Greyhound trainer from Broken Hill handed lifetime ban for failing to disclose dog's injury

A greyhound trainer from a prominent Broken Hill racing family has been handed a lifetime ban and a $5,000 fine for dishonestly negotiating the transfer of an injured dog to another trainer. The governing body in South Australia found Jack Clayton Trengove "entirely unfit" to participate in the industry.

Trainer found guilty of failing to disclose dog's injury

The integrity hearings panel discovered that Mr Trengove discussed the transfer of a greyhound named "Arctic Girl" to a trainer in NSW without disclosing an "unhealed hock fracture" on the dog's hind leg. "We found that Mr Trengove knew of the fracture and that his failure to disclose it was dishonest," the panel said in its decision.

The panel noted that "Arctic Girl was transferred to a trainer who was unaware of the true condition of her hock and commenced preparing her to race, thereby placing Arctic Girl at significant risk of catastrophic injury." Although the dog did not ultimately suffer such injury, the panel said "that outcome was due in significant part to the timely intervention and positive action of GRSA officers".

Lifetime ban and fine imposed

The panel described Mr Trengove's actions as "an egregious example that stands in stark contrast to the standard and welfare expected within the industry." They concluded that his conduct made him "entirely unfit to continue participating in the industry." The greyhound was returned to SA and rehomed.

GRSA chief executive officer Brenton Scott said the organisation had adopted a zero-tolerance policy to animal welfare breaches. "The vast majority of industry participants both love and care for their greyhounds and abide by the rules and welfare policies … but any variation to this is acted upon and considered seriously by our independent integrity process," he said.

In response to the outcome, Mr Trengove said he felt he was being targeted. "I was not given a fair hearing … their process for the hearing panel is run very wrong." The panel's decision document states Mr Trengove did not attend the hearing and did not provide a defence, "despite being given a fair opportunity to do so".