Could UK follow New Zealand in banning greyhound racing?

Imago

New Zealand have voted to ban greyhound racing due to fatality and injury rates – could the UK follow suit?

The ban in New Zealand will come into effect on 1 August 2026, allowing enough time to rehome the active racing dogs and for people in the industry to find a new job.

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New Zealand had seen the number of dogs being killed or injured each year decrease after introducing stricter policies but according to racing minister Winston Peters, it isn't enough.

“This isn’t a decision taken lightly but is ultimately driven by protecting the welfare of racing dogs,” Peters said.

“Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals.

“We acknowledge work done by Greyhound Racing New Zealand to improve safety. While fewer dogs are dying, injury rates, while down slightly, have plateaued and are unacceptably high.”

Greyhound racing has also seen a huge decrease in popularity in the UK, with Crayford Stadium one of many famous tracks to shut its doors for good this year.

Owners of the track, Entain, cited 'dwindling support' as one of the key reasons for the sport's downfall.

Simon Clare, customer communications director at Entain, said: “We are saddened to announce the intended closure of the Crayford greyhound track. We have been exploring various avenues to avoid this decision for some time but ultimately, it is no longer viable for us to continue operating the site.

“The dwindling support for the venue has led to insufficient trainer interest to fulfil our schedules, fewer competitive race days and, therefore, lower attendance which has sadly driven our decision to close.”

So could the UK follow suit with a complete closure? The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), a national animal welfare charity, renewed calls for greyhound racing to be banned in the UK following the latest death and injury rates.

According to figures published by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the industry’s governing body, there were 109 deaths and 4,238 injuries across its 20 tracks in 2023.

On top of that, 55 dogs were put to sleep because they couldn't be rehomed after their short careers ended.

Emma Judd, the LACS's head of campaigns, said: “The inherently unsafe nature of racing greyhounds around oval tracks is causing an unacceptable death toll and an inordinate number of injuries.

“It’s time for greyhound racing to be banned – greyhounds are currently being sacrificed for the profits of the gambling industry and people’s entertainment.

“The government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs explains how to keep your dog healthy but these GBGB figures show a world of pain, suffering and injury among racing greyhounds.”