WA’s main greyhound racing track has shut its doors for $3 million worth of upgrades months after the local mayor lashed out at the conditions of what he described as an “insidious sport”.
The Cannington racetrack will remain closed until November as works continue, including adjusting and resurfacing the track, installing new starting boxes and enlarging a catching pen area.
The maintenance project — which began at the end of May — will also install a new irrigation system and use existing start slabs with improved running lines.
The racetrack — like WA’s other two dog-racing venues — is managed by the WA Greyhound Racing Association. Cannington race meets have moved to Northam and Mandurah during the shutdown.
A Racing and Wagering WA spokesperson said while the Cannington track “adhered to standards”, there had been advances in technology and research that had presented opportunities for upgrades.
“This project is focused on incorporating the latest standards into greyhound racing track designs to support the highest level of care for racing greyhounds,” they said.
RWWA commissioned the University of Technology Sydney in 2019 to assess the State’s three tracks against the “latest design and maintenance standards” to ensure best care for greyhounds.
The spokesperson said similar upgrades had already occurred at the Mandurah and Northam tracks and after delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, track improvements at Cannington were now proceeding.
Earlier this year after there had been four deaths at the Cannington course across three separate race days, City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall called on the Government to investigate why Cannington was leading the nation in greyhound racing deaths.
He asked for — and received — his council’s support to write to Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia about what he called an animal welfare matter.
At the time, Mr Hall said the “alarming death and injury toll” were against the council’s views but acknowledged banning the sport altogether was outside the city’s remit.
The city said the minister’s response to Mr Hall’s letter emphasised the importance of animal welfare and listed measures that Racing and Wagering WA were using to minimise risk.
Mr Hall welcomed the upgrade and thanked RWWA and the WAGRA for their actions.
“We are delighted to see that our advocacy and that of other organisations has contributed to substantial improvements in animal safety and welfare standards at the Cannington racetrack,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor racing at the track and to collaborate with RWWA, WAGRA and other stakeholders to ensure that animal welfare remains a key priority in the racing industry.”
Pressure on the industry remains strong, including a current petition to the State Government calling for the industry to be “phased out”, which had received almost 10,000 signatures by Tuesday.