Vic greyhound track owner in court

The owner and a former manager of the Victorian greyhound track at the centre of a live-baiting scandal are facing 79 charges of animal cruelty between them.

A group of men charged over alleged live baiting at the Tooradin trial track appeared in court on Thursday morning.

Fourteen were listed to appear in Dandenong Magistrates Court, and eight appeared in person.

Authorities launched an investigation last year into allegations of live baiting, including the use of piglets and rabbits, to lure greyhounds at the Tooradin trial track.

Former Tooradin assistant track manager Lawrence Cunningham is facing the most charges.

He did not appear before Magistrate Julie Ann O'Donnell on Thursday.

The RSPCA has charged him with 44 offences, including using rabbits to lure dogs, court documents revealed.

Tooradin track owner Stuart Mills, 40, and his father Anthony Mills, 74, appeared in court without a lawyer.

The RSPCA has charged Stuart Mills with 35 offences. He is accused of keeping and using rabbits and pigs to train greyhounds at Tooradin.

His father is on five animal-cruelty charges.

A fifteenth man was originally meant to appear alongside the group, but a date had not been set for his first appearance, RSPCA prosecutor Daniel Bode said outside court.

All matters were adjourned to Frankston Magistrates Court on April 1.