GRNSW Launch TAB Million Dollar Chase

IN excess of $2 million in prizemoney will be splashed out across the seven-week Million Dollar Chase series which culminates with the $1 million to-the-winner final at Sydney's Wentworth Park on Friday, October 18.

Sponsored this year by wagering giant Tabcorp, regional racing centres throughout NSW are the big winners for the second staging of the world's richest greyhound event, with Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) declaring that 56 of the 64 semi-final spots will be determined across 14 regional venues.

"The increased focus on regional centres in 2019, and less city qualifiers, will see those regions attract interstate owners and trainers, and intrastate visitors, across all parts of NSW with the goal to generate economic benefit to many regions of NSW," said GRNSW CEO Tony Mestrov at Monday's MDC launch.

Following five weeks of frenetic regional racing, where the creme de la creme of the Australian sprinting ranks will be showcased, Wentworth Park will host a last chance saloon race program on October 5, where the eight remaining semi-final positions will be up for grabs.

The 64 semi-finalists will then strut their stuff at headquarters on Friday October 11 across eight mouth-watering semi-finals, with the eight winners progressing through to the $1 million to-the-winner Million Dollar Chase Final on Friday October 18, the gala night of greyhound racing to be staged on the eve of the TAB Everest at Randwick the following day.

"Due to the uniqueness and magnitude of the event, significant Australian and worldwide interest was created last year, and GRNSW aims to build on that momentum in 2019," added Mestrov.

"I would particularly like to thank and welcome on board our new naming rights' sponsor Tabcorp, and we have already begun working closely with them to maximise the benefits of this event, particularly in regional NSW."

Monday's TAB Million Dollar Chase launch continues a spate of positive announcements recently by GRNSW – both on and off the track.

In the past month, the peak-body injected a further $3.2 million in prizemoney for the 2019/20 racing season, as well as announcing Socceroos legend Tim Cahill as the industry's Greyhounds As Pets ambassador.

At Monday's launch, Mestrov doubled down on the industry's unwavering commitment to animal welfare and re-homing initiatives.

"We want to again use the interest in the Million Dollar Chase to help support and raise funds for the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program which ensures dogs are well-looked after when they finish their racing careers – this is a key to our future," Mestrov declared.

"In 2018-2019, GAP NSW helped to re-home more than 700 greyhounds, which was a significant increase on the number re-homed the previous year, and a figure we plan to improve on in 2019-20.

"Again in 2019, 100% of all entry fees paid by owners and trainers into the Million Dollar Chase will go directly into the GAP NSW program.

"This event is an opportunity for us as an industry to deliver important messaging to participants and the public about the new culture of greyhound racing in NSW, one that encourages racing, while also embedding world-leading greyhound welfare initiatives as standard."

The TAB Million Dollar Chase gets underway at Gunnedah on August 31, one of five new regional venues to join the event in 2019.

Dapto, Goulburn, Gosford and Casino will also stage regional qualifiers for the first time, while Bathurst, Dubbo, Lismore, Nowra, Wagga, Maitland, The Gardens, Richmond and Bulli return after hosting successful qualifiers in 2018.

"One of the learnings from the inaugural series was that there should be a greater focus on the grass roots of the sport, throughout regional NSW," added Mestrov.

The Million Dollar Chase is being supported in part by the TAB's recently released Odds And Evens product, the new bet type exceeding expectations in its infancy.

"TAB is delighted to back the TAB Million Dollar Chase," said Tabcorp's Managing Director of Wagering and Media Adam Rytenskild.

"Our business is closely linked to regional communities and the regional focus of the series with heats and finals hosted outside of Sydney is a great fit for us. 

"The race being held on the eve of the TAB Everest will make for an extremely exciting weekend of racing and wagering in NSW."

Early favourites for the TAB Million Dollar Chase are star Victorian's Black Opium and Sennachie at $14.00, while Forbes powerhouse Feral Franky is currently a $21.00 chance for Ray Smith.