Dubbo is set to get another crack at the biggest prize in greyhound racing, with the Million Dollar Chase set to return for another regional series set to take place in September ahead of the finals in Wentworth later in the year.
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Dubbo will be one of 14 regional clubs and tracks hosting qualifying events, which will make up the bulk of the entrants this year thanks to a change that will see the top four finalists in each regional qualifier proceeding.
It's a move that Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Tony Mestrov says will shift significant money to areas like Dubbo.
"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," Mr Mestrov said.
It's a change that Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff welcomed wholeheartedly, as he's seen up close just what a change the Million Dollar Chase can make in a trainer's life.
"Tor the industry, to think that a dog can race and win a million dollars, it's unbelievable," Mr Stiff said.
"The dog that won the race last year, was reared on our property here in Dubbo and it was life-changing for the trainers, it was sensational and it set them up in a big way."
The grassroots' clubs and tracks are what stopped the ban from going through, so it's nice to see the board putting back into us.
- Shayne Stiff
That dog, Mystic Riot, delivered a half a million into trainer's Peter and Jodie Lagogiane's pockets when it won the big race last year.
"It's all excitement again, it's going to be great."
The big investment in the regions will also mean a huge night of entertainment for the Dubbo Race Track, after it was selected as one of five venues out of the fourteen regional spots to receive additional funding to host high profile entertainers for the finals night on September 21.
"We've got some big, big plans for the Dubbo track," Mr Stiff said.
"There'll be some big names performing on the night, it's a great Saturday night to showcase Dubbo, we could have the best eight dogs in Australia racing in Dubbo on that Saturday night, it'll just be sensational for Dubbo."
Mr Stiff also welcomed the support from the racing board and the government, thanking local member Dugald Saunders and racing minister Kevin Anderson for their efforts, as well as Tony Mestrov.
"Our CEO Tony and the greyhound racing NSW board have done a really good job of moving us from where we were a few years ago to where we are now."
