Late Cash Injection For Golden Easter Egg Program

WENTWORTH Park comes alive on Saturday night with the running of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg and Association Cup at Group 1 level.

In addition to the two iconic features, another three group races will be decided along with the Masters Final, Ultra Sense and the inaugural running of the Paul Wheeler Celebration.

First run in 1990 and won by Ultra Sense, the Golden Easter Egg snares the winner $250,000 and, following a board meeting of the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers' Association (GBOTA), placegetters in the feature will secure prizemoney in line with guidelines set by Greyhound Clubs Australia (GCA).

The GCA guideline expects the winner's prize to be between 65 and 74 per cent of total prizemoney yet, in recent years, the Golden Easter Egg and other NSW features have not met that mark.

"The national agreement was for all clubs, in order to maintain black type status, to meet minimum (prizemoney) standards," Greyhound Clubs Australia Chief Executive Troy Harley said.

"Covid-19 constraints saw a loosening of guidelines but I felt it was time for all participants to be fairly rewarded for excellence.

"Placegetters in the features at Wentworth Park on Saturday will deliver, I'm advised,  an extra $23,000 to bring the night's prizemoney up to speed.

"I applaud the decision to make up the shortfall at short notice but it is time that prizemoney – across the country –  is delivered to all participants fairly."

Prior to the increase return for placed dogs in just the feature races, just on $600,000 was up for grabs on one of greyhound racing's grandest nights.

The Paul Wheeler Celebration, an initiative of GBOTA Chief Executive Steve Noyce, offers $12,000-to-the-winner in addition to a service to champion sire and 2015 Golden Easter Egg winner Fernando Bale.