2026 so far: Six painful months for greyhounds

We’re now halfway through 2026 and it’s been a big year for greyhounds with extreme highs and lows. On one hand, we’ve been thrilled to welcome the Scottish and Welsh bans on greyhound racing. On the other, day after day, greyhounds continue to be hurt on racetracks in this country. 

This year, we have been working with Shut Down Campaigns to support a network of race monitors who watch every race that takes place in England. Every time they see a greyhound fall on a track they record it, and they have seen 798 falls in races to the end of June. That’s over 4 falls per day. 

Where the nightmare began. Greyhound racing first started in at Manchester’s Belle Vue Racecourse in the UK 100 years ago. This track and most others have since closed, but we’re fighting to close the last 15 in England. (Image: Manchester Local Image Collection)

Where the nightmare began. Greyhound racing first started in at Manchester’s Belle Vue Racecourse in the UK 100 years ago. This track and most others have since closed, but we’re fighting to close the last 15 in England. (Image: Manchester Local Image Collection) 

The number of falls we have seen so far this year is certainly sad, but it is by no means shocking. Racing dogs is inherently dangerous. Greyhounds are naturally fast animals who have had their skills weaponised to make them chase a lure faster than is safe – all in the name of gambling revenue. When dogs reach such high speeds, especially running around bends, accidents are inevitable, and injuries are a likely consequence. 

Many injuries suffered in racing are a death sentence for dogs. Broken limbs lead to dogs being killed at the track. There’s every chance that these injuries are survivable, but perhaps not to ‘racing standard’. When dogs can’t compete in races, they’re of no use to the industry, and they become disposable to trainers and owners. Every year greyhounds are killed in their hundreds, and surrendered to struggling rescues in their thousands, just for not having earning potential. This year we launched Greyhound Watch England to shine a light on the hundreds of dogs whose whereabouts remain unaccounted for after not being seen on racetracks for an extended period – many following falls or collisions. 

Greyhound racing in the UK reaches the awful milestone of 100 years on the 24th of July 2026. Every day of that century of suffering has been a disgrace to a nation that claims to care about animals. Dogs deserve better, and that’s why we’re marching on the 25th of July to start a new era for greyhounds. We are determined to follow not only Scotland and Wales, but most other nations, in achieving a ban on greyhound racing. March with us.