Grafton to host world’s richest short course greyhound race

It’s a thunderbolt from the blue, as Grafton will be centre stage for a race set to capture the imagination for dogs who go hard and fast. What’s happening and why Grafton got the gig.

Grafton Greyhound Racing Club president John Corrigan said members were ecstatic to host the inaugural final of The Thunderbolt.

History will be created at Grafton when the city hosts the world’s richest short course greyhound race.

In a stunning announcement for the Mid-North Coast, a series of races will be held across NSW, culminating in the final of ‘The Thunderbolt’ at Grafton on June 19.

The event is the brainchild of Greyhound Racing NSW and the distinctive name spears off from the success of The Everest in horse racing.

Grafton will host a heat of The Thunderbolt (June 4), as well as the semi-final (June 11) and the showpiece decider.

More than $200,000 in prize money is up for grabs across the series, including $75,000 for the winner.

The gala event will dovetail with the first birthday of the new $5 million purpose-built Grafton track.

John Corrigan: “They’ll be coming from right along the East Coast - there will be a lot of people from Queensland, Sydney and out west.”

“It’s a great way to celebrate,” Grafton Greyhound Racing Club president John Corrigan said.

Mr Corrigan said the members were “ecstatic” to host The Thunderbolt, and the state body would market the series and provide “a bit of entertainment” at the final.

But the 78-year-old icon of local racing has ruled himself out of having a starter in the new glamour series.

“I’ve only got one racing and she’s having a rest,” Mr Corrigan said.

He expects a bumper crowd to be trackside for the 350-metre final.

“They’ll be coming from right along the East Coast - there will be a lot of people from Queensland, Sydney and out west,” Mr Corrigan said.

The Thunderbolt series will include heats at eight regional venues, and is seen by Greyhound Racing NSW as its ‘fourth pillar’ in a glamorous quartet of events across different distances.

The others are the TAB Million Dollar Chase, for elite sprinters; The 715 for distance runners, and the Stockman & Paddock Country Classic for middle distance chargers.

Handsome Prince takes out the Million Dollar Chase last October. Source: Supplied

“The Thunderbolt becomes the latest piece in the calendar puzzle in our attempts to cater for all participants and their greyhounds - ranging from short-course dogs to distance dogs,” GRNSW chief executive officer Tony Mestrov said.

He says NSW is now home to the world’s richest events across all racing distance ranges, with The Thunderbolt ticking that final box for the short-course sprinters.

“Four years ago we established the world’s richest race, the Million Dollar Chase, and following on from the success of that event, we have continued to look at new events that cater for participants and raise the profile of our industry.”

As well as Grafton, heats for The Thunderbolt will be held at Wagga Wagga, Gunnedah, Bathurst, Gosford, Goulburn, Bulli and Richmond.