Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) is rolling out a comprehensive, industry-wide training program aimed at strengthening animal welfare standards and reducing injury rates across the sport. All relevant participants will be required to complete the training by the end of June.

The training is being provided by GRSA as a requirement for industry participants to undertake training in animal welfare. There is also a requirement for GRSA to develop an education program for trainers.

The animal welfare training package has been developed for all participants who are either trainers, owners/attendants or breeders. And a further injury prevention training package is required to be completed by all trainers.

As far as Mount Gambier is concerned, the in-person training course will be conducted at Tara Raceway on Saturday, June 6 between 10.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. An on-line training portal is currently under development.

Local greyhound racing participants were this week saddened to learn of the passing of Nuran Keenan, 76, wife of Tarpeena owner-trainer Malcolm Keenan.

Relatives and friends are advised that Nuran’s Celebration of Life Service will be held in its entirety in the Chapel of South East Funeral Services, 1 White Avenue, Mount Gambier on Monday, June 1, 2026, commencing at 2 p.m.

For the first time since early February when Ashton Sushi had won over 600 metres in 35.20 seconds, middle-distance racing returned to Tara Raceway last Sunday in dashing style following Mepunga Infrared’s win in the Gordon Refrigeration Mixed Stake.

Owned and trained at Portland by Nicole Stanley, the black son of Bella Infrared and Mepunga Molly quickly took up the running from box four before racing away to a five length win over Nova’s Fern who chased the leader throughout.

Mepunga Infrared’s time of 34.60 seconds was the fastest recorded at Tara Raceway over 600 metres since December 4, 2022 when Giant’s Flash broke his own track record of 34.69 seconds with a run of 34.58 seconds.

All told, he’s now raced on 44 occasions, winning five races in Victoria and three for Stanley at Mount Gambier since joining her kennels in the middle of last year.

The David Peckham trained Striking Viking was the inaugural 600 metre record holder after a run on November 30, 2014 of 35.38 seconds.

And for the second consecutive week, distance racing over 732 metres was on the program with Oregon Janet following up with another win for Lewiston trainer Lucas Trengove in the Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake.

The daughter of Malachi and La La Oregon found the front in the home straight the first time around before powering away to a 10 length win over Compton Rocky in a time of 43.57 seconds.

Robert and Shirley Halliday, also from over Portland way, enjoyed a successful day when Way Cool won the Commercial Hotel Stake (512 m). Then, Kazakhstan, owned by Shirley and trained at Berringa by Michael Niele, made it three wins from four starts.

Way Cool, a son of Flying Ricciardo and Miami Fernando, settled in second spot behind Ritza Benji down the back before finishing strongly for a narrow win over the early leader in a time of 29.90 seconds. The win was his first since November last year.

Kazakhstan, a littermate and kennelmate who is raced in the same interests as last Thursday winner Shirl The Whirl, quickly found the front from box one in the Produce Store Stake (305 m) before running out a two length winner over Trial King in 17.45 seconds.

Following his win in the Ontrack Insider Stake (400 m), Gus Limes has now opened up a handy lead in this year’s Greyhound of the Year.

Trained at Mortlake by Peter Crawley for Kevin Bouchier, the son of Aston Rupee and Elle Limes led all the way from box three when defeating Trading Halt by 1¼ lengths in 22.92 seconds.

The brindle dog now has five wins, seven seconds and five thirds at Tara Raceway this year and has accumulated 51 points, 14 more than second placegetter Capybara.

Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has totally rejected the stance of the South Australian RSPCA which once again has reiterated its long-held view that SA greyhound racing should be transitioned into closure.

The SA greyhound industry is currently under review with a clear set of reform expectations outlined in recommendations of the Ashton Review. It continues to effectively embrace all of those expectations.

It is worth noting that throughout the implementation of the Ashton Review, GRSA has maintained professional engagement with the RSPCA, including transparent provision of information, referral of welfare concerns and formal meetings every two months.

It is disappointing that, despite the strong working relationship, the RSPCA has chosen to take the public stance it has, disregarding the significant progress made and outcomes achieved so far by the SA greyhound industry.

At every stage of the Ashton Review and reform process, GRSA and industry stakeholders have embraced the opportunity to improve and safeguard the industry for the future.

The challenge of the 78 recommendations assigned to the industry, including 10 specifically proposed by the RSPCA, has been responded to as it works tirelessly to ensure they become entrenched in future operations.

As of May, almost 80 per cent of the recommendations have been endorsed by the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector (GIRI) as complete, with regular follow-ups to ensure their ongoing effectiveness.

While the results of these changes will be measured and are meant to be measured over the longer term, GRSA is already seeing outcomes that demonstrate best practice governance, welfare and integrity standards and performance.

GRSA is on track to implement all 78 recommendations assigned to it by the July 7, 2026 deadline. It then intends to work with the GIRI, State Government and Industry stakeholders to secure a future built on long term accountability.

And GRSA is committing to a total organisation rebuild, including recruitment of national animal welfare leaders from RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League to the GRSA Board and senior management teams.

Greyhound racing in South Australia will, given the opportunity, continue to make an important economic and social contribution to SA, particularly in regional and outer suburban areas. And the industry will continue to put the greyhound first in every decision that is made.

It took a while, but Edenhope trainer Captain Abbott of Cadillac Kennels came up with a return on a modest investment when Bali Unleashed was successful at Tara Raceway last Thursday in the appropriately named Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 metres).

Slowly away from box eight, Bali Unleashed quickly made up ground before running down early leader My Boy Josh in the home straight for a three-quarter length win in a personal best time of 23.05 seconds.

Previously owned locally by Garry Harding and trained by Tracie Price, Abbott purchased the daughter of Beast Unleashed and Minnie Banjo in November last year after she had won five races at Tara Raceway.

She had her first start under the new ownership in December last year with her last win having been back in September 2025. And Bali Unleashed’s first win for her new trainer came last Thursday afternoon at her 15th start for Abbott.

A winner of 19 races, Minnie Banjo, a daughter of Banjo Boy and Navada Flame, saw out her racing career with Price who took her over in December 2021.

By February 2022, she had won seven consecutive races – six at Tara Raceway including a 400 metre track record of 22.42 seconds in February 2022 that still jointly stands to this day – and one at Angle Park.

Bali Unleashed is a litter sister to Compton Gold, a Murray Bridge Cup finalist and a winner of 26 races and more than $100,000 in prize money.

Meanwhile, later in the day at last Thursday’s meeting, Run Hammer quickly found the front in the Federal Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m) before running out a 2¾ length winner over Miracle Man in a time of 23.52 seconds.

Owned and trained at Portland by Nifty Lenehan, Run Hammer won his first two races at Tara Raceway over 305 metres in late December last year and on New Year’s Day.

But it wasn’t until last week that the well-bred son of Bernardo and Sharnee Rose found winning form again for his breeder-trainer.

Sharnee Rose, a winner of five races at Geelong and Warrnambool, is one of a pretty handy litter by Mepunga Blazer out of Colden Star that also includes Carry On Angel (23 wins, $185,520 prize money) and Carry On Star (12, $120,280).