The Scottish government has announced its support for a legislative proposal that aims to permanently ban greyhound racing.
This is a historic stance that could mark the end of a sport with deep roots in the United Kingdom.
Not many people know this, but the sight of sleek greyhounds chasing a mechanical lure around an oval track was considered a regular pastime in Scotland.
With, of course, hundreds of people cheering in the stands and betting on which dog was the fastest.
However, in recent years, attendance dwindled and track after track shut down. In fact, Scotland’s last active greyhound stadium, Thornton in Fife, suspended racing in March 2025, effectively leaving no operational dog tracks in the country.
The New Law
In late 2025, Scottish lawmakers gave their support to a landmark ban on greyhound racing, making Scotland the first country in the UK to outlaw the activity.
The Scottish Government formally backed the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill – a Members’ Bill introduced by Green MSP Mark Ruskell – with the ruling party’s majority behind it.
The first vote was held on October 30, 2025, and the majority of parliamentarians voted in favor of the ban, passing the Bill’s initial stage.
So, when will the races truly end? The new law is expected to take effect in 2026, after some final legal steps and a short transition period.
Originally, the proposal called for a standard 12-month wait before the ban kicked in. However, ministers have signaled they want flexibility to set the start date sooner if possible.
This means the government can coordinate the ban’s commencement without unnecessary delay, since – unlike in other places – there are no active races left that require a long phase-out.
In short, the greyhounds in Scotland have already run their last race, and soon it will be illegal to stage a dog race on Scottish soil at all.
Why End Greyhound Racing?
What drove Scotland to ban a sport that was once seen as harmless entertainment?
I would just use one word: welfare. For years, animal welfare groups amassed evidence that behind the races lay a trail of suffering.
Greyhounds are forced to sprint at 40+ miles per hour around tight oval tracks, a dangerous thing that often leads to crashes, broken bones, and even deaths on the track.
Supporters of the ban argue there’s simply no safe way to make dogs run at such high speeds for our amusement, and statistics are certainly sobering.
In 2023 alone, 109 greyhounds died and over 4,200 were injured on UK tracks during races.
I will spare you the details of these horrific sufferings, but I assure you that over the years we have seen it all, from shattered legs to broken backs.
Many Unwanted Greyhounds Quietly Disappear
Another horrible thing is that the industry breeds far more dogs than it can care for, since only a few make it to the top.
Those that aren’t fast enough to win money are deemed “wastage” – a chilling term for healthy young dogs who don’t meet the standards.
Many of these unwanted greyhounds quietly disappear. In one notorious case, an investigation uncovered a mass grave of over 10,000 greyhounds in England, dogs that had been shot with a bolt gun and dumped by trainers once they were “past their prime”.
What the Racing Industry is Saying
As you can imagine, not everyone is happy about the ban.
Supporters of greyhound racing and industry representatives have pushed back, arguing that the ban is an overreaction – or even pointless, given the absence of active tracks in Scotland.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which governs licensed dog racing in the UK, was especially critical.
They pointed out that there is currently no licensed greyhound racing in Scotland, and claimed that the Scottish Government was “wasting parliamentary time” by outlawing something that had largely died out on its own.
In a statement dripping with scorn, the GBGB suggested that people in Scotland would be “bemused” that politicians are focusing on a ban when “there are so many issues that deserve and require legislation”.
Some trainers and racing enthusiasts also insist that most owners care for their dogs and that the sport could be run humanely with proper regulation. T
They also lament the loss of tradition and potential economic impacts.
However, these objections have gained little traction with the public or lawmakers. The fact that greyhound racing’s popularity had collapsed in Scotland undermined the argument that a ban would hurt anyone’s interests very much.
Even betting shops noted that most greyhound wagering in Scotland was on races in England or overseas, so local bookmakers won’t see much difference.
In the end, the ban formalizes what was already reality – and ensures that the sport cannot make a comeback in the future.
Could the Rest of the UK Follow?
Animal welfare groups are now turning their attention to the rest of the UK, asking if England and Northern Ireland will follow Scotland in saying no to greyhound racing.
Indeed, Scotland’s move leaves England and Northern Ireland as the only parts of the UK where commercial greyhound racing is still legal.
And pressure is mounting from charities and members of the public who argue that if something is too cruel for Scotland, it’s too cruel for England as well.
Consider that England still hosts 18 active greyhound tracks, and the sport, while diminished from its heyday, continues to have a presence.
The UK central government in London has so far been reluctant to commit to a ban, with officials stating that there are “no plans” for an English greyhound racing prohibition at this time.