The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has officially filed for judicial review at the High Court of Wales, challenging the Welsh government's ban on dog racing.
This legal action stems from the ban announced by the Deputy Chief Minister of Wales in February 2025, which will make Wales the first region in the UK to completely prohibit dog racing events.
GBGB's CEO, Mark Bird, has explicitly opposed the ban, emphasizing that the organization advocates for strict regulation rather than prohibition to ensure animal welfare and the development of the sport, believing that a well-regulated system is the best solution for maintaining greyhound welfare and sustainable development of the sport.
In recent years, dog racing has faced increasing animal welfare controversies, with supporters of the ban pointing out inherent risks in the sport, while industry representatives maintain that regulation is better than prohibition. Notably, Arkansas in the United States implemented a similar ban in the first half of 2025, reflecting a global reassessment of the role of dog racing in modern society.
As a region with a long history of dog racing, this ban will profoundly affect the future direction of the sport in Wales. GBGB states that this judicial review has a solid legal basis, aiming to defend the legal status of dog racing in Wales.
