Phoenix Ferns, 8, with dog Jarrod — race name Phresh — loves helping his grandfather look after his greyhounds .
Camera IconPhoenix Ferns, 8, with dog Jarrod — race name Phresh — loves helping his grandfather look after his greyhounds . Credit: News Limited, ELISE DERWIN

Doggies will still have their day in NT

NT News

WE love our dogs and we’re here to stay.

That’s the message from the Darwin greyhound racing industry after Thursday’s shock announcement that the NSW government planned to shut down that state’s racing from July next year.

“It’s unbelievable what they’ve done in NSW, but they’re a massive, massive industry,” Darwin Greyhound Association manager Greg Aldam said.

“We’re small. The tyranny of distance hurts us for getting new trainers and greyhounds but in the other respect, we’re a very managed club and it works really well.

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“You come out to the races here and it’s a fun family environment and you can see for yourself the owners, trainers and handlers love their greyhounds.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird framed his decision around a Special Commission of Inquiry which found as many as 68,000 greyhounds bred to race were killed in the last 12 years and up to 20 per cent of trainers used cruel live baiting techniques.

Northern Territory Racing Minister Peter Styles said a government inquiry into Darwin racing following last year’s damning ABC television’s 4 Corners exposé on live baiting found no evidence of “shonky business" in the Territory.

“We have a much smaller footprint in relation to greyhound racing up here — it’s more of a hobby, it’s well managed, well run and there have been no issues come out in relation to the national problem that's been occurring in Qld and NSW,” he said.

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“If I thought there was anything like that going on up here I’d be like Mike Baird and I’d shut it down as well.”

Mr Aldam said there were only 12-15 trainers and about 140 racing greyhounds in the Northern Territory.

He said the NSW decision would not impact crowds or betting at this month’s Darwin Cup feature race program.

Leading Darwin trainer Graeme Ferns said the racing industry was mostly good in all states and Territories.

“There’s a few bad eggs and they should pay for the mistakes they make. But you don’t ban every car because somebody speeds, I just think that’s ridiculous,” he said.

“There’s never been any rumours, any skerricks, any word that there have been problems here like they’ve got in the southern states.”