Greyhound Racing NSW today unveiled its latest commitment to greyhound welfare with a major track upgrade to the Hastings River Greyhound Club’s track at Wauchope.
The completion of work at the Wauchope track continues GRNSW’s substantial investment in the sport on the Mid-North Coast, with more than $1 million in funding having been recently injected into track upgrades in the region to ensure safer racing and trialling.
The Wauchope upgrade follows an announcement earlier this year that a new state of the art Super Track complex will be built at Taree, with the three Mid-North Coast clubs - Taree, Wauchope and Kempsey - combining to form a new club to race at the venue.
Investment in Wauchope included the installation of a new lure rail and modifications to the existing safety rail. This work complements the full refurbishment of the track, the kennels, the venue’s electricals and the addition of a safety rail and safety mats, work which was undertaken before the club’s inaugural TAB meeting in late 2020.
“The Mid-North Coast is a pivotal region for us,” Greyhound Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said.
“The region has a large greyhound and participant population and GRNSW is committed to ensuring its tracks – trial tracks and racetracks – are safe racing venues.
“GRNSW is currently in the process of developing plans for the new Super Track at Taree and assisting the three clubs in the formation of the new merged entity: The Mid-North Coast Greyhound Club. We hope that work will be completed on the centre by the end of 2023.”
When completed, neither the Kempsey or Wauchope tracks will close, and each venue will operate as a training facility.
Mr Macaulay was joined at the official re-opening of Wauchope by the State Member for Oxley, the Hon. Melinda Pavey, GRNSW chair John Williams, and GRNSW Board Director Kevin Gordon, and Hastings River Greyhound Club President Rex Nairn.
“I have long been a supporter of the work that Rex and his club do here at Wauchope, and I thank GRNSW for its continued support and investment in the sport on the Mid-North Coast,” Ms Pavey said.
“When completed, the Super Track at Taree will be a wonderful addition to the region and as a result we will continue to see major benefits for the community and local economy, but in the meantime its very pleasing to see upgrades to the Wauchope track to make it a safer track for our greyhounds.”
