GRNSW Chief Executive Tony Mestrov was in Dubbo on Thursday to launch the local series of the TAB Million Dollar Chase, and announce that multi-award winning country music artist Adam Harvey will perform at the venue’s Regional Final.
Dubbo will host heats of the world’s richest greyhound event on September 15, then stage the Regional Final on Saturday September 21. On that night, Adam Harvey will perform a concert after the last race.
Dubbo is one of the five regional venues chosen to host a racenight concert, featuring a leading Australian country music performer. Last Saturday night, Travis Collins performed at Gunnedah, and he will also take the stage in Bathurst this Saturday, and Bulli the following week.
Adam Harvey will make his TAB Million Dollar Chase debut in Dubbo, and the local Mayor Ben Shields, and Dubbo Greyhound Club president Shayne Stiff were on hand and delighted with Thursday's announcement.
“Dubbo was selected as one of five regional heartland areas this year to host a concert featuring a world-class entertainer, a fitting reward for all that Shayne Stiff and the Club do to grow the sport in the region,” Mestrov said.
“We have top quality racing, and the sport’s elite greyhounds competing in this series, and what we also wanted to do this year with these concerts, was to give people who have never been to a greyhound meeting, another great reason to visit the track, spend some money at Club and enjoy their experience.
“I can tell you from first-hand experience that Travis Collins’ appearance at Gunnedah last Saturday drew the biggest crowd they’ve seen in many years, and we’ve got no doubt Adam Harvey’s appearance will do the same right here.”
Dubbo staged a Million Dollar Chase event in 2018, and the winner of that Regional Final was Midnight Starlet, one of just two greyhounds who qualified for the $1 million to the winner Grand Final, from a regional venue.
Dubbo is one of 14 regional centres hosting regional heats and finals, and this year those events will supply 56 of the 64 semi-finalists, with the first four placegetters advancing to the semis at Wentworth Park on October 11. The other eight semi-final places will be decided from eight ‘last chance’ city qualifiers at Wentworth Park on October 5.
Eight of those semi-finalists will then advance to the Grand Final on October 18, for a shot at the $1 million first prize.
“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,” 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. 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.
“I’d urge everyone in Dubbo and surrounding areas to tell your friends and family about what will be a wonderful night on September 21, and get to the track to see both great greyhounds and Adam Harvey, perform.”
