NSW will be looking to defend the State Of Origin title when the series returns at Albion Park on June 17.
Racing Queensland has announced the series will be back in 2021 after being one of many casualties due to COVID-19 last year.
Like previous years the series will consists of three events – a sprint over the 520m, a staying event over the 710m then a match-race over the 520m.
The locals won the inaugural series in 2018 with Queenslanders Jury taking out the sprint, and Double Gee the staying race, before NSW restored some pride when Mister Beluchi took out the match race.
In 2019, it was NSW victory in the staying race with Poco Dorado winning, before local Dam Slippery just beat Million Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot in the sprint to square up the series.
It was left the People’s Champ, Feral Franky, to bring home the shield for NSW defeating Infrared Star in match race.
Like previous editions the 2021 Origin Sprint and the 2021 Origin Distance will see 4 representatives plus one reserve from each state. Total prizemoney for both events will be $60,000 with $40,00 to the winners.
The third event will be the 2021 Origin Match Race with $25,000 to the winner and $5,000 to the runner-up.
In all a total of $150,000 will be on offer for the series.
As per the Nationals, teams to be based on the trainer’s location. A greyhound is eligible for the 2021 Origin Greyhound Series if it has been domiciled in Queensland or NSW for a period of not less than 76 days out of the 150 days immediately prior to June 17, 2021.
Where a greyhound is domiciled in Queensland or New South Wales for a period of less than 76 days immediately prior to 17 June 2021, that being the only period and the only State in which the greyhound had been trained, then the greyhound is eligible to be nominated for that State in the 2021 Origin Greyhound Series.
Each team of 12 greyhounds will be selected by a panel of experts from each state.
Squads for both Queensland and NSW will be announced on Friday, May 28, with the final teams selected on Friday, June 11.
Also on the card that night will be a Regional Origin Challenge with heats conducted at Ipswich and Casino, and the four top qualifiers advancing to the final on June 17, where the winner will receive $11,200.
