Deaths
161 innocent animals were killed at UK dog tracks last year – an increase of 31% from the previous year. This shocking statistic comes from the industry itself, with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) – who operate and self-regulate the greyhound racing industry – publishing their annual figures. Their report admits that, despite there being fewer races run by individual dogs and fewer reported injuries in 2025 than in previous years, the fatality rate is at its highest since 2021. This means only one thing – greyhound racing is a deadly sport that is only getting deadlier.
The figure of 161 dogs killed at racetracks sits within a larger fatality number – 406 racing dogs that the industry admits to killing last year. This number has also increased from the previous year. Reasons given for killing dogs away from racetracks include being unable or unwilling to meet treatment costs, dogs being deemed ‘unsuitable for rehoming’, and unexplained ‘sudden death’. Every one of these dogs was an individual who felt pain, fear, and maybe even hope, only to have their lives stolen from them, all in the service of a cruel and exploitative gambling product.
Injuries
The number of reported injuries remains incredibly high, with 3,648 injuries sustained on racetracks in 2025 alone. This number is clearly completely unacceptable. Though the GBGB attempts to manipulate their reporting of injury data, showing it as a percentage of injuries against ‘runs’ rather than as a proportion suffered by the individuals forced to race, recent analysis published this week demonstrates the reality. Research conducted by The University of Melbourne shows that in an average UK racing year, one in 11 dogs will fall at least once, and one in 22 will collide with track railings at least once. Any one of these incidents could lead to serious injury. If one in 11 dogs were likely to be injured playing with a particular toy, there would be a mass recall of that toy – the same outrage should be applied to racing.
‘Retirement’
Beyond the injuries and the deaths, another element of the GBGB’s annual report is their ‘retirement’ data. This is something that the industry, bizarrely, likes to give themselves a huge pat on the back for – as though they deserve credit for letting these dogs survive racing, and then dumping them onto already struggling rehoming charities. 5,186 greyhounds were reported to have ‘retired’ in 2025, with an enormous 3,532 dogs being given to rehoming charities. This is a spectacular burden on organisations who are doing fantastic work to look after dogs who have been abandoned, not only by racing but in a variety of circumstances. GBGB’s Greyhound Retirement Scheme (GRS) provides a laughable £420 bond to the rehoming centre that takes in the dog (provided that rehoming centre does not speak out against the industry). Anyone who has cared for a dog will know that £420 falls far short of the costs of lifetime care for any dog, let alone one who may be suffering the long-term psychological and physical consequences of the racing industry.
