A RACE-FIXING investigation has been launched into Swindon Greyhounds after the wrong dog appeared to take part in a race. 

On September 22, Ballygibba Sea had an 'extraordinary' victory at 18-1 odds in the fifth race of the day, achieving a lifetime best time and improving on its previous run by two seconds

But after people started to suspect that a ringer had run in Ballygibba Sea's place, the unheard-of result was officially changed a week later to list a different dog - Strideaway Honey - as the official winner.

As a result, the Great British Greyhound Board launched an investigation into the incident. 

Speaking to the Racing Post on September 29, GBGB senior stipendiary steward Duncan Gibson said: "We have studied CCTV plus the downloaded data from the identification microchips."

The GBGB has since released a further statement on the investigation confirming that two trainers have been suspended. 

A spokesperson said: "On the evidence collated and received by GBGB relating to the 5th race (15.14pm) at Swindon Stadium on Friday 22 September 2023, two professional greyhound trainers have been temporarily warned off pending further investigation."

Swindon Advertiser: The official race result showing Strideaway Honey as the winner rather than Ballygibba SeaThe official race result showing Strideaway Honey as the winner rather than Ballygibba Sea (Image: Greyhound Star)Strideaway Honey is an A4 class dog, which places it at a calibre of races far greater than the A9 Ballygibba Sea, and the performance during the race is more befitting of Honey's previous results and form. 

Jim Little is Strideaway Honey's trainer and Grant Gillett is Ballygibba Sea's trainer.

It is currently unclear how Strideaway Honey came to run the race in Ballygibba Sea's place. 

Prior to each race starting, the race paddock staff at a greyhound track are supposed to confirm the identity of each dog using earmarks and scans of microchips. 

The Greyhound Star reports that bookmakers reported a number of small stake bets were placed upon the winner of the race.

This is not the first time there has been controversy at the Swindon stadium.

Deputy racing manager Kiaran O'Brien was awarded a £16,867.07 payout by an employment tribunal after he claimed he was fired for whistleblowing.

O'Brien accused staff at the track of deliberately driving the hare to favour a local trainer.

He also made accusations of running a dog that should not have been racing which led to another dog having a leg amputated.

Gaming International, which runs the track, said it could not comment on the ongoing investigation.