Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Rob Macaulay has announced the introduction of a $2.1 million boost for participants through fourth-place prizemoney and increased travel allowances.
“Starting October 1, we will add fourth place prizemoney at all race meetings,” Mr Macaulay said. “We’re also increasing travel subsidies. We’re doing this in support of all participants.
“These decisions follow my first month in the job where I have been able to spend time going to various race meetings and listening to participants. I’m trying to get to every club and track in NSW before the end of the year. I have just had a great visit to Dubbo and Broken Hill Greyhound Racing Clubs, and I’m so proud of all those people involved all over NSW. These good people are the backbone of our sport across regional NSW.”
TAB racing – both city and provincial – will now include $100 for fourth place, country-graded TAB meetings will have fourth place prizemoney of $75, and non-TAB meetings will have fourth place worth $50. This represents an additional $1.3 million to the prizemoney pool annually.
GRNSW is also adding $800,000 through increases to travel subsidies. At present participants receive a $60 travel subsidy for the first dog they race at a meeting, then $30 for each additional dog. From October 1, they will now receive $60 for every dog they take to a race meeting.
“These are two nice, simple areas to immediately increase returns to participants,” Mr Macaulay said. “There’s more to come, but I want to have more stakeholder engagement about where we should direct this additional prizemoney. For that purpose, I will announce shortly a prizemoney summit in October, where some of the good ideas and needs of participants can be discussed, and then we’ll add even more prizemoney.”
These increases come on the back of GRNSW’s best rehoming results ever, and the continued roll-out of new, safer tracks and facility improvements across NSW.
“I’m proud of this sport and its people, and at GRNSW we are committed to doing everything we can to improve every aspect of it. Minister Kevin Anderson is hugely supportive, and we’re very pleased to be doing all these good things. Track safety, greyhound welfare and rehoming, participant income and the welfare of all the families involved in our sport are all important. More good news is coming,” said Mr Macaulay.
