An announcement on Thursday morning at Dawson Park was good news for race day officials and broadcasters and there could be more good news on the horizon for a club with "a huge future".
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Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff was with Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders and Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) chief executive Tony Mestrov at the track when a $320,000 upgrade of the Dawson Park broadcast tower was confirmed.
The funding will allow the the "aging" tower to be brought up-to-date, allowing comfort and ease for racecallers but also safety.
"We see Dubbo as a really important part of the racing fabric and we really want to invest in the club," Mestrov said.
"The club has come on in leaps and bounds and there's now at least 10 more TAB races a year because of that growth so we're proud to announce this today. We're backing the club.
"The club has got a huge future and that's part of the reason I'm here, to show my support and the support of Greyhound Racing NSW."
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Mestrov pointed to last year's Million Dollar Chase series as proof of the Dubbo club's strength.
The crowd at Dawson Park was the biggest of any at the 16 regional centres and that kind of success, plus the quality of dogs featuring on the track, means the good news might not stop for the club yet.
"We're looking at new racing concepts and more country and regional concepts and a way to introduce new people to the industry," Mestrov said.
"We're going to appoint a regional coordinator for the GAP (Greyhounds as Pets) program in Dubbo and that's important as well, the rehoming and welfare is important."
Stiff, as expected, was delighted by the news and the hint of more positives for the club in the future.
"Any new facility on a greyhound track is good but this is needed and just brings the Dubbo club into this century," he said.
"There's a lot of things we could do here moving forward. We'd love a licenced club and poker machines and a bit of a better venue for all our patrons but it's little steps.
"As long as we keep moving forward and keep improving it's a win."
There was plenty of praise for the club from Mestrov and Saunders and Stiff stated that meant a lot.
"I love nothing more than walking in this gate on a race day. It makes me proud to be a member of a club that's moving forward not only in NSW but in Australia," he said.
There's bigger and better things to come. We're looking at having some races of great significance here in Dubbo and we're not talking 10 or $20,000 but maybe $100,000 or $200,000 to the winner so you'll see the best trainers and best dogs here."
Saunders described the announcement as "fantastic news" for the club and racing in the region.
"In recent years Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club has undergone an amazing transformation from non-TAB racing through to TAB racing, from only day racing through to having the lighting for night racing, and the next step is to upgrade the judge's tower," he said.
"The club is racing more frequently than it ever has before but it's fair to say the facilities for the raceday staff and the racecaller could be improved, so we're glad to be working with GRNSW to help make that happen."
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
