A dog racing track and a trainer have been fined by the industry’s watchdog for failing to prevent the death of a greyhound.

Henlow Racing Stadium has been hit with a £5,000 fine while greyhound trainer Hazel Kemp has been ordered to pay £500 following the death of a dog named Harrys Queen. Both were also reprimanded by the disciplinary committee.

A hearing was called by the industry watchdog, Greyhound Board of Great Britain, following the death at the racing track’s kennels in September last year.

In the ruling, published this month, it said that the stadium had failed to have full regard for the welfare of the greyhound, had failed to take action, acted in a manner prejudicial to the good reputation of greyhound racing and permitted two-and-a-half-year-old Harrys Queen to be treated in a way that was likely to cause unnecessary suffering.

It is thought that the dog died from heat stroke during the unusually hot day, when temperatures in Henlow hit 27°C and evidence given at the hearing said that the kennel temperature would have been at least 30°C.

Evidence was also heard of uneven airflow into the kennels and that an exposed hot metal duct – deemed to be a ‘serious welfare concern’ – would have increased the temperature of the air feed. It was also concluded that on ‘the balance of probabilities’ there were no thermometers present in the kennels.

The report said: “We accept that the lack of duct covering contributed to the heat overload that killed the dog.”

The disciplinary board also criticised dog trainer Mrs Kemp’s actions, saying she should have been more alert to the dog’s condition, which was known to have a hyperactive nature, and should have given more thought to using an air conditioned car instead of a van for the 90-minute trip to the race track.

The published report said: “It is questionable whether the dog should have been taken to the track at all.”

Mrs Kemp, who currently races 15 dogs, told the Comet she is talking with solicitors about the case.

“It is one of those unfortunate things,” she said.

“I had eight dogs racing that day and she was the only one that was affected.”

Kevin Boothby from Henlow Racing Stadium said they will be appealing the committee’s decision and added that the track’s kennels were upgraded with a new air flow management system three months ago.

Animal rights campaigners from Shut Down Henlow Racing Stadium and Bedfordshire Animal Rights held a protest outside the track on October 4 and will be returning to demonstrate again this Saturday and on October 26.