Stings target greyhound cruelty
Covert stings at WA greyhound training facilities will be ramped up after revelations of barbaric east coast practices that have rocked the national sport.
Racing and Wagering WA integrity boss Denis Borovica was adamant yesterday there was no systemic live baiting of greyhounds in this State after revelations by the ABC's Four Corners program on Monday night of the illegal practice in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
Disturbing footage showed some of the national sport's leading identities cruelly using live piglets, rabbits and possums to blood their greyhounds.
One of them, dual Australian trainer of the year Darren McDonald, won last year's Perth Cup with his greyhound Keybow.
Mr Borovica, who owns a former racing greyhound as a pet, said he was sickened by the vision and he promised to not only increase covert surveillance on WA's main racing facilities at Cannington, Mandurah and Northam, but also at private training tracks. And he promised career-threatening penalties to those who crossed the line on live baiting.
"When you find people, give them the penalties that act as real deterrents to everybody else, to make it clear that this is career-ending stuff for greyhound trainers to get involved with," Mr Borovica said.
"They will get the harshest penalties because it is considered to be the most heinous of offences. As much as we can be confident that we're on top of it and all over it, these things raise everyone's sensitivities and we will obviously be doing even more than we're doing (now).
"The majority of the people in the industry would be ashamed of what's happened."
Mr Borovica said WA had unique rules that prohibited live bait animals to be taken on to a greyhound racing property. He said there were no WA facilities where live baiting could occur that stewards did not watch. In 2008, a WA trainer was disqualified for a year for using a caged rabbit to incite his greyhounds.
WA Greyhounds Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association president Phil Worthington said the issue would be discussed at an official meeting tonight. "We don't condone it or stand for it at all," Mr Worthington said.
"There's nothing like that going on in WA, mate."
WA Racing and Gaming Minister Colin Holt said the activities tarnished the entire industry and he promised to strongly support penalties for cruelty to animals, which had a maximum fine under the Animal Welfare Act of $50,000 and five years jail.
Shadow minister Mick Murray called on the State Government to mount an immediate investigation into the WA industry and its 250 licensed trainers.
Former WA greyhounds administrator Dave Robartson said he was very disturbed by the images but strict policing by the State's stewards meant it was almost impossible to repeat in WA.
