Richmond Riches Race Series Confirmed For 2018

Participants are reminded Richmond Race Club has announced that the Richmond Riches Race series will be held in May 2018.
 
Operating on a ‘nominator-pays’ concept, the Race Series will be run in place of the annual Richmond Riches Auction Classic series for 2018 only, to fulfil a shortfall in the racing calendar.
 
“In 2016, we were left with no alternative other than to postpone our immensely popular Puppy Auction due to the decision at the time by the NSW Government to ban greyhound racing,” said Richmond Race Club President Peter Rodgers.

“As we know, that ban has since been reversed, however, with no race corresponding race series in 2018 it would have left a gaping hole in the racing calendar for participants who continued to support the industry and bred litters thinking that they could firstly nominate their pups for the Richmond Riches Puppy Auction and secondly have those pups participate in the aligned Richmond Riches Race series.” Mr Rodgers said. 
 
The 2018 Richmond Riches Race Series will also offer a unique concept whereby owners have the option to purchase a nomination to the race series for a specific greyhound or they can purchase a ‘open ended’ nomination.
 
“The Richmond Riches Race series is open to any greyhound whelped between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016 and owners, trainers or participants have two options as to how they can enter pups into the race series,” said Richmond Race Club General Manager Brad Adam.
 
“They can choose to either purchase a race series ticket for $275 (including GST) for which a specific greyhound must be nominated at the time of purchase, or, they can purchase a Race Entry nomination for $440 (including GST) which entitles them to wait until April 20, 2018 before nominating a greyhound to compete in the series.
 
“We consulted with a vast number of industry participants in regards to what they actually wanted in terms of flexibility by ways of nomination and we think we have arrived at the ideal solution for this one-off race series.” said Mr Adam.
 
It is planned that the 2018 Richmond Riches Race Series will offer $40,0000 to the winner but Mr Adam said that figure would increase if nominations exceeded their budget expectations.
 
“We have set a budget on the amount of nominations required to enable us to offer the planned $40,000 first place prize money," he said.  "If nominations exceed our forecast we will increase the overall series prize money but to be fiscally responsible, we also have the option to reduce prize money if there is a shortfall in nominations.
 
“As a way of comparison in fees, to sell a pup through the Richmond Riches Puppy Auction, nominators have to pay first and second nomination fees of $250 plus a minimum commission fee of $110 (the average commission fee in 2014 and 2015 was $411) to be eligible to compete in the race series so we think the fee structure we have in place for this event is extremely competitive.
 
“We are conducting this race series to keep faith with those participants who continued to breed through the tough times of 2016 and it is open to any pup whelped within the timelines, no matter where in Australia they were born.”

For full details, visit the Richmond Race Club website Richmondgreyhounds.com.au/">here.