Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has today written to all Non-TAB clubs to inform them that the number of Non-TAB meetings to be held in 2016/17 will drop to 250 in total.
The drop, from approximately 350 in 2015/16, represents a 25% reduction in racing across the Non-TAB sector.
The drop in Non-TAB meetings has been announced prior to anticipated further work around industry rationalisation and further reduction in racing. In total, funding for Non-TAB racing will be reduced by 10% with the money to be reinvested into boosting integrity and veterinary services in the Non-TAB sector.
While the number of Non-TAB meetings will be reduced, GRNSW has called for Expressions of Interest from clubs located in the New England and Mid-North Coast to determine which club will stage 13 TAB meetings scheduled for both regions in 2016/17.
In other changes to the Non-TAB sector, GRNSW will introduce a new requirement that a veterinarian must be present during kennelling for all Non-TAB meetings as well as the race meeting, bringing the Non-TAB sector in line with the veterinary requirements at TAB meetings.
In addition to the Non-TAB racing schedule for 2016/17, GRNSW has engaged consultants Sector Seven to conduct an independent review of the GRNSW stewarding function, which will include identifying and addressing any deficiencies in the current approach to stewarding at Non-TAB tracks.
The full schedule for Non-TAB racing in 2016/17 will be released in the coming months.
