Trackside whispers a stark contrast to the horrific truth
CEE CEE QUOTED and Dorak Dessa, alongside Keybow, were the greyhounds named in the damning Four Corners program aired on Monday night, February 16. That date, to borrow Franklin Roosevelt's famous phrase following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, “will live in infamy”.
And so it should. I have followed and loved this sport/industry since I was an early teenager and was disgusted and reviled by each and every person caught on camera committing and condoning acts of outright evil.
Three or four occasions a couple of decades ago I would be at the track and the “whisper” would go around that such-and-such “has been given a kill”. True or not I don't know, because I didn't know the trainers or owners to confirm or deny the rumours. But I do know one thing: not one of those greyhounds ever won their race.
I looked up the records of Cee Cee Quoted and Dorak Dessa and it came as no surprise to me that between them they have raced 23 times for one win. Basically, they appear to be quite average-to-ordinary conveyances and yet the hidden cameras showed a pair of prominent industry people trying to basically turn water into wine.
Not one of those caught on camera, or anyone else who may later be found to have actively participated in these vile acts, should ever be allowed near a greyhound, or any other animal for that matter, ever again.
I can only agree 100 per cent with Kevin Pitstock that it is time for a fresh start. As Kevin wrote, “Swift, dramatic and conclusive changes must take place, and they must take place immediately. Those who led us here, whether through ignorance or apathy, must be removed…”
Surely the most immediate change that can take place is to close every private trialling establishment and do what they do in Tasmania, conduct all training at public courses, under proper supervision.
Basically, when actions can take place behind closed doors as it were, then given the amounts of money available in the sport nowadays, skulduggery will inevitably take place.
There has clearly been a lack of resolve across all sectors of the industry. Incompetence rules, that is obvious. Rigorous enforcement is just a buzzword, a phrase to be trotted out to keep people happy.
Are we seriously meant to believe that not a word or a hint about these disgusting practices had leaked out? Not a word? And yet a couple of anonymous calls to those who were prepared to take action led to the damning footage we saw on Monday night. I'm surprised those caught blatantly lying to camera about concern for “animal welfare” didn't burst into uncontrollable laughter.
A couple of young writers for this website have penned passionate defences of the sport and the breed in recent months. Both come from deep greyhound backgrounds and I believe represent the vast majority of those within our sport/industry. Sadly, they, and others like them, will now be tainted alongside those shown on the Four Corners program.
The enemy is within our own ranks and they extend from the perpetrators of these sadistic, inhumane practices to those who have either turned a blind eye to what has been happening under their very noses for so long, or, as appears to be the case in some instances, been willing participants despite having held down senior positions.
I hope justice will prevail and they will face the full weight of the law as well as the opprobrium of their communities.
To my mind the only industry participant who came out of the program with any kudos was Amanda Hill, the former GRV and now Tasmanian-based steward. What this industry/sport needs right now, not tomorrow or next month, or after some fumbling in-house inquiries, is a dozen or 24 Amanda Hills.
How can anyone involved in greyhound racing seriously defend a “sport” that kills greyhounds before, during and after racing? Seriously, how can you defend it and say that it can ever be anything other than dogs running for their lives?
Daniel cruelty isn’t just in the greyhound industry,
@Trent What’s your point?
@Trent Yeah and.. what’s your point Trent?
a
@Trent hmm. So your response to this nastyness is, “Yes, the Greyhound racing industry currently have a lot of sick people within it, but there is sick people elsewhere, so don’t criticize us” while a lot of people rightly or wrongly, think to themselves, “ok but chances are the same people are capable of one, is equally capable of the other”. hmm. very interesting tactic. I do not think it is an intelligent tactic with much chance of any degree of success, but an interesting tactic none the less. Personally, i think a much more intelligent tactic, is saying ”… Read more »
@Daniel -posts picture of maimed kitten to defend live baiters. Your cat story is abhorrent as are the live baiters. It takes a certain amount of cruelty to do either of these things. The most unsettling part of the 4Corners footage was seeing the obvious delight and enjoyment being expressed by those at the Qld venue, when taking the baby possum from its mother and killing it – so that they could then strap the mother to a machine and run it round for 20 plus minutes with dogs taking bites at it until it was two sections of carcase held… Read more »
Duncan, fair article and you make some very valid points that seem clear to all who participate in the industry in one form or another, although a little bit more research would have made your article more credible. Amanda Hill’s contract was NOT renewed in January 2010 and according to the official line (take that as you will) there was a ‘conflict of interest’ surrounding her integrity. Anyway back to the subject at hand. Yes this practise of ‘live baiting’ is shocking to say the least and I fully support a full review of licensing participants, a life ban is… Read more »
I’m glad you mention track side whispers. The “bad apple” defense doesn’t stand up to the reality that even if participants didn’t partake of this particular form of barbarism, they turned a blind eye, as did the industry regulators. The only people who it doesn’t seem to have come as a shock to are the antis. Funny that. To be outraged now is rather disingenuous don’t you think? Let’s be honest, most people have heard the rumours, many people knew what was going on, nobody did anything about it. If Greyhound racing ends (which I hope it does) You… Read more »
@robert sigh. robert your maths is flawed.
[evidence of animal cruelty1(a)] + [evidence of animal cruelty2(b)] <> [evidence of animal cruelty2(b)]
a+b<>b. highlighting animal cruelty elsewhere does not diminish the original case of animal cruelty and remove it from the equation. please make sure you do not help any children you have/may have in their math homework in the future.
Most greyhounds in the history of racing were broken in this way..I don’t believe otherwise. If they went to a breaking track then the dog in the kennel was probably blooded .. I’m not say that’s a good thing I’m saying its a fact…so what do we do about breaking in dogs not racing dogs but pups?
Very well said. Water into wine, how very true!
Its about time licenced tracks were opened up as breaking in centres.
Why not mention “Sweet It Is” since your bringing up dogs mentioned to rubbish them? What is that a dog you have an interest in so you sweep that one under the rug? I have interstate friends that sent there dogs here to Victoria to compete in Group level racing and are now suspended even though only temporarily staying at ppl who were considered of high standing in racing the dogs hi or low lvl are not at fault so stop rubbishing them or at least mention them all because to me it seems like u just have your own… Read more »
For heavens sake you people call yourselves dog trainers, what a joke. Greyhounds are not killers they are chasers, don’t need a live animal to get a keen dog to chase. History is not a good justification for cruelty, unless you haven’t come out of the trees yet or you still dwell in caves. Bedouins who still hunt with salukis and other sight hounds ( not scent hounds) don’t have them kill but to chase and hold. My unraced rescue “surplus to requirements” greyhound has no problem sparking up to her squeaky toy but could care less about our house… Read more »
GlenTB I believe if this industry is cleaned up, no more live kills etc…everyone would be on an even keel again! Yes killing rabbits, pigs and possoms this way isn’t a good thing, yes it is barbaric .but live in the bush and pig shooting and hunting them with dogs is a sport…go figure, how many young fellows have gone pig shooting..or am I on the wrong track…pardon the pun! I love greyhound racing and would hate it to be too badly affected by this new scandal….
I don’t think anyone can compare one type of animal cruelty to another to justify any of it. Cruelty is cruelty and there is no justification for it. In the USA it is recognised that animal cruelty is a pre cursor to violence against people. It is mandatory for animal welfare agencies to report animal cruelty to law enforcement. Serial killers have been found to start down their depraved road with animal cruelty. I am not saying that these rotten mongrels are serial killers but it shows a distinct lack of feeling and understanding of pain on their part. They… Read more »
It doesn’t matter which state you work in …. its all the same
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/459159/premiers-racing-dog-investigated/
https://www.smh.com.au/national/animal-activist-saves-premiers-old-greyhound-from-being-put-down-20100930-15zdp.html
I guess I will never learn to not take on the big guns!!!
Amanda Hill I APPLAUD THIS WOMAN SO MUCH. WHAT SHE HAS FACED AS FAR AS HARRASSMENT GOES IN victoria & tasmania, YET HER VISION IS STILL THE WANT TO DO A BLOODY GOOD JOB. AMANDA, if you read this, i would approach SAL PERNA and spill ya guts. this is the first person i would employ for welfare or CHEIF STEWARD. and if GRV had any nous, which it appears it don’t, then i would employ this champion of the cause first thing. AMANDA, you are not despised by all and sundry. we need a person like you, and… Read more »
How can anyone involved in greyhound racing seriously defend a “sport” that kills greyhounds before, during and after racing? Seriously, how can you defend it and say that it can ever be anything other than dogs running for their lives?
Daniel cruelty isn’t just in the greyhound industry,
@Trent What’s your point?
@Trent Yeah and.. what’s your point Trent?
a
@Trent hmm. So your response to this nastyness is, “Yes, the Greyhound racing industry currently have a lot of sick people within it, but there is sick people elsewhere, so don’t criticize us” while encouraging a lot of people, rightly or wrongly, to think to themselves, “ok but chances are the same people who are capable of one, is equally capable of the other”. hmm. very interesting tactic. I do not think it is an intelligent tactic with much chance of any degree of success, but an interesting tactic none the less. Personally, i think a much more intelligent tactic,… Read more »
@Trent – posts picture of maimed kitten to defend live baiters. Your cat story is abhorrent as are the live baiters. It takes a certain amount of cruelty to do either of these things. The most unsettling part of the 4Corners footage was seeing the obvious delight and enjoyment being expressed by those at the Qld venue, when taking the baby possum from its mother and killing it – so that they could then strap the mother to a machine and run it round for 20 plus minutes with dogs taking bites at it until it was two sections of… Read more »
Duncan, fair article and you make some very valid points that seem clear to all who participate in the industry in one form or another, although a little bit more research would have made your article more credible. Amanda Hill’s contract was NOT renewed in January 2010 and according to the official line (take that as you will) there was a ‘conflict of interest’ surrounding her integrity. Anyway back to the subject at hand. Yes this practise of ‘live baiting’ is shocking to say the least and I fully support a full review of licensing participants, a life ban is… Read more »
I’m glad you mention track side whispers. The “bad apple” defense doesn’t stand up to the reality that even if participants didn’t partake of this particular form of barbarism, they turned a blind eye, as did the industry regulators. The only people who it doesn’t seem to have come as a shock to are the antis. Funny that. To be outraged now is rather disingenuous don’t you think? Let’s be honest, most people have heard the rumours, many people knew what was going on, nobody did anything about it. If Greyhound racing ends (which I hope it does) You… Read more »
@robert sigh. robert your maths is flawed.
[evidence of animal cruelty1(a)] + [evidence of animal cruelty2(b)] <> [evidence of animal cruelty2(b)]
a+b<>b. highlighting animal cruelty elsewhere does not diminish the original case of animal cruelty and remove it from the equation. please make sure you do not help any children you have/may have in their math homework in the future.
Most greyhounds in the history of racing were broken in this way..I don’t believe otherwise. If they went to a breaking track then the dog in the kennel was probably blooded .. I’m not say that’s a good thing I’m saying its a fact…so what do we do about breaking in dogs not racing dogs but pups?
Very well said. Water into wine, how very true!
Its about time licenced tracks were opened up as breaking in centres.
Why not mention “Sweet It Is” since your bringing up dogs mentioned to rubbish them? What is that a dog you have an interest in so you sweep that one under the rug? I have interstate friends that sent there dogs here to Victoria to compete in Group level racing and are now suspended even though only temporarily staying at ppl who were considered of high standing in racing the dogs hi or low lvl are not at fault so stop rubbishing them or at least mention them all because to me it seems like u just have your own… Read more »
For heavens sake you people call yourselves dog trainers, what a joke. Greyhounds are not killers they are chasers, don’t need a live animal to get a keen dog to chase. History is not a good justification for cruelty, unless you haven’t come out of the trees yet or you still dwell in caves. Bedouins who still hunt with salukis and other sight hounds ( not scent hounds) don’t have them kill but to chase and hold. My unraced rescue “surplus to requirements” greyhound has no problem sparking up to her squeaky toy but could care less about our house… Read more »
GlenTB I believe if this industry is cleaned up, no more live kills etc…everyone would be on an even keel again! Yes killing rabbits, pigs and possoms this way isn’t a good thing, yes it is barbaric .but live in the bush and pig shooting and hunting them with dogs is a sport…go figure, how many young fellows have gone pig shooting..or am I on the wrong track…pardon the pun! I love greyhound racing and would hate it to be too badly affected by this new scandal….
I don’t think anyone can compare one type of animal cruelty to another to justify any of it. Cruelty is cruelty and there is no justification for it. In the USA it is recognised that animal cruelty is a pre cursor to violence against people. It is mandatory for animal welfare agencies to report animal cruelty to law enforcement. Serial killers have been found to start down their depraved road with animal cruelty. I am not saying that these rotten mongrels are serial killers but it shows a distinct lack of feeling and understanding of pain on their part. They… Read more »
It doesn’t matter which state you work in …. its all the same
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/459159/premiers-racing-dog-investigated/
I guess I will never learn to not take on the big guns!!!
It doesn’t matter which state you work in …. its all the same
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/459159/premiers-racing-dog-investigated/
http://www.smh.com.au/national/animal-activist-saves-premiers-old-greyhound-from-being-put-down-20100930-15zdp.html
I guess I will never learn to not take on the big guns!!!
Amanda Hill I APPLAUD THIS WOMAN SO MUCH. WHAT SHE HAS FACED AS FAR AS HARRASSMENT GOES IN victoria & tasmania, YET HER VISION IS STILL THE WANT TO DO A BLOODY GOOD JOB. AMANDA, if you read this, i would approach SAL PERNA and spill ya guts. this is the first person i would employ for welfare or CHEIF STEWARD. and if GRV had any nous, which it appears it don’t, then i would employ this champion of the cause first thing. AMANDA, you are not despised by all and sundry. we need a person like you, and… Read more »