Here’s the real reason greyhound racing got the chop

Why did the Premier, Mike Baird, really close down greyhound racing?

Because he could, that’s why.

Despite the media frenzy since the announcement by the premier, the truth is greyhound racing is at the very bottom of the food chain.

Most people are amused by this decision, simply because greyhound racing was not on their social radar.

Let’s be honest, greyhound racing was only on the radar of those who trained the dogs and the desperate gamblers who would bet on two flies crawling up a wall.

Even after the ABC Four Corners program exposing cruel practises involving live rabbits and other animals the reaction lasted two seconds among the rest of us.

It was a big yawn.

The irony is that greyhound racing should have died years ago as a result of zero interest in it.

It has slightly more cache in country towns because times are tough there and they hold on to anything they have, but in the big cities greyhound racing is as popular as politicians at the grand final.

It should have followed cockfighting and dog fighting and gone underground.

But it probably wasn’t far off when the premier pushed the red button.

Baird may cite horrific and cruel practices as the main reason for the decision to close down greyhound racing, but would he have done so if it had any cloud?

It has next to no influence, and the government knew that.

It is an old fashioned, working class pursuit that harks back to a bygone age.

The number of dogs put down every year was also mentioned as another reason.

A lot of racehorses are also put down every year but can you imagine Baird having the guts to close horseracing down?

Closing down greyhound racing is not about animal cruelty, as most commentators have claimed since.

Nor is it the first stage of some sinister animal liberationist plot where the end game is making it unlawful to eat any animal.

No, the real reason Mike Baird closed down greyhound racing was because he could.