Despite the likelihood of COVID-19 curtailing the regular influx of Victorian greyhounds Coonamble club chairman Graham Pickering believes this year's carnival could be the "biggest ever.''
The 2020 extravaganza will be the first to stretch over four meetings, beginning on Wednesday night, September 30, followed by another night card on October 2, leading up to morning and afternoon fixtures on October 3 and 5.
"Locals estimate the carnival contributes around $2 million to the town and accommodation in the three hotels, three motels, caravan park cabins and campsites at the Showground are already filling up,'' Pickering, who has been club president for three years, said.
"We are planning to conduct more than 70 races over the carnival, with a new feature being the Winlock Racing and Reason Kennels Trophy over 752m on October 2.
"I often hear trainers claiming their greyhounds are especially strong, well that race, worth $2500 to the winner, will be a good test for them.
"Richest race is the $12,000 to the winner Betdogs Gold Final over 305m on October 3.
"We are still hoping Victorian trainers are able to attend because people like Bendigo's Noel Massina have been making the trek to Coonamble for over 20 years.
"Noel won last year's big 305m final for the first time after many attempts when Bound To Succeed was successful.''
Bound To Succeed has since gone on to win 14 of 25 Victorian starts.
All three came from the Dennis Barnes breeding and breaking in establishment in western NSW, with Nangar Hurricane and Libby's Fancy, who won over 297m, originally raced by Dennis, and Khatanga Bay, a 600m winner, coming from the kennels of Barnes' daughter Sandra Spratt.
"I have won a couple of doubles at Wentworth Park but Dapto was my first treble,'' Hardman said.
"Full credit goes to my father Frank, who taught me everything I know, in particular relating to keeping greyhounds fit and healthy and feeding them correctly.''
Sweet Lolly, dam of dual Wentworth Park winner Candy Carrera and Zambora Tan, who has won eight races, is back home with nothing more than a cut above an eye following a mysterious 72 hour odyssey.
Owned by her former trainer Peter Massa, who is based at Penrose, near Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands, Sweet Lolly escaped from her quarters early last week.
"My wife and I looked for her for three days and on the third night, we heard a racket outside and recognised it was her bark,'' Massa said.
"It was as if she was saying I'm back, hurry up and let me.
"She had lost 2.5kg but surprisingly was not especially and she wasn't thirsty because there is plenty of water available in the surrounding bush at places like Paddy's River.
"On the first day we were searching a jogger told me he saw a greyhound gazing and seeming fascinated by a group of 20 alpacas on a nearby 100 acre farm.
"Where Sweet Lolly spent the three days is still a mystery but we are just thankful she found her way home.''
