Greyhound racing ban Tamworth: Guardiola's death at Tamworth race track sees activists push for ban on greyhound racing industry

Two-year-old race dog Guardiola was injured when it stumbled and stopped, after another greyhound ran on its heels, at the first turn on August 22.

A stewards report from the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) found soon after the start of the race Maddie's Girl galloped on the heels of Guardiola and, as a result, it failed to finish the race.

The death has inflamed tensions with activist group Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) president Dennis Anderson, who said the industry was in need of urgent reform.

"Guardiola died a typical greyhound death, euthanised after colliding at high speed with other dogs at the first turn," he said.

"Most greyhounds that die racing are euthanised with fractured legs, many of these injuries can be treated but the racing industry isn't prepared to invest in their rehabilitation - greyhounds are disposable products.

"The only way to end greyhound suffering is to ban greyhound racing."

Industry-funded research conducted by the University of Technology in Sydney in 2017 recommended straight tracks and six-dog races, down from the usual eight.

Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club president Robert Munn said the death was just a racing incident and a reduction in race numbers would be tough on the industry.

"It's one of those things that happened unfortunately, but that's our first one since the major upgrade to the track," he said.

"100 per cent we try to avoid it, but it's the same as the motorcyclist who fell off on the track last week, can they prevent that? Can they guarantee that won't happen?"

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As a result of greyhound racing deaths, CPG has proposed a five-point plan to reform the industry, which includes a 'whole of life' tracking of a greyhound, reductions in breeding, sanctuary funding and tougher penalties for mistreatment.

Guardiola is the first greyhound to die at Tamworth this year, but the 30^th in the state.

Another dog, Invictus Raider, also sustained a torn back muscle and three other greyhounds were scratched prior to the event in Tamworth due to injury or illness.