The Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Club () was a greyhound racing stadium located in Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Macau, China. It shared the venue with Lin Fong Sports Centre, a sport complex.
Opened in 1932, it closed during the Second Sino-Japanese War and reopened in 1963. The venue later became internationally known for animal welfare concerns, particularly over the importation and treatment of Australian racing greyhounds. After Macau authorities ordered the operator to close or relocate the facility within two years in 2016, the Canidrome closed on 21 July 2018, leading to an international effort to care for and rehome more than 500 greyhounds.
History
thumb|Greyhounds being paraded before the races in Macau.
The Canidrome opened in 1932 but was closed in 1938 due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. It reopened in 1963.
From the 1960s until the mid-2010s, the Canidrome sourced a substantial number of its racing greyhounds from Australia. In 2013, the Australian industry body Greyhounds Australasia ceased issuing export passports for greyhounds destined for Macau following concerns raised about welfare standards at the track.
Despite the industry ban, The Guardian reported that federal authorities continued issuing export permits, and hundreds of greyhounds were exported after Macau had been blacklisted.
After Australian exports were curtailed, the Canidrome sought to source greyhounds from Ireland.
On 21 July 2016, the Gaming and Inspection Bureau (DICJ) of Macau met with representatives of the Canidrome and presented the operator with an ultimatum to close or relocate the facility within two years.
The Canidrome closed on 21 July 2018. At the time of closure, more than 500 greyhounds remained at the facility. Macau authorities fined the operator under animal welfare legislation and assumed responsibility for the animals after determining that an adequate rehoming plan had not been provided despite prior notice that the lease would expire.
Future use
In August 2018, the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) revealed that around two-thirds of the total area would continue to be used for sports activities, including the expansion of the existing Lin Fong Sports Centre, another 20% of the space would host education facilities, it was also revealed that an underground stormwater storage tank would be built below the sports facilities. This was included in the plan so as to mitigate the risk of flooding. There will also be a parking lot with a minimum capacity of 400 parking spaces. However, in July 2019, the Macau Daily Times found the land plot in a state of neglect and decay.
See also
- Lin Fong Sports Centre