Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) is delighted to announce that an additional $1 million in prizemoney will be distributed to its participants over the next four months.
The $1 million will be spread across a variety of grades and venues, with a particular focus on supporting traditional 500m racing. This includes new events being added to the GRNSW calendar.
It is the second, seven-figure prizemoney increase for NSW participants in the past five months, coming on the back of a $1.33 million prizemoney boost last October, and a record $33 million in returns paid to participants in 2019-20.
“This is further great news for our participants and the industry and I must thank the GRNSW Board for their progressive thinking and attitude in pushing through this increase,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said.
“As I mentioned late last year when we increased stakes for middle distance and midweek metropolitan racing, we made a concerted effort at the outbreak of COVID-19 to operate on a very tight budget and make savings where possible, and subsequently pass those savings on to our participants.
“We have been able to continue to race throughout the pandemic, and as a result and with forward thinking, we are now able to pass on more of those savings to participants through this prizemoney increase.”
The showcase of the new events will be the $130,000 GRNSW Country Challenge. Races which will carry $10,000 in prizemoney and be held in June at Casino, Ladbrokes Gardens, Dubbo, Gunnedah, Nowra, Bathurst, Taree and Wagga Wagga, with all eight winners then advancing to a final at Wentworth Park on June 26 worth $50,000 in total prizemoney.
A distance series has also been added to the calendar with 700m races to be held at Gosford, Lismore, Dapto and Bathurst and each event carrying $10,000 in total prizemoney.
Four maiden finals each week will carry a first prize of $3,000, while four, fifth grade finals will boast stake money of $5,000. A series for the soon to be opened Richmond straight track will also be included on the calendar.
Full details of all the new events can be found on thedogs.com.au.
As part of last year’s prizemoney increases which took effect from October 1, $500,000 was injected into middle distance racing, a strategy which is beginning to pay dividends in boosting the staying ranks in NSW.
A strong focus of this latest prizemoney increase is supporting the traditional 500m racing, and it is anticipated that this strategic approach with heightened prizemoney, will be a stepping stone towards encouraging and nurturing racing from 440m and beyond.
