Owners Left Incensed Over Blanket GRSA Ban

A firestorm is brewing following the decision by Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) to suspend greyhounds formerly trained by Troy Murray from reviving their racing careers with new trainers.

On August 25, news sensationally broke that multiple Group 1 winning trainer Troy Murray had been interim-suspended by GRSA for allegedly engaging in live baiting at his Lewiston property.

At the time, owners associated with the Murray kennel were advised that their greyhounds would be precluded from racing for a period of 21 days, while investigations continued, and the greyhounds were transferred to new trainers.

But with the initial stand-down period set to expire on Thursday, a group of owners have been left incensed by GRSA's last minute decision to extend the interim-suspension order until at least mid-October.

Included in the group of enraged owners is former rugby league international and passionate industry identity Terry Hill.

"Why am I being punished?" Hill said.

GRSA is investigating allegations of live baiting by a registered participant.https://t.co/rtVIkwgmHC

— Greyhound Recorder (@GreyRecorder) August 25, 2022

"When this all came out we were told to jump through some hoops with transferring the dogs and filling out the relevant paperwork and we ticked every box.

"Chief steward Des Jonas told me we'd done everything asked of us for the dogs to return to racing and then out of the blue we just got told they're moving the goalposts again.

"Whatever the situation is with Troy is one thing but penalising the owners who have done absolutely nothing wrong and done everything asked of them isn't right at all."

When quizzed about the decision to maintain a suspension on greyhounds formerly trained by Murray, GRSA offered the following statement.

"An initial stand-down period of 21 days applying to the greyhounds present at the kennels in question has been extended until mid-October in line with the ongoing investigation."

The rule imposed by GRSA precludes the greyhounds in question from racing or trialling nationwide, effectively bringing their careers to a standstill.

News Corp understands that if it can be ascertained that particular greyhounds were involved in the alleged live baiting practices, the prospects of restoring their racing careers would be slim.

With a number of greyhounds affected by the decision, Hill has called for common sense to prevail.

"This decision makes no sense," Hill added. “What does it achieve?

"We've been given no reason as to why and we've ticked every box to get them back on the track with new trainers.

"We are pleading for some common sense to be applied here."