"A similar incident took place at Oxford two saturdays ago, in this particular case the dog was owner/trained. Dogs about 5yo's and ran in bottom grade, trainer stormed down to paddock and asked for hound to be PTS (put to sleep), vet refused and other trainers and kennelhands in paddock did their nut and dog was taken away by someone at the track who does work for RGT. Rumour has it that trainer had a few bob on it that went astray. Won't mention any names but initials are a nice packet of sweets."

"6,000 GREYHOUNDS A YEAR SHOT, BURNED AND BURIED. Slaughtered.. when they are too slow to win"

SIX thousand greyhounds are slaughtered every year simply because they no longer win races. The dogs are often disposed of by their owners to avoid paying the £3,000 a year it costs to keep them in retirement.

Among the culprits is trainer Steve Davis, who is being investigated for shooting dogs in the head or heart and burning them on land close to his Oxfordshire kennels.

BBC investigator Paul Kenyon dug up remains found amid burning ashes at the site and had them analysed by a pathologist who confirmed the body parts belonged to a dog - one of dozens which witnesses say they have seen shot by Davis.

Around 8,000 new greyhounds enter the sport each year, but animal charities say only about 2,000 a year are looked after once they retire.

The dogs reach their peak at three to four years old. At five they are ready for retirement, but most are likely to live on until they are about 15.

Earlier this month Davis was fined £1,000 by the sport's regulators, the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC), for putting down two dogs - but he was allowed to keep his trainer's licence.

Kenyon, presenter of BBC1's Kenyon Confronts, said: "We were told where the ditch was and went in the middle of the night and dug up this smouldering grave.

"It is always burning red-hot because he uses lime and combustible rubbish to keep it going. The pathologist identified one body as a young dog between three and five years old.

"The tens of thousands of people who go greyhound racing every week are totally unaware that the champion they see one week may wind up being shot dead in a field the next."

Kenyon passed himself off as a trainer to gain access to the world of greyhound racing - Britain's second most popular spectator sport after soccer. His investigation uncovered many more disturbing secrets, including widespread race-fixing.

After Kenyon bought a dog from trainer Lennie Knell at Catford stadium in London, Knell's kennel hand immediately offered to fix the dog's first race, giving Kenyon the chance to make thousands of pounds from gambling. Then Knell is caught on camera confirming that he had overfed Kenyon's dog to make it run much slower in a race trial than it usually would.

The aim was to get the greyhound placed in a later race with dogs much slower than its normal speed - making it almost certain to win.

The TV programme also exposes a drug-dealer who hovers at Northern greyhound tracks with a "virtual pharmacy" in his van, including cocaine and huge quantities of the lethal drug Euthatal, used to put down dogs.

Kenyon said: "The dealer invited us to his farm and opened three enormous cabinets which were jam-packed with drugs. We asked him which was the strongest and he produced a large box of cocaine, explaining that he stuffed it down dogs' throats before a race to give them a quick performance boost."

Last night a senior NGRC source said in response to Kenyon's revelations: "Everyone knows what Steve Davis has been up to. It is disgusting. But until we actually catch him in the act or people in the sport come forward and give evidence against him, we can't ban him.

"He was fined over a couple of technicalities relating to two dead dogs, but we had hoped to get him for the shootings.

"Inevitably there are some bad apples in the sport and we are trying to root them out. We do about 8,000 drug tests a year and do everything we can to keep drugs out of the sport."

Greyhounds: Beattie's resignation shrouded in mystery

What went wrong? That's the big question following the surprise resignation of Oxford Stadium general manager Mark Beattie, writes John Gaisford. In the job for only three months, he tendered his notice on Tuesday, just after returning from a week's holiday.

In a statement, the Greyhound Racing Association said: "The GRA announce the resignation of Oxford general manager Mark Beattie. "Beattie, who joined the company just over three months ago, cited personal reasons for his departure but declined to go into detail.

" GRA managing director Clive Feltham said: "The GM's vacancy will be re-advertised. In the meantime, the capable management team at Oxford will look after the business on a day-to-day basis assisted by group personnel." Beattie, 32, came into the job on the back of wide experience in the bingo industry, while as a greyhound owner he had some knowledge of the sport. He made some changes, increasing prices in the restaurants and bars, and with the seating arrangements throughout the complex.

But there were proposed changes that were not implemented - namely opening up of the outside tote booths and introducing a jackpot bet on the tote. Coming into the job on the back of the Stadium reporting one of its best ever years, it was always going to be tough for any newcomer to maintain or improve figures. Or could it be that he felt undermined when he didn't get the backing of the GRA over a recent disciplinary case? We shall never know, as Beattie has refused to comment.

Greyhound case features on TV

A former Oxford greyhound trainer is to feature in a TV documentary which promises to lift the lid on one of Britain's top spectator sports. Steve Davis, of Ducklington, near Witney, who was recently fined £1,000 for killing dogs in his care, is one of two disgraced trainers confronted in the BBC undercover investigation next month. The greyhound authorities are said to believe the inquiries of journalist Paul Kenyon could have a "devastating" effect on the sport's reputation.

Trainer fined for killings.

A former Oxford greyhound trainer has been fined £1,000 and severely reprimanded by the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) stewards for killing dogs in his care.

The stewards considered a report of the NGRC security co-ordinator into the putting down of greyhounds in Steve Davis's care. It is against regulations for someone not qualified as a veterinary surgeon to put dogs down. Investigations also revealed that false statements had been made in connection with documents related to greyhound racing, and the maintenance of his kennel book in accordance with the rules of racing.

Mr Davis of Ducklington, near Witney, resigned as a trainer at Oxford Stadium last month when the NGRC inquiry was announced. He was present at the inquiry along with his solicitor, Julian Lee. Kennelhands Dudley Grant and Marc Studer, and greyhound owner David Shayler attended as witnesses. Assistant trainer Mark Williams and kennelhand Ashley Hart did not attend, but provided written statements.

Through his solicitor, Mr Davis said he had "euthanased" two greyhounds by injection with a quantity of drug that he had obtained from a veterinary surgeon. He said he considered himself totally competent to carry out this pro- cedure. He said other greyhounds in his care had been "euthanased" by a veterinary surgeon and the owners had been charged a fee. He admitted that his kennel book was inaccurate, and said he relied on his head kennelhand to maintain the records.

The stewards found Mr Davis in breach of seven rules and ordered that he be severely reprimanded and fined £1,000. NGRC Rule 58 states: "A greyhound, in the charge of a licensed trainer, shall not be destroyed except with the approval of and under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon unless in the veterinary surgeon's absence, immediate destruction is obviously essential, in which case the circumstances shall afterwards be reported by the trainer to the NGRC."

Trainer fed dogs cattle waste.

A greyhound trainer, who cut up cattle carcasses to feed to his dogs, has been fined for breaking new laws aimed at stopping the spread of disease. And a senior magistrate at Witney yesterday said she was "horrified" by the standards that seem rife in the industry.

Wendy Barlow said: "The full attention of the greyhound authorities should be drawn to this case so that proper steps can be taken.

"We are horrified and amazed at what standards seem to be acceptable." Stephen Davis, 44, of North Lodge, Cokethorpe Estate, Ducklington, pleaded guilty to five offences under the 1999 Animal By-Products Order, brought in by the Government to control the spread of disease, particularly BSE. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £500 towards the costs of Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards Department which brought the case. Davis, who trains 70 dogs, was said to be one of the top trainers in the industry. For Davis, Peter Cusick said his client was unaware of the new regulations.

In April this year, Trading Standards officers visited Davis's training premises and found a decomposed carcass, bones and remains, including a spinal cord left for dogs to chew on. Cutting and boiling equipment was also found.

Trading Standards officer Graham Jones said: "There was a potential risk for the spread of disease, particularly from wildlife like birds and foxes, who could have gained access to the material.

"Mr Davis has been negligent or had no regard for the risk posed by what he was doing."

Officers found more than a tonne of contaminated animal by-product and the remains of a horse and a sheep.

Mr Cusick said Davis's premises were licensed by the National Greyhound Racing Club and checked regularly by vets.

"For centuries farmer have been taking their still-born calves, lambs and other animals to hunting kennels, it has been part and parcel of country life.

"Mr Davis was unaware of the change in the law in 1999 and carried on as he has done for years in this way. The dogs need about 250lb of meat a day," he added.

David Mills, who runs a greyhound feed business, told the court: I would say about 50 per cent of trainers are still doing what he has done."

Fire races through stadium.

Fire badly damaged Oxford Stadium less than an hour before hundreds of punters were due to attend greyhound races, writes Phil Clee. Sixty staff were evacuated after a security manager discovered smoke coming from a roof space on the first floor and raised the alarm.

The first of five city-based fire crews were at the stadium in Sandy Lane, Cowley, within minutes. A few racegoers, who had turned up early for the 7.30pm meeting, joined general manager Mick Hardy and staff outside while more than 40 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus combed the stadium to try to find the root of the fire.

They were joined by the hydraulic platform and rescue tender from the Kidlington fire headquarters, while other crews from Eynsham and Wheatley were put on standby. The density of the smoke from the blaze meant more firefighters were needed to deal with the fire as those involved could only spend a short time in the smoke-logged stadium.

The fire was later found to have started in a fitness area on the ground floor. Acrid smoke was seen belching from the first floor restaurant and air vents, and two firefighters were treated at the scene by paramedics for the effects of smoke inhalation. No-one else was injured. Divisional Officer Martin Crapper and his assistant Nigel Robinson led the search operation during the blaze.

There were reports of a minor explosion which might have damaged part of the roof. The stadium, which has been operation for about 70 years, is also home to the Oxford Cheetahs speedway team. It hosts evening greyhound meetings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, as well as on Friday afternoons, and recently opened a major extension costing 2m.

Mr Hardy said it was too early to assess the amount of damage caused. He said: "Obviously it will be a couple of days until that is known, but at this stage it looks to be extensive, and probably expensive.

He added that several fans had already arrived at the stadium when the fire started, but the 60 staff quickly evacuated the area.

"It was expected to be quite a busy night, as we usually get about 800 midweek, and more than 1,000 on Saturdays," he added.

Racegoers flee dog track blaze

More than 1,000 people had to be evacuated from Oxford Greyhound Stadium at Cowley after an electrical appliance caught fire.

Last night's fire happened during one of the biggest events of the year as the stadium was running the heats of the £3,500 RD Racing Gold Cup. A microwave oven caught fire in the Trappers Fast Food Bar and only swift action by security worker Shahzab Khan prevented a more serious problem. Firefighters arrived within minutes of the alarms going off and donned breathing equipment to tackle the fire.

Staff and racegoers were forced to wait outside for 70 minutes as firefighters used a special smoke dispenser to clear the stadium. The meeting was eventually concluded 40 minutes behind time. General operations manager Monique Audifferen said: "I can't praise the security staff enough. They acted in a quick thinking and calm manner. "Mr Khan was tackling the fire single-handed with fire extinguishers. He used three in all and was able to put the fire out by the time the fire brigade arrived.

"On hearing the alarm, I made sure it wasn't a false one, then I smelled smoke coming from the fast food bar. "I immediately phoned the stewards' box and, at the same time, saw flames leaping up the wall. I told them that the ground floor had been evacuated and to get everybody out." The stadium was hit by a similar incident two years ago when a fire broke out in a sauna in the gymnasium. The meeting on that occasion was abandoned.