Greyhound Racing Victoria’s response to Four Corners

1 12 February 2015 Greyhound Racing victoria s response to Four Corners What measures have you as the regulator taken to ensure that Greyhound Racing has integrity? The 2012 Ombudsman s report of his Own Motion Enquiry into Victorian Greyhound Racing was a catalyst for significant change to the governance and integrity practices at GRV. New board appointments along with new senior management appointments signalled a new era for GRV and the organisation has publicly and consistently stated its commitment to Greyhound welfare, governance and integrity. Following this report; the organisation restructured in order to align the areas of Integrity, Racing and Welfare; there was the establishment of an Investigations Unit; there has been significant investment and additional research into prohibited substance detection the number of stewards and compliance officers has increased significantly there are more than 3500 kennel inspections conducted each year there is regular monitoring of betting activity and dialogue between wagering operators and the stewards department drug testing protocols have evolved significantly o GRV now takes Pre-race, Post-race and Out-of-competition swabs as well as freezes samples for future testing o GRV has the capability to test saliva, blood and urine o The number of swabs taken has increased year on year with 5050 samples will be taken in FY15.

2 This is a 130% increase on FY08. mandatory treatment record books were introduced for all trainers there have been significant developments in the area of Greyhound welfare o Every Greyhound is now microchipped at the time of litter registration for identification and attachment to registered persons throughout its life. o GRV now has greater reporting and data collection capabilities. o Increased registered participant education o More stringent requirements to enter the industry, including a successful kennel inspection, prior to licensing of new trainers o DNA parentage check for all breeding animals In 2014 GRV established an independent Integrity Committee to oversee GRV s integrity function. The Committee includes Independent Chair Rick Harley, AFL Integrity Manager Brett Clothier, and prominent Greyhound vet Dr Ray Ferguson GRV has been responsible for the initiation and development of the National Welfare Strategy National Welfare Strategy These are just some of the many measures and initiatives taken to improve the integrity with which Greyhound Racing is conducted in victoria .

3 What is your response to the allegation that doping is endemic in the sport? Any suggestion of widespread doping in Greyhound Racing is not supported by the evidence. We have had less than 60 positive tests in the past 2 years across the thousands of races conducted. o GRV now takes Pre-race, Post-race and Out-of-competition swabs. The introduction of these tests resulted in the suspension of high-profile trainer Graeme Bate in 2014 o GRV also freezes samples for future testing o The number of swabs taken has increased year on year with 5050 samples will be taken in FY15. This is a 130% increase on FY08. o Less than of all swabs return a positive result, and that figure is decreasing. Given this evidence we don t believe that the deliberate administering of performance enhancing drugs is endemic in Greyhound Racing however this doesn t diminish our obligation to participants and the punters, or our desire, to eradicate it from our sport.

4 The GRV Integrity Council and the Board recently funded a program by Melbourne University to undertake research into the detection of prohibited substances. How many integrity officers are employed by your organisation? 15 Full Time Stewards; 24 Casual Stewards; 1 Full-time Investigations Manager; 2 Full-Time Greyhound Welfare Compliance & Education Officers; 1 Veterinary Services Officer (Prohibited Substance Research) 1 Veterinary Inspection Officer (currently vacant) Please list prohibited substances (including testosterone) and the thresholds that are set? Please refer to the National Rules for the substances: . GAR 83 in particular contains thresholds for testosterone in females, and ethanol. We have a stronger rule than other codes that allows us to call a positive on an unusual or abnormal amount of an endogenous substance in the absence of a defined threshold.

5 This has enabled GRV to successfully prosecute in several instances. For example, there is currently no hydrocortisone threshold but GRV has successfully prosecuted following the detection of levels over 1000 ng/mL. GRV does not determine the penalty for drug cheats. An independent body (RADB) is responsible for this. However, GRV recently took the unprecedented step of appealing to VCAT a decision of the RADB relating to high-profile trainer Graeme Bate as GRV deemed it too lenient. As a result the penalty was strengthened. Graeme Bate has also been removed from our Hall of Fame. This is an indication of GRV s view of the use of prohibited drugs. How many greyhounds are bred per year in your state for Racing ? We view responsible breeding as a key pillar of our Strategic Plan.

6 The number of litters bred in victoria has steadily decreased since the recommendations of the Responsible Breeding Task Force were implemented in 2007. To give you some idea of the change - in 2004, 1377 litters were whelped in victoria with 8287 pups. In 2013, the number of litters whelped in victoria was 939 (reduction of 32%) with 5974 pups registered (reduction of 28%) How many of those subsequently go on to race and how many are deemed as wastage per year? - We do not consider ANY Greyhound bred to race to be wastage . It is a term coined by those opposed to Greyhound Racing and GRV does no not consider that term to be reflective of the attitude towards the Greyhound in this industry. - The percentage of greyhounds whelped that are named for Racing is increasing.

7 Naming occurs usually at about 18 months of age. Figures for Victorian pups whelped in 2012 show nearly 66 % of pups have been named. See graph below illustrating Victorian data. How many greyhounds were successfully adopted out of the GAP program last year? - In FY14 536 were adopted out of GAP - So far in FY15 (July 14 Jan 15) 434 adopted 149 more than same period last year (+52%) and 294 more than the same period in 2010/11 (+310%) o Same period in previous years - Jul 2013- Jan 2014: 285 - Jul 2012- Jan 2013: 205 - Jul 2011- Jan 2012: 192 - Jul 2010- Jan 2011: 140 How many dogs failed the GAP temperament test last year? It is important that greyhounds in the program are suitable to be put into homes. Due to a change in the intake model for GAP, aimed at increasing the number of greyhounds that can be put through the program, most dogs now pass the GAP test on the first attempt.

8 Owners of unsuccessful dogs are given information about how they can work with their dog to improve its chances of passing a future test. The end result is that very few dogs now fail to gain entry into the GAP program. How many sanctions have you imposed for live baiting in the last decade? - Maxwell Auld was disqualified by Stewards (there was no RADB at the time) for the use of live bait for 12 months in 2009. He appealed the decision to the Racing Appeals Tribunal (now appeals go to VCAT) and the disqualification was reduced to nine months. - In 2014 the current GRV board and administration introduced strict new guidelines, and reminded participants that live baiting will not be tolerated: What is the position of your organisation on the use of live animals in the training of greyhounds ?

9 - GRV does not tolerate the use of live bait in the training of greyhounds with the minimum recommended penalty for the offence a 10 year ban. There is absolutely no place for this practice in the sport. - In addition to the 10 year recommended ban under the rules of Greyhound Racing , live-baiting is a criminal offence punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) and can attract a jail term of up to two-years and a fine of more than $30,000. If live baiting is proven to be occurring in your state, what does GRV plan to do, what action will be taken? - GRV will fully investigate any allegation and work cooperatively with any appropriate authority. - Greyhound Racing victoria (GRV) has immediately suspended the registration of the Tooradin Trial Track and the registration of 10 persons for alleged live baiting offences at that facility.

10 - GRV learnt Wednesday afternoon of an investigation by the RSPCA into the Tooradin Trial Track. - Following formal receipt of further information today from the Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna, and in accordance with information received from the RSPCA today, the decision was made by the GRV Board to suspend these registrations immediately. - Full investigations by GRV and the RSPCA are underway in relation to this prohibited, criminal activity. - Anyone found to have been engaging in this practice can expect to be dealt with in a manner reflective of GRV s zero-tolerance approach to this barbaric practice. Refer previous answer regarding minimum penalty. In light of the allegations of doping and live baiting, can GRV be sure that races scheduled for tonight, tomorrow and the immediate future are fairly run?