Yep suspended on suspicion

The RSPCA doesnt want greyhound racing stopped in Australia, despite news of a fresh live baiting scandal.

Three Victorian trainers have been stood down amid an investigation into the use of live possums to blood racing greyhounds.

The revelations come more than four years after live baiting was first exposed on a national scale.

THE integrity unit of Greyhound Racing Victoria has suspended three trainers in relation to practices that are suspected to be in breach of the greyhound racing rules.

GRVs Integrity Unit General Manager Shane Gillard said that he was unable to provide details while investigations continue.

The three trainers have been stood down pending the issuing of charges, Gillard said.

The suspended trainers cannot enter any greyhound property or greyhound club.

Anyone doing the wrong thing will be discovered and disqualified from the sport the welfare of
our dogs and the integrity of our sport is non-negotiable.

The vast majority of people involved in Victorian greyhound racing do the right thing and we are
encouraged by all those participants who are working with us to identify people who choose to
break the rules.

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Victorian Trainers Suspended By GRV.....

THE GRV Integrity Unit has suspended three trainers in relation to practices that are suspected to be in breach of the greyhound racing rules.

But the Victorian Government says it wont be shutting down the industry and its a view thats supported by the RSPCA.

Thats not our position, Neil, RSPCA CEO Dr Liz Walker told Neil Mitchell.

I can see why you would say that because, undoubtedly, its horrendous to think that anybody thinks its OK to strap a live animal on a lure and then let other animals chase it, terrorise it and bite it.

The level of fear, terror, pain and stress that those animals would feel is just incomprehensible.

I think whats important here to consider is that the industry is on a journey and theres money to be made here and theres definitely a huge piece of cultural change thats happening.

Its really disappointing to think that four years down the track theres still people who think its OK.

What is comforting is that theres evidence from Greyhound Racing Victoria, you can look at their annual report, is that theyve found this and working to hold them to account.

RSN - Racing Pulse

Sports News

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Three Victorian greyhound trainers have been suspended after allegedly using possums as live bait, but the head of the sport insists the illegal practice is not widespread.

Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) and the RSPCA are continuing to investigate the matter and are expecting to lay animal cruelty charges.

Live baiting 'completely unacceptable': minister
Mr Clayton said it was "abhorrent" if trainers used animals on lures, a practice known as "blooding" that often resulted in dogs mauling them to death.

"Most greyhound trainers are actually doing the right thing and they're using synthetic lures," he said.

"We've promoted an ethical industry, we've increased our capability in integrity and animal welfare."

Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula said he was encouraged that racing integrity officials had discovered the alleged cruelty, instead of the tip-off coming from activists or journalists.

"The test is can you detect them, can you catch them, can you charge them and can you rub them out?" he said.

"I don't think five years ago greyhound racing had the capacity to do those things. Now it does.

"If the allegations are right, it's cheating in the form of cruelty to animals. It's completely unacceptable."

'Where there's money involved, people will try to cheat'

"We haven't laid charges yet. They are suspended. The next step is to put together what we've found and basically chase this matter down to its fullest extent," GRV chief executive Alan Clayton told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Mr Clayton would not reveal the names of the trainers involved or how they were caught.

"We found the matter using our intel capability. We've got a combination of intel, analysts, covert [workers], and we use all of that and more in the context of the work that we do."

The stood-down trainers have now been banned from entering any greyhound property or clubs.

If found guilty, they face life bans from the sport and criminal convictions.

The suspensions come four years after the national greyhound racing industry was rocked by an animal cruelty scandal, with trainers exposed for using live rabbits and pigs used as lures.

Dozens of trainers were caught up in the scandal and industry-wide reforms were promised by the sport's organisers.

The NSW Government announced a ban of greyhound racing in the state in 2016, but reversed its decision four months later after sustained pressure from the racing industry and its supporters.

Julia Cockram, from the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, said blooding increased dogs' "prey drive" and made them race faster.

"I'm not surprised at all that it's happening behind closed doors," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"I'm pretty sure its much more widespread than three individuals in the industry."

Mr Clayton said he did not believe the method worked, but acknowledged: "in any industry or sport where there's money involved, people will try to cheat".

He said the greyhound industry was committed to the welfare of the animals, including re-homing them after their racing careers ended.
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Clear message needs to be sent.

Exclusive by Caro Meldrum-Hanna
Updated 20 minutes ago
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A father-and-son training team is at the centre of a fresh greyhound racing scandal involving the alleged use of live possums as bait.

An ABC investigation can reveal two of the three Victorian greyhound racing figures suspended from the sport are Rinaldo 'Wren' Divirgilio and his son Ben Divirgilio.

The Divirgilios are at the centre of an alleged live baiting enterprise which involved the delivery of live possums to be used in a barbaric training practice known as "blooding".

The alleged live baiting activities were discovered around three weeks ago by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) and are centred on the activities at a private property in Devon Meadows.

The property is occupied by Rinaldo Divirgilio, a veteran greyhound trainer and breeder.

Rinaldo Divirgilio has spoken to the ABC, confirming he was one of the three trainers currently suspended.

'I didn't do anything'
Rinaldo Divirgilio said he was the victim of a "set-up", and that someone else dropped off live possums at his property for live baiting without his knowledge.

"I didn't do anything. I just received something. It [the possums] got dropped off here for someone else," he said.

As soon as the driver entered his property to deliver the possums, racing officials suddenly appeared, he said.

"There was a car hiding across the road. Then four cars just drove straight in."

"I was suspended on the spot. They just gave me a piece of paper saying I'm being suspended."

The ABC can also reveal Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) officials confiscated his mobile phone.

"They took my phone, took it for three days. When it came back I looked inside and it had what looked like a second little SIM card next to my SIM card. They're trying to trace my calls, I presume," he said.

He said GRV officials also simultaneously entered his son's property in Nambok, confiscating his mobile phone too.

He said his son had no knowledge of, or involvement in, any live baiting and the officials did not find live animals on his son's property.

"Ben's got nothing to do with this," he said.

The Divirgilios are well known and established greyhound trainers, owners and breeders in Victoria.

Ben Divirgilio is also an official committee member of Greyhound Racing Victoria's Traralgon Racing Club.

He has continued to race his dogs up until as recently as November 2.

Between 2011 and 2017, Rinaldo and Ben Divirgilio were charged with several racing offences between them, including conduct detrimental to the interest, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing.

Ben Divirgilio also pleaded guilty to another inappropriate conduct offence in 2017.

Undercover operatives deployed in sting
The ABC understands Greyhound Racing Victoria orchestrated and launched its own undercover sting using covert operatives.

According to information obtained by the ABC, a third greyhound racing figure is responsible for capturing and delivering animals for live baiting, including to Rinaldo Divirgilio's Devon Meadows property.

Rinaldo Divirgilio refused to name him, but told the ABC he was "not a trainer he owns some dogs".

Blooding a greyhound with live animals is believed to increase a dog's prey drive and make them chase a mechanical lure faster during racing.

It is a criminal offence attracting fines of up to $35,000 and jail terms of up to two years in Victoria.

In 2015, the ABC's Four Corners obtained hundreds of hours of covert vision recorded by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland.

It exposed multiple live baiting rings in action and sparked several government inquiries and dozens of criminal prosecutions.

The NSW Government announced a ban on greyhound racing in the state in 2016, but reversed its decision four months later after sustained pressure from the racing industry and its supporters.

In the wake of the Four Corners expose, governments granted the greyhound racing industry one last chance to stamp out the widespread cruelty, criminality and corruption in the sport.

Most trainers 'doing the right thing'
The RSPCA confirmed it was investigating allegations that trainers engaged in live baiting.

But Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) refused to publicly name any of the trainers suspended from racing or outline the details of its investigation.

"We haven't laid charges yet. They are suspended. The next step is to put together what we've found and basically chase this matter down to its fullest extent," GRV chief executive Alan Clayton told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Mr Clayton would not reveal how they were alerted but said the investigation was ongoing.

"We found the matter using our intel capability. We've got a combination of intel, analysts, covert [workers], and we use all of that and more in the context of the work that we do."

Mr Clayton said it was "abhorrent" if trainers used animals on lures, which often resulted in dogs mauling them to death.

He said he did not believe the method worked, but acknowledged: "in any industry or sport where there's money involved, people will try to cheat".

"Most greyhound trainers are actually doing the right thing and they're using synthetic lures," he said.

"We've promoted an ethical industry, we've increased our capability in integrity and animal welfare."

Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula said he was encouraged that racing integrity officials had received the allegations instead of the tip-off coming from activists or journalists.

"The test is: can you detect them, can you catch them, can you charge them and can you rub them out?" he said.

"I don't think five years ago greyhound racing had the capacity to do those things. Now it does.

"If the allegations are right, it's cheating in the form of cruelty to animals. It's completely unacceptable."
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Is there anything from a reliable source?

I would like people to think about this.....

It is known that Alan Claytons job is on the line before this situation and remember allegedly until proven guilty and then guilty of what exactly, they have not been charged yet.

Now it is coming across as a sting operation, that these people have been set up, if this is the case GRV have put the industry in harms way.

There was no rabbit in the headlights being startled like the Tooradin debacle where GRV were caught of guard and handled the incident poorly with the management falling on their swords and disappearing at a rate of knots. This feels orchestrated. No startling because they have had time to prepare.

I hope GOTBA really look into this operation. Remember the Lara incidents with footage that was secretly obtained and Charlie Bazzina your top underbelly cop at the helm who departed not long after, whatever happened about all that?

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The Victorian government has backed the integrity capabilities of the greyhound racing industry after three trainers were suspended amid a live-baiting scandal.

On Monday, Greyhound Racing Victorias integrity unit suspended three trainers "in relation to practices suspected to be in breach of greyhound racing rules.

By Simone Fox Koob and Charlotte Grieve
November 13, 2019

The RSPCA confirmed on Wednesday it is investigating allegations that the trainers engaged in live baiting.

However, RSPCA Victoria's chief executive Liz Walker said she could not confirm reports that this involved possums, as the investigation was ongoing.

A Greyhound Racing Victoria spokeswoman said they could not detail the alleged breaches as their investigation into the alleged breaches of racing rules was ongoing and charges had not been laid.

"RSPCA Victoria is opposed to the use of live animals, or animal carcasses, as bait or lure for the purpose of training greyhounds for racing. The practice of live baiting is cruel and does not meet community expectations of how we should be treating animals and results in poor outcomes for all animals involved," she said.

"However, it is heartening that Greyhound Racing Victorias integrity unit is performing to the extent that it can identify breaches like these and sends a strong message that this practice will not be tolerated by industry, or the community."

The suspended trainers are not allowed to enter any greyhound property or greyhound club, said the integrity unit's general manager Shane Gillard.

On Monday, Victoria's Minister for Racing Martin Pakula said he was "disappointed" by the alleged "cheating" but said those who did the wrong thing were a minority in an industry of 15,000 people.

"In any sport or in any walk of life there are people who are going to do the wrong thing. The real question is can you detect it? Can you stamp it out? Can you charge them? Can you rub them out?" he said.

"Id have to say five years ago in greyhound racing, I dont think we could have said yes to those questions. We can now. So what are we going to do about it? Exactly what weve just done."

"It hasnt been uncovered by news organisations or activists groups, its the the Victorian greyhound racing integrity officials that have uncovered this, suspended these people," he said.

He praised the integrity department, saying it had changed drastically in the past five years since a 2015 Four Corners investigation uncovered live baiting and other cruel practices were occurring in the NSW greyhound industry.

In the aftermath of that, the NSW Parliament voted to shut down the industry in that state. But eight months later, in the face of high-profile opposition, the ban was overturned.

Mr Pakula also expressed confidence in the current penalties available to the organisation and vowed not to shut down the greyhound industry.

"The government is not in the business of shutting down an industry which is the lifeblood of regional communities and which employs thousands of people," he said.

Greyhound Racing Victoria chief executive Alan Clayton told radio station 3AW on Wednesday the investigation had been commenced a few weeks ago and was ongoing.

He said those in the industry were constantly feeding information to the integrity unit, which reassured him there was no culture of a "cone of silence".

"In some ways we have been building this capability for three or four years now... I'm pleased to see we are capable of hunting people down," he said.

He said that under the Protection of Cruelty to Animals Legislation, the RSPCA could determine whether they wished to prosecute criminal proceedings.

The RSPCA will look at potential breaches of the law.

Dr Walker said they didn't hold the position that the industry should be shut down altogether.

"Undoubtedly it's horrendous to think anyone thinks it's OK to strap a live animal on a lure and let another animal chase it, bite it," she told 3AW.

"The level of fear, terror, pain and stress those animals would feel is incomprehensible and indeed what you are doing to dogs ... is incomprehensible.

Mr Clayton said everyone in the industry was "absolutely disappointed" by the revelations.

"All I can say is at the edges there are always people that are prepared to cheat," he said.

"[It] is really important to have an ethical industry, we are absolutely committed to that and I want people to dob in people who are doing the wrong thing.

"If people do the wrong thing I guarantee we will catch them."

Greyhound Racing Victoria has invested more than $30 million into integrity over the past three years, which has included the evolution of its integrity unit.

Blooding and luring is an illegal practice in Victoria and the penalty for an individual who has been found guilty is up to two years imprisonment or fines of more than $82,000, Ms Walker said.

It is illegal under the act to allow or encourage an animal to fight with another animal. Keeping some animal species such as possums, rabbits, piglets or cats can also constitute evidence that these animals are being kept for use as a lure or kill for blooding a greyhound.

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They have clearly been watching them for a long time gathering intel and then waited for the shipment to arrive to catch him with actual evidence on his property.

No chance that GRV puts the entire industry, hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs in the way to ping 1 small time trainer if it wasn't true.

It shows real balls to not try and sweep it under the rug but take the hit straight on and be upfront about it. While it may hurt the industry, hopefully it changes a few minds about us being able to police our own sport.

I remember what was written on the GOTBA facebook page and they also had Video supporting Wilsons Illegal activities ....Charlie

Many innocent names were used as a tool to try and hide the truth ..

This footage you speak about all of it was taken illegally....

I agree with you Kevin

Its extremely disappointing considering what this industry has been through that they would sacrifice the whole industry's welfare for their selfishness

If proven guilty of these practices, I would like to see the full force of the law being brought down on them including some significant jail time

It's the only way to deter them...fines and loss of money means nothing to them...but freedom does

You said it Sam...I believe they are keeping it as quiet as possible to finger a few more

If you are doing the wrong thing you will get caught it's so simple to understand WE DON'T WANT YOU IN THE SPORT ....Leave now

No, we definitely don't want a Witch Hunt, but I think the Delivery Man has a few stories he could tell