Greyhound trainer suspended for rehoming breach

Wednesday 21 June 2023

Queensland Greyhound trainer Darryl Sutton has been suspended for three months for providing false evidence to Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards in relation to the rehoming of a greyhound.

Mr Sutton made false statements to stewards twice about the whereabouts of greyhound, Flying Malou and disregarded the option to be remunerated under Racing Queensland’s Greyhound Retirement Readiness Scheme.

The scheme supports participants by providing a capped amount of reimbursement, up to $800 per greyhound, towards the cost of de-sexing, dental treatment, vaccination and pre-anaesthetic blood tests for greyhounds that have been retired as pets.

Mr Sutton was also charged under GAR 24(1) which stipulates that unless a greyhound is being accepted by an adoption agency approved by a Controlling Body that undertakes sterilisation, the owner or person responsible for the greyhound at the time of such retirement as a pet must ensure that the greyhound has been surgically sterilised by a veterinarian before allowing the greyhound to leave their care and custody.

Flying Malou was rehomed to a third party with a steward’s directive that the dog be desexed.

Mr Sutton pleaded guilty to all charges and was suspended for three months and fined $1000 with $250 wholly suspended for 12 months on the condition he doesn’t breach a similar GAR rule.

ENDS.

Media Contact: Vincene Overs 0472 842 346