Greyhound Racing NSW General Manager Racing Operations Mr Wayne Billett was in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 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.
Wagga will host heats of the world’s richest greyhound event this Friday, September 20, then stage their Regional Final on Saturday, September 28. On that night, Adam Harvey will perform a concert after the last race for all on track patrons.
Wagga was chosen as one of just five regional venues to host a racenight concert, featuring a leading Australian country music performer, and Wagga will be the final of the five concerts, following great successes at Gunnedah, Bathurst, and Bulli where Travis Collins performed, and an upcoming event at Dubbo this Saturday night, where Adam Harvey will make his TAB Million Dollar Chase debut.
On Wednesday, GRNSW held a regional launch at the Wagga Wagga City Council to officially make the announcement and promote the local heats and final.
“That Wagga was chosen as one of the venues to host a concert featuring a world-class entertainer, is a fitting reward for all that John Patton and the Club do to grow the sport in the region, and for all the support the sport receives in this region,” Mr Billett said.
“The Club has drawn some fantastic heats for Friday night, with Black Opium, one of the country’s best greyhounds, beginning her Chase towards the $1 million first prize here in Wagga.
“You will have some quality racing, and the added attraction of Adam Harvey performing on Regional Final night, September 28, so we are hoping it gives people who have never been to a greyhound meeting, another a reason to visit the track, spend some money at Club and enjoy their experience.
“And in terms of value, you’ll get great racing, and an entertaining evening, and then on top of that a concert from a superstar country music entertainer … all for less than the cost of a burger.”
Wagga staged a very successful Million Dollar Chase event in 2018, the final won by Victorian Blue Sky Riot, and there will be several crossing the border again this year looking to use Wagga as a pathway to greater riches.
Wagga 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 ‘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, the richest prize in the world of greyhound racing.
“This year we made a deliberate decision to boost the involvement of regional and country NSW in the TAB Million Dollar Chase with five new tracks added to the program, and moving from two dogs from each of the Regional Finals going through to the semi-finals, to now have four advance,” Mr Billett said.
“We wanted to acknowledge the key role 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. But 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 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.
