HUNTER Valley greyhound trainers have vowed to unite and fight the Baird government over plans to shut down the industry in NSW.
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At Maitland Greyhound Track – which was the only race meeting in the state on Thursday – the mood was sombre, but undercut with deep anger that the Premier had blindsided the industry.
Tarro trainer Clive Miller accused the government of having “blood on their hands” and feared thousands of greyhounds would perish as a result of the shutdown.
“They say we’ve got blood on our hands. But the blood is on their hands,” he said.
“They’ve pandered to minority groups, but let me ask you – how many of those animal lovers are now going to put up their hand to rehome these dogs?”
Maitland trainer Anne Foley said she had raced greyhounds for as long as she could remember and had never seen a darker day in the sport.
“It’s just disbelief, total disbelief,” she said.
“How would you like something ripped away from you that you love?
“I’m going to back this industry and I will back anybody to try and keep greyhound racing in this state.”
Aberdeen breeder Gary Wilton worried thousands of people would be ruined by the government’s decision.
“It’s gut-wrenching news for everybody in the industry,” he said.
“It puts a lot of people’s livelihoods at stake – it’s not only the greyhounds, it’s the people in the canteens, the trainers, the greyhound recorder, and it goes on and on and on. No one thought it would go this far.”
Supporter Peter Lagogiane said the industry had already carried out significant reforms to improve animal welfare.
“We are seen as ‘bad people’ – but we’re not,” he said.
“And it’s an absolute shame because there’s so many good people in the industry even if there are a few bad eggs.
“We love our dogs. Most dogs in the industry are part of the family.”
Mr Lagogiane said the industry needed to unite and use “common sense” arguments to reject the ban.
“NSW owners and trainers are not going to take this lying down,” he said.
Central Coast greyhound photographer Sarah Whalland broke down in tears when she pondered her future after the industry closure.
“We’re going to have to sell whatever we can to get by,” she said.
Maitland went ahead with its meeting because it began shortly before a seven-day suspension kicked in.
Other race meets across the state were abandoned.