If it was suggested five years ago that one dog could win its owners $1 million by winning one race you wouldn't have been taken seriously.
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But then the idea of an event called the Million Dollar Chase was born, and on October 20, 2018, Jodie Lagogiane's Mystic Riot became the inaugural winner and an instant millionaire.
The race is now the jewel on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, and on May 7 in the grand final of the COVID-postponed 2021 edition, another dog will become just the fourth winner of the world's richest greyhound race.
Once again the focus of the event was around regional NSW with 14 venues outside of the city hosting regional heats and finals for dogs to qualify for the semi-finals at Wentworth Park.
I've been asked a few times why we race regionally and not just hold heats at our premier track.
The reasons are simple and have not changed since the event was conceived. We want to acknowledge the key role that regional trainers, owners and breeders play in our industry and give them every opportunity to qualify for the semi-finals and grand final. We want the series to benefit regional communities by giving people an incentive to visit, spend some money and give regional economies a boost. And finally we wanted to use the event to promote the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program to as wide an audience as possible across NSW.
Four years in, and as Chief Executive Officer of GRNSW, I am proud that the TAB Million Dollar Chase continues to tick the boxes for which it was designed.
Off-track winner
National Adoption Day was again a major success on April 24, with the most pleasing aspect being that so many new people had their first greyhound experience to learn about what wonderful pets they can be.
I want to offer my sincere thanks to our GAP GM Dr Alicia Fuller and all the staff and volunteers who ensured the day was a rousing success.
Another Classic
I want to also congratulate the Shoalhaven Greyhound Racing Club, their secretary manager Glenn Midson, his staff and the club's committee on staging yet another successful edition of the Ladbrokes Nowra Puppy Classic.
The race this year had increased prizemoney with the Neville Brown-trained winner My Mate Kate taking home $40,000.
The Puppy Classic has been running since 2003 and some previous winners have gone on to have stellar careers, notably 2013 winner Double Twist, 2018 victor Sky Wave (who later that year was third in the inaugural Million Dollar Chase), and last year's winner Bandit Ned who went on to Group 1 success.
This article was produced as part of an ACM partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW.
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