WA to host the Prestigious Greyhound National Championships
Western Australia will play host to some of the biggest names in Australian greyhound racing with the 2019 Greyhound Clubs Australia CROCMEDIA National Championships taking place in Perth, from Thursday 22 August to Saturday 24 August.
Western Australia has a rich history of success in the National Championships with the State taking out the National Sprint Final six times with Mister Toewyte in 1978, Fremantle Echo in 1987, Sandi’s Me Mum in 1989 and 1990, Prince Of Tigers in 1997 and last year with West On Augie taking out the national final in Victoria.
Hall Of Fame sprinter Sandi’s Me Mum also remains the only chaser in history to win two National Sprint titles.
“The Nationals is a prestigious annual event on the Australian greyhound racing calendar and Western Australia is thrilled to be hosting the Nationals for the ninth time this year at Cannington,” said Racing and Wagering Western Australia’s General Manager Racing, Charlotte Mills.
The main event will take place at TABtouch Park Cannington on Saturday 24 August with the running of the Group 1 CROCMEDIA National Sprint Championship over 520 metres and the All New SEN App National Distance Final over 715 metres.
Western Australia will be represented in this year’s events with the Christine Bennett trained Reidy’s Runner in the Distance Final who is priced as the second favourite with TABtouch at $6. In the Sprint final the State will be represented by Premium Share who is priced as the second favourite at $3 and Starlight Yoyo who will gain a start as a reserve and is priced up as a $6 chance.
In a first for the sport New Zealand have become a part of the Nationals and will be represented in both the National Sprint and Distance Championship finals with Dyna Dave and Opawa Hilary.
“Greyhounds WA is excited to bring this unique and significant event to the West Australian public,” said Greyhounds WA CEO, Noel Reilly.
“A big part of the appeal of the Nationals is the good-natured state rivalry and this year we have the added interest of competition from New Zealand as well.”
The National Championships commenced in New South Wales in 1965 when Harold Park conducted the first ever National Sprint Championship won by local chaser Best Sun.
Since then the Nationals have moved from state to state on an annual basis and some of the all-time champions of the sport have tasted success in the Group 1 classic events.
In order to qualify for the National final greyhounds must either win their state final or be seeded the number 1 chaser in the land and gain entry via the Wildcard.
“We are blessed to have the top echelon of Australasian chasers in Perth this weekend and the host club Greyhounds WA has teamed with Racing and Wagering Western Australia to complement the racing with a great array of business and social events,” said Greyhound Clubs Australia Executive Officer, David Simonette.
Prior to the race night at Cannington, there will also be a string of events and conferences will take place with key administrators and race clubs to discuss key industry issues as well as celebrate the greats of the Australian greyhound racing industry.
For more information regarding the Nationals, visit: www.greyhoundclubsaustralia.com.au
Photo credit: Clint Anderson/ BlueStream Pictures