Greyhound Racing New South Wales "will beef up integrity measures by swabbing all winners -- and tripling the amount of stewards on the ground -- in a bid to prevent the industry descending into chaos" when racing resumes at Grafton on Monday night, according to Adam Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Having "temporarily halted all meetings" in the wake of Premier Mike Baird's announcement he intends to close the industry on July 1 next year, the regulator "is on high alert for participants who might flout the rules without the threat of any meaningful sanction" when greyhounds head back to the track. There are "rising fears some disgruntled trainers" will potentially adopt a free-for-all approach trying to win races, given the threat of suspension or disqualification "will almost be redundant under Baird's plans." But GRNSW is "adamant" it will not come to that and will "step up its integrity measures this week." Its schedule will return to normal a day earlier than planned on Wednesday. Opposition Leader Luke Foley pledged his support to the industry during an "emotion-charged meeting with greyhound racing officials in Sydney on Sunday," vowing to "fight for the thousands of imminent job losses" across the state (SMH, 7/10). In Sydney, Brendan Cormick reported NSW greyhound owners "will be offered the equivalent" of just A$500 ($378.50) for each dog in compensation when the state government ban kicks in on July 1 next year, according to industry sources. With "successful dogs worth thousands of dollars," the compensation check will not "amount to much." It will "be illegal to own a greyhound for any other purpose than a family pet once the ban begins." Breeding for interstate racing kennels "will be forbidden." Australia’s biggest greyhound owner and breeder, Paul Wheeler, said that he was still "shell-shocked" by Thursday’s decision. Wheeler: "It is a devastating blow to the whole nation, not just NSW. And, if you read the report by the commission of inquiry, the findings are based on assumptions and are not accurate" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/11).
