anyways. So you’ll be sweet
^^ love it ^^
this will be a sad inditement on those policing the industry.surely there is a duty of care to steak holders .if there was one or two charges then i understand but the numbers are blind eye in size
Quite right Gavin. Its interesting to note the great Darren McDonald now trains NO dogs and his partner, Joanne Game, who has never trained a dog in her life, now has 20 dogs in her name!!! As of 14 Feb. Lovely Valentines gift
Really none of this would be happening the way it is if the Greyhound authorities in Australia did their job properly .. I’m already sick of hearing them saying they knew nothing when others can come up with what will be seen on Four Corners…take some of the blame you so called leaders.
All governing control boards should be sacked .. this has happened on their watch full stop.
Lucky they didn’t come across all those free cat to good home baits.
Live lure training is illegal. Live lure training can ruin a race dog. Greyhound racing needs to move into the 21st century.
I’m noting the names of people in this forum who fail to agree with the tense that this activity is happening and it is abhorrent. Guess what? You’ve lost me and my family as consumers. I boycott your industry. Particularly because you fail to satisfy me that you will reliably police it. My money is better donated to Animals Australia. Sorry folks but you’ve just lost a big player in funding your blood sport.
I am horrified that several commentators in this forum fail to distance themselves and object to these cruel behaviours in the industry. I have noted your names. I and my family will no longer attend or support any element of greyhound racing. I will support Animals Australia. Even if stringent policing is introduced I doubt that it will eradicate the issue. You guys have just lost a substantial source of income and I hope more Australians follow in my footsteps.
They aren’t ‘allegations’ of live baiting. Your trainers have been caught on cameras. People are watching this, be sure of it.
Sadistic industry.
Shit trainers that cant train dogs to run, so they have to use live ‘small’ animals! !!! What a joke. Disgraceful oxygen thieves !! And you bunch of wankers its illegal. Caught out you so called royalty of racing hahaha
Are you kidding there is a massive difference between getting a disease or being accidentally hit by a car as opposed to being strapped down spun around a track and ripped apart by dogs!!! You can’t honestly think this is humane???
At what stage did I mention being dragged around a track… you are making an assumption. I stated a fact with no reference to greyhound racing… so please find someone else to throw mud at!!!!!
It’s in the video footage, you are commenting on an article in relation to video footage released about greyhound racing, about live animal baiting, showing that! So I’m not making an assumption I saw it.
No there is no footage on this section. Your refering to the ABC.
Not all trainers are babaric they have got a few and turned it into a witch hunt on the whole industry
Yes I know what I’m referring too. It’s more than a few and they a key players in the “industry” so maybe the industry deserves a witch hunt
There are tens of thousands of dog trainers 20 odd doesnt make it wide spread???
No they are not key players they said they were. Please get your facts straight and dont make references until you know what your talking about. Not something you have seen on a tv show only pin pointing the ugly side
They have captured many prominent figures, some of which have had recent roles in regulating the industry. That this could happen at all, let alone by what have been held to be distinguished figures, suggests this is substantially grotesque industry made up of many masked degenerates. Its coming ravaging is entirely appropriate.
@John Hear hear, I will never again have anything to do with any aspect of Greyhound racing either.
Audra Kunciunas I’d rather it just be left behind.
Anamul13 Sadly, it live baiting appears widespread,with the biggest names.
I won’t trust the industry again.
What a joke .anything to bring down a industry it would seem yet I see no animal labs getting the same rhetoric ,all the women wearing their  make up with pride  that have been tested on live animal,s ,all the chemicals for food stuffs that are tested on live monkey,s ,all the live fish used in angling an industrial long lining as bait , all the halal meat murdered in a barbaric way , is all ok because we as human beings wear it or eat it ,I wonder if the animals were asked if they would feel the same… Read more »
AnneDriscoll What a joke .anything to bring down a industry it would seem yet I see no animal labs getting the same rhetoric ,all the women wearing their  make up with pride  that have been tested on live animal,s ,all the chemicals for food stuffs that are tested on live monkey,s ,all the live fish used in angling an industrial long lining as bait , all the halal meat murdered in a barbaric way , is all ok because we as human beings wear it or eat it ,I wonder if the animals were asked if they would feel the… Read more »
RISirius hopefully GRV and the Gov will do the right thing and give the Stewards the Powers/Funding to take this by the scruff of the neck
@the hypocrite unvailer AnneDriscoll I don’t think any women are walking around feeling pride about animal-tested makeup. In any event, to each point you raise, two wrongs don’t make a right, and cruelty in greyhound racing has no natural right to be dealt with last, after any or all other industries. It is also clearly wrong to suggest animal testing has been ignored or sanctioned, it has been highly publicised and a point of difference in the marketing of many brands. I put it to you that you have below-average morality and that’s where you’re conflicted. Most people are going to… Read more »
20 that were caught, I’m sure there are more. Regardless even one person is bad enough the footage has all the facts. Every single person in that footage are absolute scum, anyone defending this practice is in the same boat
I never defended them..I used to race against them… struggling to compete… hence why I no longer train greyhounds!!!!!
Your original comment makes fun of the seriousness of the allegations in the report, if you are opposed to this why make such a ridiculous comment??
Bite me
Never made comment in relation to this get of your high horse and see the story for what it is 30 men out of 30 plus thousand.
Lol, it’s your comment dude, scroll up!! I see the story for exactly what it is too bad there aren’t cameras in every grubby training facility
No you see the story the way its portrayed.. and they only gave you a one sided story not once was there any reference to the hobby trainer who looks after their dogs better than most look after their kids.
I have two who sleep on a sofa bed in my garage. . Who roam free..
@John Gotcha John. I never comment on social media about anything however the footage in last night’s program was so repugnant that I will no longer be spending my gambling dollars on greyhound racing. I am Western Australian and have no confidence whatsoever that such widespread practices have not infected dog racing in WA. Either way, irrespective of the outcomes of any investigations, etc…. that’s it for me.
Leigh Carter..John Butterworth = morons
Robynne Black
let’s see the evidence before making any allegations
Rachel Stokman-Farr
Katherine, the culture of the industry has entrenched such unlawful practices such as live baiting. Indeed is is a part of the culture. The Governing bodies only care about managing the fall out. They all know of live baiting occurring in the past and they are Liersch if they are deniers. The problem with greyhound racing is they suspend the cheats and then allow their wives or partners to take over. This clearly demonstrates how weak the Governing bodies are. It is a joke. Nothing will change. GRV needs to have the CEO and Board dismissed for insufficient action in… Read more »
Agree Gavin in alot of ways what you have said just look at bates but then again if you ban the whole family where do 100+ dogs in some cases aka bates go?!?!
I dont think Stuart Mills was stood down seeing as he had a runner today up at Healesville ;)
I see D McD has no dogs in his name effective as of yesterday ……..
This is not good for the sport however we have had setbacks before amd have risen above the hype of our distractors chins up we will prevail again our sport is a great one
Nobody watches the ABC anyways. So you’ll be sweet
^^ love it ^^