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‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

The Age08-06-2025
Tempers were running high at the Richmond greyhound track. A trainer and his partner were unhappy with a racing steward's direction, and they made their displeasure known in what was described by a witness as 'terribly insulting language'.
'Fat f---ing c---,' the woman said to the steward, numerous times, before telling him she'd kill him, she'd bash him and that she'd have his job over an instruction affecting the couple's dogs, including one named Tombstone Boy. She then attacked the steward physically, trying to 'headbutt him first', a witness said, before 'throwing punches at him', and leaving him with marks to his head and neck.
Another night, another fight – this time at the Newcastle track, where two trainers faced off. One, with a dog in his hand, shouldered the other in the chest, and was repelled with a forceful push that sent him rolling down the hill.
He gave the dog's lead to his stepson. 'Hold this lead,' he told the lad, 'while I f--- this c--- up.' They traded punches, then one of the men 'legs it', according to an interview with the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, yelling 'you've done your licence now'.
The cases were among a dossier of files on physical and sexual assault and harassment within the NSW greyhound racing industry tabled in parliament this month, prompting a call for a probe into human-to-human behaviour within an industry that's most often under scrutiny for its treatment of animals.
The cases also prompted questions about why industry participants were still not required to update their police check when they renewed their registration.
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The government is already holding an inquiry into the greyhound racing industry after an explosive letter to Racing NSW from its former chief veterinarian, revealed by this masthead last year, alleged the treatment of dogs was barbaric and the industry was unsustainable. The Drake inquiry is due to report by the end of July.
The dossier about assault and harassment, particularly of officials in the industry, contained cases investigated between 2019 and this year.
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‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure
‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

The Age

time08-06-2025

  • The Age

‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

Tempers were running high at the Richmond greyhound track. A trainer and his partner were unhappy with a racing steward's direction, and they made their displeasure known in what was described by a witness as 'terribly insulting language'. 'Fat f---ing c---,' the woman said to the steward, numerous times, before telling him she'd kill him, she'd bash him and that she'd have his job over an instruction affecting the couple's dogs, including one named Tombstone Boy. She then attacked the steward physically, trying to 'headbutt him first', a witness said, before 'throwing punches at him', and leaving him with marks to his head and neck. Another night, another fight – this time at the Newcastle track, where two trainers faced off. One, with a dog in his hand, shouldered the other in the chest, and was repelled with a forceful push that sent him rolling down the hill. He gave the dog's lead to his stepson. 'Hold this lead,' he told the lad, 'while I f--- this c--- up.' They traded punches, then one of the men 'legs it', according to an interview with the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, yelling 'you've done your licence now'. The cases were among a dossier of files on physical and sexual assault and harassment within the NSW greyhound racing industry tabled in parliament this month, prompting a call for a probe into human-to-human behaviour within an industry that's most often under scrutiny for its treatment of animals. The cases also prompted questions about why industry participants were still not required to update their police check when they renewed their registration. Loading The government is already holding an inquiry into the greyhound racing industry after an explosive letter to Racing NSW from its former chief veterinarian, revealed by this masthead last year, alleged the treatment of dogs was barbaric and the industry was unsustainable. The Drake inquiry is due to report by the end of July. The dossier about assault and harassment, particularly of officials in the industry, contained cases investigated between 2019 and this year.

‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure
‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

Sydney Morning Herald

time08-06-2025

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘Headbutts', threats, ‘insulting language' in an industry under pressure

Tempers were running high at the Richmond greyhound track. A trainer and his partner were unhappy with a racing steward's direction, and they made their displeasure known in what was described by a witness as 'terribly insulting language'. 'Fat f---ing c---,' the woman said to the steward, numerous times, before telling him she'd kill him, she'd bash him and that she'd have his job over an instruction affecting the couple's dogs, including one named Tombstone Boy. She then attacked the steward physically, trying to 'headbutt him first', a witness said, before 'throwing punches at him', and leaving him with marks to his head and neck. Another night, another fight – this time at the Newcastle track, where two trainers faced off. One, with a dog in his hand, shouldered the other in the chest, and was repelled with a forceful push that sent him rolling down the hill. He gave the dog's lead to his stepson. 'Hold this lead,' he told the lad, 'while I f--- this c--- up.' They traded punches, then one of the men 'legs it', according to an interview with the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, yelling 'you've done your licence now'. The cases were among a dossier of files on physical and sexual assault and harassment within the NSW greyhound racing industry tabled in parliament this month, prompting a call for a probe into human-to-human behaviour within an industry that's most often under scrutiny for its treatment of animals. The cases also prompted questions about why industry participants were still not required to update their police check when they renewed their registration. Loading The government is already holding an inquiry into the greyhound racing industry after an explosive letter to Racing NSW from its former chief veterinarian, revealed by this masthead last year, alleged the treatment of dogs was barbaric and the industry was unsustainable. The Drake inquiry is due to report by the end of July. The dossier about assault and harassment, particularly of officials in the industry, contained cases investigated between 2019 and this year.

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