GRNSW Unveils Innovation For Phoenix Slot Selection

Greyhound Racing NSW has revealed an innovative first for the sport with today’s announcement that its representative in the $750,000 TAB Phoenix will be The People’s Dog, a runner selected by the public.

GRNSW and its selection panel will compile a top 10 list of the best greyhounds in NSW and then work in conjunction with media partner The Daily Telegraph to hand over the selection process to the general public to ultimately decide which greyhound should be given the GRNSW Phoenix slot.

As an incentive for the voting public, one lucky person will become part of The People’s Dog team and have a chance to win up to $50,000 if the GRNSW slot holder wins the TAB Phoenix on December 18.

In selecting the 10 greyhounds for the public to vote on, GRNSW has decided that each of the winners of five Group races staged since the Phoenix slot was secured will be on the list.

The other five places will be decided by the panel of experts who each year decide the award winners in the NSW Greyhound Of The Year.

The five Group winning greyhounds who already make up half of the GRNSW 10 are: Zipping Kyrgios (Group 2 Black Top), Light And Lily (Group 1 Peter Mosman), Bandit Ned (Group 1 Vic Peters), Wow (Group 3 Goulburn Cup) and Cash View (Group 2 Lismore Cup).

“When we decided to get involved with the TAB Phoenix we did so because we believed there was a way in which we could promote the sport and create much wider exposure to a bigger audience through our media partner The Daily Telegraph,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said.

“Naturally we want the dog selected to represent NSW on this big new stage to be one that can go on to win the race, but there is a great opportunity to engage with the public as a part of the process, which will be hugely beneficial to the entire greyhound racing industry, especially in NSW.

“Our team considered several potential concepts before coming up with a plan to work with The Daily Telegraph to engage the public and make our slot representative a dog for the people of NSW.

“We also believe the opportunity to win up to $50,000 will entice a whole new audience to get involved in greyhound racing, and once they see our sport at its elite level it can have a lasting appeal.

“We are looking forward to everyone in the industry getting on board and throwing their support behind this concept to ensure NSW gets the best dog to represent the State – and hopefully take out the inaugural running of a fantastic new race.”

The full 10 greyhounds which the public will vote on, will be announced in the week commencing November 22. 

Further details around the voting process will be published in the Daily Telegraph and on GRNSW platforms early next month.

The winning greyhound to represent GRNSW and the people of NSW will be announced on November 29.