Dog euthanised after ‘catastrophic’ injury at Christchurch racetrack, as end to greyhound racing looms

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

A greyhound has been put down after suffering a “catastrophic” race-day injury in Christchurch, just two months before the city’s final race is set to be run.

According to the steward’s report for a Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club meet at Addington Raceway on Friday last week, Diamond Harriot suffered a fall in the event’s 11th race.

The dog was referred to a vet and reported to have fractured its right elbow, the report said. “Due to the catastrophic nature of the injury, the most humane course of action was euthanasia.”

Christchurch is scheduled to hold some of New Zealand’s very last greyhound races. The Greyhound Racing NZ (GRNZ) calendar says there will be a meet at Addington Raceway, beginning at 12pm on July 31, followed by a meet at Whanganui’s Hatrick Raceway from 4.30pm.

The nationwide ban on commercial greyhound racing for the purpose of betting triggered by the recently-passed Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill comes into effect the following day.

Animal rights group SAFE has condemned the dog’s death – and raised concerns about the industry’s “disturbing” priorities as the end to greyhound racing looms.

Campaign Manager Emma Brodie said New Zealanders expected the greyhound racing ban to mark “the beginning of a responsible transition focused on the welfare of dogs”.

“Instead, we’re seeing efforts to continue racing beyond New Zealand’s borders and incentives designed to keep dogs on the track until the very end,” she said. “And while all of that is happening, another greyhound has lost her life.”

Brodie said SAFE was particularly concerned resources which could support the care and rehoming of greyhounds were instead being directed towards sustaining racing during the industry’s final weeks.

Up to 70 greyhounds are expected to be flown on a charter flight from Christchurch to Queensland in July, according to RNZ.

GRNZ previously told RNZ the dogs would be relocated so they could continue racing, and trainers could reduce some of their losses.

More than 1500 dogs will need to be rehomed in New Zealand, a spokesperson for NZ Deputy Prime Minister and Racing Minister Winston Peters told the ABC.

The NZ Herald also revealed last week prize money would be raised and extra petrol money would be available to people taking dogs to races over the coming months.

“If the industry’s final months were an opportunity to prove it had learned from its failures, it has squandered that opportunity,” she said.

“When greyhound racing comes to an end, its legacy won’t be the prize money or the race wins. It will be the dogs whose lives were cut short. Diamond Harriot is one of them.”

Brodie said SAFE has written to Peters seeking urgent clarification about the proposed export of greyhounds for continued racing and breeding, and whether such activities are consistent with the purpose of the ban.

GRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell said Friday’s fall caused a fracture which “necessitated humane euthanasia”.

This brought the race-day mortality count to eight for the season, he said, representing a rate of just 0.29 per 1000 starters.

“This remains below rates reported by other regulated racing codes in New Zealand.”

On criticism of GRNZ’s proposed charter flight, Rennell said the Government chose to end domestic greyhound racing “while continuing to permit the importation, broadcasting and betting of more than 40,000 Australian greyhound races per year in New Zealand”.

“[Greyhound Racing New Zealand] considers criticism of participants relocating greyhounds to Australia to be misplaced, given the decisions are lawful and consistent with the legislative framework established by Parliament. Participants are making decisions they believe best protect the welfare and long-term future of their animals,” he said.

“The practical reality is that every greyhound successfully relocated offshore reduces the number of dogs likely to fall into Crown responsibility, and decreases demand on rescue, foster, and welfare networks already operating under significant strain.”

When the amendment bill was passed in April, the Government established the Greyhound Racing Transition Agency to oversee the industry’s closure. Part of its responsibilities will include overseeing the welfare of racing dogs until they can be rehomed, and providing advice and support to people leaving the industry.

Under the new legislation, GRNZ’s financial assets, functions, and employees will eventually be transferred to the new agency.