Local Member the Hon Paul Toole and Greyhound Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Mr Tony Mestrov, on Tuesday launched the Bathurst series of the TAB Million Dollar Chase, announcing that multi-award winning country music artist Travis Collins will perform at the venue’s Regional Final.
Bathurst’s Kennerson Park will host heats of the world’s richest greyhound event next Monday, September 2, then stage the Regional Final on Saturday September 7. On that night, Travis Collins will perform a concert after the last race for all on track patrons.
On Tuesday, GRNSW held a regional launch at the Bathurst Council Chambers to officially make the announcement and promote the local heats and final.
As was the case in 2018 for the inaugural Million Dollar Chase, Bathurst will again be the first venue to host a Regional Final in 2019, and on September 7, the first four placegetters will be the first greyhounds to qualify for the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals to be held at Wentworth Park on October 11. Eight of those semi-finalists will then advance to the grand final for a shot at the $1 million first prize.
“It’s great to be back here in Bathurst where the Million Dollar Chase kicked off with a real bang a year ago,” Mr Mestrov said.
“I’m delighted to announce that Bathurst will not only host TAB Million Dollar Chase heats and final again this year, but will also be one of five regional NSW venues to feature genuine world-class entertainment on its Regional Final night with Travis Collins performing here on September 7.
“We know we already have the best greyhound racing event in the world in the TAB Million Dollar Chase, but this year we really wanted to make it a great entertainment event as well to attract new people to the racetracks.
“As an industry we have always received wonderful support in the Bathurst region, and we’re proud to be able to give a little something back in the shape of a great night’s entertainment both on and off the track.
“I’d urge everyone in Bathurst and surrounding areas to come and enjoy Travis Collins and some great racing on Saturday week.”
Bathurst will be one of 14 regional centres hosting heats and finals, and this year those events will supply 56 of the 64 semi-finalists. The other eight semi-final places will be decided from eight ‘last chance’ city qualifiers at Wentworth Park on October 5.
Unlike 2018 where only the winner and runner-up advanced to the semi-finals, this year the first four in each Regional Final will qualify for the October 11 semi-finals.
The 2019 event has a new sponsor, with Tabcorp partnering with GRNSW. The grand final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase will be held at Wentworth Park on Friday, October 18, and will kick off a major weekend of racing in Sydney, with the world richest turf event the TAB Everest to be run at Randwick the following day.
“We made a deliberate decision this year to boost the involvement of regional and country NSW in the TAB Million Dollar Chase with five new tracks added to the program, and with four dogs from each of the Regional Finals going through to the semi-finals,” Mr Mestrov said.
“There were a few reasons for the greater regional focus - to acknowledge the key role that regional trainers, owners and breeders play in the greyhound racing industry in NSW and to give them every possible chance to qualify for the semi-finals and Final, and we also felt it was important to help support regional communities at a tough time by giving people an incentive to visit, spend some money and give regional economies a boost.”
The TAB Million Dollar Chase will begin this Saturday night at the Gunnedah track with heats featuring the sport’s current cult hero, Feral Franky.
The event then gets into full swing with Bathurst hosting heats on September 2, Gosford on September 3, Dapto on September 5, and Casino on September 6, before Bathurst hosts the first Regional Final of 2019, on Saturday, September 7.
