RCÉTS FIGURES FOR 2023
GRI
In 2023, Rásaíocht Con Éireann allocated €3.15 million to traceability, care and welfare matters and continued to expand its programme of welfare and care initiatives from the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System (RCÉTS) to its ongoing support for the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT).
Through regular ownership updates, RCÉTS tracked greyhounds through all stages of life including birth, microchipping, racing career, changes of ownership/trainer, location, export and retirement. RCÉ is pleased to report a high rate of compliance amongst owners, trainers, and breeders during 2023.
In the three-year period from its inception on January 1st 2021 to 31st December 2023, RCÉTS has traced 45,401 greyhounds. The figure includes 37,486 raced greyhounds and 7,915 unraced greyhounds.
In 2023, there were 14,779 races held at RCÉ-licenced racetracks within which there were 91,184 starters. The annual racing injury rate of 0.28% was 11.7% lower than the overall figure for 2022. The reduction is reflective of several factors, namely improved track maintenance and the further improvement of greyhound welfare standards through the Code of Practice and reinforced through greyhound traceability in the form of RCÉTS.
In 2023, 256 greyhounds were injured or died on RCÉ-licenced racetracks. The figure includes 123 greyhounds being successfully treated for their injuries and 126 being euthanised due to the severity of their injuries, representing a racing injury euthanasia rate of 0.14%. A further 7 racing fatalities occurred whereby greyhounds died during or immediately after racing.
The RCÉTS figures also show that 227 dogs were retained for breeding, 211 were retained as a pet, and 2,633 dogs died.
While the overall rehoming figure for 2023 was somewhat impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the extremely warm temperatures experienced across the United States and Europe, the IRGT, with support from the RCE, assisted in the rehoming of 1,447 retired greyhounds during the year. RCÉ also continued to expand its care centre and foster centre programme during 2023 to prepare greyhounds for rehoming once their racing career is finished.
378,748 patrons attended greyhound racing events in 2023, which represents an 18% increase on the previous year. The significant recovery in attendances at racetracks is a well-earned acknowledgement of the hard work of RCÉ staff, private track operators and is reflective of the energy and initiative being shown by everyone across the organisation, as well as the popularity of greyhound racing amongst the public.