Further to the announcement prior to Christmas of the funding increase across the three codes of racing from 1 January to 30 June 2018, the increase for the greyhound code has been allocated as follows:
Maiden Racing
A new Tasbred All-Age Maiden Series consisting of 5 heats and a final will be scheduled at Launceston in April with a stake of $4,000 to the winner.
In addition the Hobart Maiden Thousand stakes will increase to $8,000 to the winner and the stakes for the Tasbred All Age Maiden Series at Devonport in November will increase to $4,000 to the winner.
Tasbred Racing
The Minister’s Gift Series, being for Grade 3, 4 & 5 greyhounds at all three tracks will be re-introduced to be conducted as a series at one track (yet to be determined) prior to 30 June 2018. The final of this series will carry stakes of $10,000 to the winner.
The GRG at their next meeting will review a recommendation for three series to be scheduled in 2018/19 – one at each track – which may or may not require a reduction in stakes for the finals depending on the funding provided for next season.
Dual Code Racing
An application from the North West Greyhound Racing Club to host a combined meeting with the harness on 2 February 2019 is under consideration.
If progressed, the meeting will consist of Maiden, Grade 6, Grade 5 and Grade 4 races at normal stakes.
Distance Racing
From April 2018 through to the end of June 2018, distance races will be scheduled every fortnight. To endeavour to gain support for distance racing and to improve participation rates in the Winter Distance Carnival, all distances races will carry stakes of $2,440 to the winner.
Distance races will be scheduled if there are 7 or more eligible nominations and depending on the level of support, the schedule could continue past June 2018.
Additional Races
As from 1 March 2018 an additional race will be scheduled for every meeting. The matter of Qualifying Trials is currently under review and subject to the outcome of that review there may be an amendment to conducting an additional race at every meeting.
Stakes Increase:
All stakes have been increased by $100 from 1 January 2018. Grade 5 races will now carry a winner stake of $1500 with top grade carrying a winning stakes of $1745.