The Sunday Afternoon “Finish On”

FRIDAY'S confirmation that Goulburn has secured State Government funding to elevate the venue to a state-of-the-art facility, offering both straight and one-turn racing was great news for NSW participants.

New lighting to provide night racing for the first time at the track and night racing up the straight at Goulburn will be a world first.

While yet to pass through council planning, a Development Application is being finalised with Goulburn Mulwaree Council and it's a council which has supported greyhound racing in a significant way.

"Our councilors have always been very positive about what greyhound racing does for the city," Goulburn Manager Patrick Day said.

"Council contributed $350,000 to the kennel upgrade in 2012 and I'm proud to say it's one of the best kennel facilities in NSW.

"A lot of pre-planning and consultation has been done and we are hopeful that soil can be turned before the end of the year."

With Goulburn's circle track of action for an anticipated four months in summer, Greyhound Racing NSW is understood to, ideally, want the new straight track operational (for a continuance of racing) before work starts on the ‘circle' re-fit.

The straight track will run from south to north (right to left) in the forecourt region closest to the grandstand and will provide spectacular close-at-hand viewing.

ALL ABOARD

The National Sprint and Distance Championships line-ups have been finalised and box draws for the August 27 features in place.

Aside from the action at Wentworth Park, the National Straight Track Championship at Richmond is on earlier that day yet there's a good deal of off-track action.

Greyhounds Australasia has a Board meeting scheduled for August 24 at Wentworth Park (by invitation) while on August 26, GA's hosts another day-long session for Chief Executives while Greyhound Clubs Australia hold their Annual General Meeting on the same morning with observers allowed to attend.

A really interesting symposium is planned for August 25 (at the Maritime Museum Theatre at Darling Harbour) with morning tea, lunch and afternoon refreshments provided.

The symposium is free to attend and there's plenty to take in.

An invitation only Greyhound Adoption programs meeting starts at 9am on August 26 and is a day-long session.

At the same time, a Track and Infrastructure Forum will be held in the Wentworth Park bistro area and it's an opportunity for participants to (respectfully) comment on the preparation of tracks and see where infrastructure planning is heading – and there are pressing issues from Tasmania all the way north to Townsville!

Maybe this forum would have been a bigger ticket item if held in South East Queensland or the Gippsland region in Victoria but it's still got the potential to be lively.

The really interesting aspect to the GA meeting is that it's the chance for new Chairman Robert Vellar to drive the get together. GA's Board structure has undergone significant personnel change (state delegates) and let's not forget they're looking for a new Chief Executive.

GA's effectiveness/relevance is under the microscope. As the overarching national body, advocacy, direction and strident leadership (something which it's never attained) must be the outcome.

BRIDGING THE GAP

It's interesting that the state bodies come together for the National Championships and welfare is high on the agenda yet GAP means Greyhounds As Pets in NSW and Greyhound Adoption Program elsewhere.

Whether one is better than then other is moot (my preference is Greyhounds As Pets) yet rebranding (to a nationwide agreed name) is long overdue and would come at a cost.

What galls all greyhound participants is the dirty six letter word rescue.

While private rehoming is of great assistance in placing retired races into the community, the damage caused by the ‘rescued' message represents an anti-racing sentiment and that greyhounds need to be ‘save' from a poor outcome.

Re-homing of all canines is under significant pressure in this post Covid lockdown period and the cost of keeping a pet has escalated significantly.

Just how greyhound re-homing navigates this difficult period must be a focus on August 26 and the Greyhounds Australasia meeting really needs be productive. Maybe funding assistance for private entities with a ‘rescue' element is an option with the unequivocal provision of a name change.

Greyhounds Australasia is perfectly positioned to drive driving the rehoming message/agenda and not defer to member states for singular outcomes.

It's time that Greyhounds Australasia gets the fundamentals right and not be just a revenue collector.

Though a peak body, Greyhounds Australasia has only four or so full-time staff and its capabilities need to be redefined and expanded outside cobbling together a set of rules (which member states can redirect with a local perspective), registering race names and or stud services.

An opportunity exists to make a difference … that's what the new Board should grapple with.

KIWIS RETURN

It's nice to see the Kiwi's returning across the Tasman for the nationals with NZ-bred Know Keeper (Know Class – Know Jinx) and sprinter Opawa Superstar (Fernando Bale – Opawa Tab) winning their way to Wenty.

While a very reliable beginner and a high-class performer, Opawa Superstar has drawn poorly (box seven) while Know Keeper is a dour stayer.

Many in the National Distance Final are cut from the same cloth as Know Keeper – get-back-and-run-on types and that has enhanced Super Estrella's prospects exponentially.

Know Keeper's grit rekindles memories of Kiwi Hall Of Fame inductee Swift Fantasy (which passed away only last month aged 15). He's won 36 of 67 starts and just on NZ$264,000 ($A239,000) and owns the 779m record at Manakau (46.14).

Opawa Superstar accounted for the luckless Talbingo Bale in his Addington 520m qualifier on August 11, his 24^th win at start 36. He's missed a place only once and that was back in December when a $2.10 favourite (from box one) in the NZ$30,000 in the Wind Power Stakes Final at Manawatu.

Though poorly drawn at his WP debut, Opawa Superstar has run ‘time' at each of the six venues he's raced at – his 25.36 at Manawatu is just .09 outside Federal Morgan's record.

Both Kiwis has been listed as outsiders for their Wentworth Park assignments with $34 on offer about Opawa Superstar while Know Keeper is $23 (both with TAB).

Trials for all interstate (and international) aspirants have been made available for August 17 or 20.

Here's how Know Keeper booked his ticket to WP:

NEW KIT

At the State Of Origin series at Albion Park on July 14, Greyhound Racing NSW handed out the first lot of polo shirts for NSW participants which, in time, will replace the standard while shirt dress code requirement.

All runners in the National Sprint and Distance Championships at Wentworth Park on Thursday (in addition to race night staff) were also kitted out.

"Delivery of the bulk order is a few weeks away but, in coming days, a link on www.thedogs.com.au will allow all NSW registered persons to order their shirt(s)," GRNSW Deputy Chief Executive Wayne Billett said.

"The first one of free to anyone registered as a trainer, owner-trainer or track attendant while supplementary shirts are just $25.

"We are delighted with the quality and how the everyone has embraced the project.

"It's just a small way to give something back to participants and I'm sure everyone will wear the polo shirts with pride whether it's at the track or in day-to-day life."

The portal will direct participants to order by size and their preferred location (track) for collection.

GRNSW's initial order is sufficient to cover all registered persons in NSW in the short term yet it's expected that demand will outstrip supply and the ordering process will give a precise position for production needs.