Pet greyhounds in a spin over new play space
It’s called Zoomie Land and it’s for those who have retired but still love to run. Named after the quirk shared by many greyhounds for running around in tight circles, Zoomie Land is a new play area at Cannington created by Greyhounds WA. General Manager Noel Reilly said the off-lead space beside the racetrack was […]
New laws free retired greyhounds from muzzles
New state laws liberating pet greyhounds from wearing muzzles in public are welcomed by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA). Chief Racing Officer Charlotte Mills said the racing community was pleased with the changes, which support RWWA’s goals for greyhound welfare and upholding the reputation of the breed. “Until now, greyhounds who were retired from […]
Adam flicks the switch from tradie to trainer
When Adam Smithson became an electrician, it wasn’t the first apprenticeship he had served. He had been an apprentice greyhound trainer to parents Ray and Belinda since he was a toddler. “We had three or four dogs in the backyard and I was always following Dad around the kennels, giving him a hand and going […]
Spirit never Withers in Tommy Shelby’s family
Kira Withers is slightly mystified by the extraordinary worldwide following attracted by her family’s greyhound Tommy Shelby. It’s not just because he’s a champion who has won Group 1 races across Australia. It can’t quite be explained by their custom of donating 10 per cent of the owners’ prize money to charity after every win. And there’s more to it than the fact that […]
Dogs like Pepper bring flavour to Linda’s life
Ask greyhound trainer Linda Britton about the standout animals in her life and she doesn’t mention her greatest champion but one with a big personality who loved attention. The renowned trainer’s most famous greyhound is Paradise Street, who won the Group 2 National Distance Championship at Cannington in 1998 and remained WA’s only winner in […]
Retired racing animals are a life’s work for Mara
Work and leisure are two different things for most people but for Mara Coombes life merges with livelihood. At work, she is Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s Off the Track WA Marketing Coordinator, supporting racehorses in finding new homes and purpose when they retire. At home, her family includes an off the track thoroughbred, an […]
Animal welfare central to review of State’s greyhound racetracks
The State’s three greyhound tracks are being upgraded to ensure they deliver the best levels of care for racing greyhounds following a review by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). As part of its commitment to provide the highest animal welfare standards, Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) commissioned the UTS review, to assess the […]
How the boy who didn’t have a dog became a top trainer
There were no pets in Paul Stuart’s home as a kid but he always wanted a dog. Now he always has at least a dozen as a leading greyhound breeder, trainer and owner. At 16, Paul got his chance to spend time with animals through the work experience program at school. “I used to watch […]
University of Technology Sydney Review of WA Greyhound Tracks
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) understands that the community expects that racing greyhounds are afforded with the best levels of care, during all stages of their lives – an expectation that we as the State’s Principal Racing Authority also share. As part of this continuous effort to ensure the highest level of welfare is […]