A sport for the bush battler. A hardened generation of men and women who rose from the tough times of great depression with a rugged, real-world view and character to match. A cut of society that, in many ways, went on to shape our nation.

In some ways, greyhound trainers can be characterised by Michael Caton's role as Darryl Kerrigan in the 1997 hit movie The Castle. A blue collar type who loves his ‘noble creatures’ so much, he takes them on the family’s holiday.

A part of that character died on Thursday when NSW Premier Mike Baird announced the state government would initiate the industry’s orderly shutdown.

Baird cited the protection of animal welfare as a priority. 

“I understand the disappointment of people who enjoy having a punt on the dogs. But we simply cannot and will not stand-by and allow the widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals,” he said.

The RSPCA called the decision “one of the biggest days for animal welfare in the state’s history”, echoed by a chorus of animal welfare groups and supporters.

The death of between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds deemed uncompetitive in the past 12 years is a staggering, indefensible statistic.

Abhorrent practices the ABC Four Corners program exposed should not be tolerated and those caught in the act should be dealt with.

Indeed, the industry itself should be ashamed and needed to see the writing on the wall many years ago. 

So what a doggone shame it all is. For everyone involved.

In many ways it is an end to the story of a sport that has battled to reinvent itself in the modern era and has failed.

The industry needed to act swiftly. Ping the boxes to lead change for a new generation. Protect its most valuable assets: Its people and their dogs.

It is a story that reflects our changing values as a nation, the amplification of voices through social media and the ability for an outrage to ignite without truly wanting to understand.

Baird’s view of the racing industry itself is not foreign to many city dwellers whose real-life experience consists of a private school education and a desk job.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley has accused Baird of “jumping the gun”.

“I’m concerned about the impact in regional areas … I’d like the Parliament to consider all of the 80 suggestions from Michael McHugh about how the industry could continue subject to much higher standards,” he told Fairfax Media in the wake of Thursday’s announcement.

Albury lost its struggling greyhound track in 2003 and in 2005 council sold the land to Harvey Norman. If you’re ever in the electrical department you’d be standing at about the 280m start looking into a speedy left-hand turn. When Wangaratta ceased racing at its Avian Park venue in 2009 the few Border-based trainers were forced to travel to Wagga or Shepparton to give their dogs a run.

That was just about enough for most to get out of the sport altogether. A community’s connection was severed overnight.

In the late 1990s I covered the sport for The Border Mail with a weekly column I penned called The Greyhound Scene.

I was 15 and would use study periods at Xavier High School to pull it together and put it on a floppy disk. The next day, legendary racing editor Tom Kearney would call past my parent’s house in Lavington to pick up the latest column on his way to the office.

For an enterprising teenager, the world of greyhound racing was an amazing education. It taught me valuable lessons like the reward of hard work, respect for all walks of life, thinking on your feet and the value of a dollar.

The vast majority of regional people involved in greyhound racing are honest, down to earth folk who love their dogs. It’s as simple as that.

The dogs give them something to celebrate and, in turn, live a life greater than an inner-city labradoodle could dream of.

Greyhounds are amazing animals. They love to run and chase just as much as they love to laze around the house.

For the kind of people I know, the state government’s decision is a kick in the guts, and that has been the reaction from those who have actually been to a race day and beyond Sydney city limits.

Greyhound racing started in Australia in Sydney 1927 with the innovation of a mechanical ‘tin hare’ lure. It quickly spread throughout NSW and the nation.

By the time the Hume Dam was completed in 1936, greyhound racing on the Border was at its peak.

Dozens of bookmakers and hundreds of punters packed the Albury track to watch the ‘dishlickers’ go around. Local champions against raiders from Wagga, Cowra, Goulburn, Dapto and beyond.

As the sport gained interest, cup meetings and carnivals sprung up across the land, linking communities of people from Tweed Heads to Traralgon.

It's fair to say regional Australians will feel the brunt of this decision with many left to reflect on what might have been as they face an uncertain future.