Dapto Dogs Get New $4 Million Global Home

Greyhound Racing NSW last week signed a $4 million cheque to buy land for a brand new state-of-the-art stadium on Bong Bong Road, Dapto.

The sport's chief executive Rob Macaulay said it is the first step in exporting Dapto dog racing to millions of new punters in markets in the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia.

"I want to take Dapto greyhounds to the world, to promote it as the mecca of the greyhound world," he said.

"Dapto can be the biggest racing and wagering brand in the world for punters – and host the biggest races – including a new series we are developing that will be like nothing the sport has seen," he said.

Mr Macaulay was the lawyer who fought to stop the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society from evicting greyhound racing from its current home at the showgrounds.

"The threat of extinguishing a world famous brand in greyhound racing became a call to arms and galvanised the entire racing community," he said.

The land purchase means the club can control its own destiny and will run specific races to target 800 million people through 450 new wagering service providers in more than 50 countries.

"Dapto dogs is already famous culturally in Australia and beyond. But our future plans include a new richest race in the world, new themed classes of races, and meetings for international wagering markets and more," he said.

The new venue will also be home to a greyhound welfare and rehoming facility.

"Our mantra is to race safely and to rehome all of our wonderful retired greyhounds and that's why it's important that new tracks being developed, such as Dapto, include Greyhounds As Pets facilities on site," Mr Macaulay said.

The announcement comes as GRNSW successfully completed its first trial of rehoming NSW greyhounds in the US with eight dogs finding new homes within eight hours of touching down on American soil.

Another 30 dogs are now being prepared for life in the US, where demand for greyhounds as "premium pets" is at an all time high.

Shellharbour MP Anna Watson welcomed the $4 million investment in the Dapto community that secured the future of the iconic and "world recognised" name of Dapto Dogs.

"It is a huge parcel of land and there is a great opportunity for Greyhound Racing NSW to do something great for the community here," she said.

"I look forward to going through the detail of what is planned."