Greyhound racing in Australia is a sport and gambling activity. Australia is one of several countries with a greyhound racing industry. The industry laws are governed by the State Government but the keeping of greyhounds is governed by the Local Authority.
History In 1927 Frederick 'Judge' Swindell established the Greyhound Coursing Association and the first meeting was held using a "tin hare" (mechanical lure) at Epping Racecourse (Harold Park) on 28 May 1927. From 1928 until 1931 betting was banned. Harold Park continued to be the only venue to have a licence until July 1938 when the government granted a second licence (consisting of 26 fixtures) for Wentworth Park. Although the licence was granted in July 1938 it was not until Saturday 28 October 1939 that the new track opened. The opening had been delayed due to the construction of the track taking longer than expected.
In 1939 the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association was founded. In 1979, live hare coursing and other similar activities, including live baiting, was banned in NSW under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and in 1985 Wentworth Park became the racing headquarters of NSW.
2015 live baiting scandal
In February 2015, the industry came under severe scrutiny following the airing of the ABC program Four Corners. A series of media reports detailed the use of live bait animals in the training of racing greyhounds. In June 2016, former High Court Justice Michael McHugh conducted a Special Commission of Inquiry in New South Wales, where key findings of the report included a high death rate with uncompetitive greyhounds being euthanised over a twelve year period and the under-reporting of greyhound deaths and injuries. Despite self-regulatory efforts to address the issue of live baiting and other animal welfare issues, the revelations led to suspensions, inquiries, condemnation of the practice and the banning of greyhound racing in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from 1 July 2017, following the passage of legislation. However the ban was repealed by Mike Baird on 11 October 2016. The appointment of the NSW Greyhound Reform Panel made 122 recommendations to the NSW government, of which 121 were adopted. Victoria commissioned the Perna Report, while Queensland commissioned the MacSporran report. As part of the NSW government recommendations, it created GWIC (Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission), which is a taxpayer funded, non-industry regulator of the greyhound racing industry.
Regulation Greyhound racing in Australia is regulated at the state and territory level. Each jurisdiction establishes a statutory controlling authority responsible for licensing, rule-making, integrity oversight and animal welfare standards under its respective racing legislation.
Although regulatory responsibility is decentralised, the rules of racing are largely harmonised nationally. The Australian Greyhound Racing Rules are maintained by Greyhounds Australasia, the peak body representing the state and territory controlling authorities, and are adopted by each jurisdiction as part of its regulatory framework.
State and territory authorities exercise enforcement powers through stewards and integrity officials, including the conduct of inquiries, disciplinary proceedings and the imposition of penalties for breaches of the rules or relevant legislation.
By jurisdiction Australian Capital Territory There is currently no racing in the ACT following a territory ban in 2018. The Canberra Greyhound Racing Club (CGRC) is still active using their Symonston track as a training facility but the club races at Goulburn in New South Wales.
New South Wales In 2009, the government formed a new legislation, known as the Greyhound Racing Act 2009 which made provisions in regards to the control and regulation of the industry and the Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) then became responsible for the regulatory affairs of the sport in addition to the commercial aspects.
The NSW Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice came into effect on 1 January 2021, with 58 code practice standards (out of 124 in total) relating to retired greyhounds. The code is the benchmark for expected conduct and behaviour and has an Enforcement Protocol.
In 2022, Lismore was forced to close following flooding and an inability to rebuild the track to meet GRNSW's minimum standards.
Venues The following venues are active greyhound racing tracks in NSW.
Name of club/track Location Opened Meeting TypeBroken Hill Greyhound Racing ClubLane/Noonan Street, Broken Hill 28 March 1949 (new track 1971)Non-TABBulli GreyhoundsBulli Showground, Grevillea Park Road, Bulli 4 November 1950TAB meetingsCasino Greyhound Racing ClubQueen Elizabeth Park, Hartley Street, Casino 19 March 1936(new track 2015)TAB meetingsCoonabarabran Greyhound Racing ClubChappell Avenue, Coonabarabran c.1970Non-TABCoonamble Greyhound ClubShowgrounds, 160-180 Castlereagh Street, Coonamble 1933?Non-TABCowra Greyhound ClubWest Cowra Recreation Ground, Young Road, Cowra –Non-TABDapto (South Coast Greyhounds)Greyhound Racing NSW, 89 Princes Highway, Dapto 25 February 1937TAB meetingsDubbo Greyhound Racing ClubDawson Park, Wheelers Lane, Dubbo 23 March 1974TAB meetingsGosford ShowgroundShowground Road, Gosford 8 February 1936TAB meetingsGoulburn Greyhound Racing Club49 Braidwood Road, Goulburn 20 October 1934TAB meetingsGrafton Greyhound Racing Club70 Cranworth Street, Grafton 1 April 1933TAB meetingsGunnedah GreyhoundsTalibah/Finch Street, Gunnedah 24 March 1934TAB meetingsKempsey MacLeay Greyhound Racing ClubRaceway, East Street, off Angus McNeil Cres, Kempsey –Non-TABLithgow Greyhound Racing Club1 Union Street, Lithgow 14 April 1928Non-TABMaitland GreyhoundsMaitland Showground, Blomfield Street, Maitland 12 November 1927TAB meetingsMuswellbrook Greyhound Racing ClubGreyhound Park, Sydney Street, Muswellbrook 17 December 1955Non-TABNowra (Shoalhaven Greyhound Racing Club)Shoalhaven Racing Complex, Albatross Road, Nowra 30 January 1976TAB meetingsPotts Park Greyhound Social Club140 Rookwood Road, Yagoona c.1970Non-TABRichmond Race Club312 Londonderry Road, Richmond October 1955TAB meetingsTamworth Greyhound Racing Club1 Gunnedah Road, Tamworth 19 May 1934Non-TABTaree Greyhound Racing ClubKanangra Drive, Taree 1960sTAB meetingsTemora Greyhound Racing ClubGallipoli Street, Temora 1957TAB meetingsThe Gardens Greyhound Club104 Sandgate Road, Birmingham Gardens 2014TAB meetingsWagga & District Greyhound Club Urana Street, Wagga Wagga c.1970sTAB meetings Wauchoupe (Hasting Rivers Greyhound Club) Beechwood Road, Wauchope 3 July 1971Non-TABWentworth ParkWentworth Park Road, Ultimo 28 October 1939TAB meetingsYoung & District Greyhound Racing ClubAlfred Oval, Lachlan Street, Young 21 November 1953Non-TAB
Northern Territory Greyhound racing in the Northern Territory (NT) is regulated by Licensing NT on behalf of the NT Racing Commission.
The NT has one active greyhound racing venue, known as Winnellie Park. The track is operated by the Darwin Greyhound Association (DGA), which is the Territory’s only greyhound racing club. Most racing greyhounds in the NT are trained and kennelled directly at the Winnellie Park racetrack, within view of DGA staff and other residing trainers.
Queensland Greyhound racing in Queensland is administered by Racing Queensland, the statutory control body for the code in the state. Racing Queensland is responsible for the management, development and promotion of greyhound racing, including the licensing of clubs and venues and the making of rules of racing. Integrity and animal welfare oversight are carried out independently by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.
Venues The following venues are active greyhound racing tracks in Queensland.
Name of club/track Location Opened Albion Park Raceway (Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club) Amy Street, Albion 11 February 1993 Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club Thabeban Park, Maynard Street, Avenell Heights, BundabergOctober 1977Capalaba Straight Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba 1987 Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club Ipswich Showgrounds, Warwick Road, Ipswich1973Rockhampton Greyhound Racing Club Callaghan Park, Renney Street, Rockhampton May 1982The Q Greyhound CentreIpswich April 2024Townsville Showground (Townsville Greyhound Racing Club) Ingham Road, West End, Townsville 19 December 1936
South Australia Greyhound racing in South Australia is conducted under the control of Greyhound Racing South Australia (GRSA), the industry body responsible for the administration, operation and promotion of the sport. South Australia does not have a separate statutory integrity commission.
Venues
There are four active tracks in South Australia. Name of club/track Location OpenedAngle Park (Adelaide Greyhound Racing Club)Cardigan Street, Angle Park 20 April 1972Gawler Greyhound Racing ClubShowgrounds, Nixon Terrace, Gawler 12 July 1971Murray Bridge Greyhound Racing Club2 Kennett Road, Murray Bridge East19 December 2018Tara Raceway (Mount Gambier Greyhounds)161 Lake Terrace East, Mount Gambier 25 January 1997
Tasmania Tasracing, established in November 2008, is responsible for the strategic direction and funding of the industry. On 1 February 2025, the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) was dissolved and replaced by a split-regulatory model under the Racing Regulation and Integrity Act 2024. Integrity oversight is now managed by the independent Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner, while operational integrity is handled by the Tasracing Integrity Unit.
Following the 2025 Tasmanian state election, Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced in August 2025 the phase out of all greyhound racing in the state by 30 June 2029.
Venues The following venues are active greyhound racing tracks in Tasmania.
Name of club/track Location OpenedDevonport Showground (North West Greyhound Racing Club)Gunn and Parker Street, Devonport 3 April 1952Elwick Racecourse (Hobart Greyhound Racing Club)Goodwood Road, Glenorchy 2 November 2006Mowbray Racecourse (Launceston Greyhound Racing Club)Jellico Street, Mowbray, Launceston 20 December 2004
Victoria Greyhound racing in Victoria is regulated and administered by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). GRV is responsible for licensing, rule enforcement, integrity functions and animal welfare administration under Victoria’s racing framework.
Venues The following venues are active greyhound racing tracks in Victoria.
Name of club/track Location OpenedBallarat GreyhoundsMorshead Park, Sutton Street, Ballarat Central 23 December 1978Bendigo Greyhound Racing AssociationLords Raceway, McIvor Highway, Junortoun, Bendigo 1978Cranbourne Greyhound Racing ClubCranbourne Racing Centre, Grant Street, Cranbourne August 1973Geelong Greyhound Racing Club The Beckley Centre, Broderick Road, Corio, Geelong 7 March 1980Healesville Greyhound Racing ClubShowgrounds & Sporting Complex, Don Road, Healesville November 1989Horsham Greyhound Racing ClubHorsham Showground, Henty Highway, Horsham 17 December 1973 Sale Greyhound ClubShowgrounds, Maffra-Sale Road, Sale 6 Feb 1936 (new tracks 1963 & 1982)Sandown Park Lightwood Road, Springvale 8 September 1956Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club7580 Goulburn Valley Highway, Kialla 10 December 2005The Meadows GreyhoundsNorthcorp Boulevard, Broadmeadows 8 February 1999 Traralgon Greyhound Racing ClubGlenview Park, McNairn Road, Traralgon 28 June 1973Warragul Greyhound ClubLogan Park, Howitt Street, Warragul 14 September 1956Warrnambool Greyhound Racing ClubWannon Park, Koroit Street, Warrnambool 27 July 1978
Former venues
The following venues are former greyhound racing tracks in Victoria.