NSW Middle Distance Strategy A Must

LAST week's announcement by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) that it will inject an additional $3.2 million into prizemoney over the next 12 months came with much fanfare.

And, rightly so. 

For years now participants have been yearning for some form of stake increases so the rejoicing bellowed among industry stakeholders was of little surprise. 

Alignment between investment and expenses against potential returns is vital for the industry's long term survival. 

Just look at the kick-along the industry in Queensland has received following their spate of positive funding announcements recently. 

And while last week's announcement brought about positivity for TAB racing in NSW, those that confine themselves to country non-TAB racing were left feeling short-changed, with increases applied to that sector not the same heights of those received at the Tab circuit. 

One would imagine that's in a bid to not look disingenuous, if and when, potential track closures come. But that's purely speculative, let me say.

As of next Monday, GRNSW move ahead with their new prizemoney model and soon to be introduced improved grading policy. 

One interesting aspect to the new funding model is around middle distance racing and whether a strategy exists around optimizing this format for the betterment of racing here in NSW.

A few years back, additional funds were applied to 600 metre plus events in an attempt to foster racing over longer distances – a bit of a stop gap measure – given Wentworth Park is devoid of a much needed middle distance alternative.

Last week's new prizemoney roll-out in fact removed that stake rise, with a standard approach now applied for TAB racing no matter what the distance.

It's important that GRNSW declare what their strategy is for distance racing moving forward.

We've all seen what middle distance racing at Sandown and The Meadows has done for racing in Victoria. A raging success on a number of fronts. 

It's provided an alternative racing outlet for owners and trainers, with metropolitan level prizemoney on offer regularly. 

And sadly for NSW, this has been another catalyst for a production-line of quality gallopers relocating interstate over the years.

In recent times, greyhounds the calibre of Tornado Tears and Ella Enchanted relocating to Victoria are prime examples.

If NSW power-brokers are genuine about their desire to create a racing environment that keeps as many NSW-bred greyhounds racing in their home state, then rolling out an attractive middle distance strategy is a must.

At the current juncture, NSW owners with a strong 500 metre dog or fringe 700-metre distance prospect are being forced to look interstate to maximise their returns.

And it becomes a vicious circle. Trainers are hesitant to step their dogs up to middle distances at fear of losing them interstate if they prove successful, knowing full well that their low grade opportunities will dry up sooner rather than later in NSW.

As an owner, are you going to knock around in NSW at the hope of getting a start in a TAB 600-metre race worth $1,500 to-the-winner, when you could be plying your trade in Victoria or Queensland week-in-week out for $5,000 to-the-winner. 

So how about this as a starting point?

The introduction of a four-track rolling middle distance schedule, with metropolitan A prizemoney?

Program a 5th grade or 4/5th grade race in one region for Wednesday city prizemoney and a Best 8 in another region for Saturday city prizemoney weekly … rotating the venues.

It should help in alleviating the exodus we're currently witnessing and provide much needed opportunity.

Utilising say Richmond, Bathurst, Ladbrokes Gardens, Dapto and Gosford would cover all major areas, with the reality being that northern rivers' trainers are more than likely going to chase the better middle distance prizemoney on the offing at Albion Park of a Monday and Thursday night.

In essence, they have their metropolitan middle distance outlet, albeit across the border, but there's no reason that region can't be better catered for either.

For breeders, especially in NSW, it's imperative they see a direction for longer distance racing. It will dictate the breeding strategies they undertake in the future.

It doesn't sit well with many that under the new prizemoney breakdown, a trainer can earn the same for winning a grade 5 at Ladbrokes Gardens over 272m on a Saturday as they can, for let's say, winning a quality fifth grade at Richmond over the 535m on a Friday night.

As an industry where do we sit with this?

Is it supporting mediocrity? Will it, in the long term, diminish NSW's quality of racing?

No one is saying 300m and 400m dogs should have been ignored with the $3.2 million prizemoney boost, but should the new levels be scaled, increasing as the distances get longer?

Offer any greyhound trainer or owner a 500m dog or a 300m dog and they'll take the 500m dog every day of the week. The sport needs to strive to encourage participants to make as many of our greyhounds 500m plus racing propositions as we can.

Put it this way.

From next week, a 300-metre dog can race twice in a week and if successful, bring home $3,000. A 600-metre dog, that essentially should have more currency, cannot.

Is that right?

There's a number of moving parts to all this, but incentivising owners and breeders with the ability to race their stock in NSW for the entirety of their careers should be the end game here.

At a time where NSW needs each and every greyhound it can get its hands on to supply the quantity of product its churning out, providing an easy to understand, commercially attractive, middle distance program, would be a good start.

Take the 600m event at Ladbrokes Gardens on Friday featuring the clash of Jamella Jet, That's Lil' Vicki and Kanzan … just to name three.

The race – supplemented by Ladbrokes Red dog funding mind you – is worth $6,000 to-the-winner. 

It promises to be a thrilling spectacle, but they are few and far between.

Imagine something like this running on a rotational basis between north, south, west and the central coast?

It's certainly worth entertaining. 

But it's all dependent on what the strategy is. 

If there is one at all.