Welcome to our guide to the 2025 Black Top, a featured greyhound race held at The Gardens each September. Black Top betting is available well in advance, with many of the best greyhounds targeting this event. Our guide will run you through the latest odds, betting tips, recent winners, the honour roll, and more. The next running of the Black Top is due on September 26, 2025.
Black Top greyhound race details — dates, prize money and qualification
We will update this section of our Black Top betting guide when the field is released for the 2025 event. The Black Top field is decided when the heats are run and won, with these due to be raced on September 19.
Black Top odds
The Black Top odds for the annual greyhound race have not been released yet.
Best bookmakers for betting on the Black Top
Being a main feature on the NSW provincial greyhound racing calendar, the Group 2 Black Top always attracts plenty of betting interest as the best of the best flock to the Steel City for a crack at the riches on offer.
Subsequently, all of our recommended online bookmakers offer fixed odds betting on the final once the heats and box draw have been conducted, giving punters the opportunity to shop around and snag the best prices available.
Many of our greyhound bookies also offer fixed odds betting on the heats of the Black Top, with some, such as Bet365, also having all-in markets on the winner of the final prior to the qualifiers being held – perfect if you think you can spot some value prior to the series kicking off.
Some of our top rated bookies to bet with are as follows:
Black Top Bookies
History of the Black Top
The race is named after one of the best greyhounds to have ever graced the track, Black Top, who was whelped in February 1961. The son of Top Linen and Classy Jane was bred by Edna Hanson in the suburb of Birmingham Gardens, the town in which The Gardens greyhound track is now based, and was trained near Newcastle by Frank Holmes.
The black powerhouse raced in the early 60s, facing the starter on just 20 occasions, from which he managed 17 wins and two second placings. His stakes earnings of 5,352 pounds saw him retire as the sport’s highest earner at the time, and he entered the stud scene with a record 65 pounds’ stud fee.
While he was a great racer, Black Top was an even better sire, serving 1,326 bitches and siring 6000 puppies, with some of his best offspring including Cheltenham Lass, Zoom Top and Milimsimbi.
Fittingly, when The Gardens opened its doors to racing, the NCA, who were in charge of running racing at the track at the time, named the club’s feature race after the immortal chaser which was inducted into the Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame in 2008.
The first edition of the Black Top was taken out by Doreen Drynan’s Buddy Rich in 2005, with some of the best greyhounds from the area and across the country having won it since including group 1 stars One Tree Hill (2007) and Cindeen Shelby (2009).
In recent years, the Black Top has been won by some of the most talented dogs in work, with these including Zipping Kyrgios (2021) and French Martini (2022). In 2020, Flying Ricciardo won the Black Top, before going on to win the greyhound of the year award.
The 2024 Black Top was won by Sunset Frazier for Alex Monroe.
Carbon RacerPIC Steve Whalland Race Images.
Group 1 Black Top – the recent years
In a pulsating final at Ladbrokes Gardens over 515m (Prize: $40,000), Sunset Frazier, trained by Michelle Sultana, fought off strong opposition to secure victory.
The Gardens 2024 27092024 Group 2 Black Top515m Race 8 Sunset Frazier
The 2017 final at Ladbrokes Gardens (Prize: $40,000) featured a standout performance by Mister Twister, trained by Jason Mackay.
2017 Black Top Race Results
Distance: 515m
Winner: Mister Twister (Trainer: Jason Mackay)
Time: 29.44 seconds
Winning Margin: 1.00L
Runner-up: Aqua Cheetah
Boxes: 3, 5, 7
At Unibet Gardens in 2016 over 515m (Prize: $40,000), Pantera Nera, trained by Gavin Burke, claimed the win.
2016 Black Top Race Results
Distance: 515m
Winner: Pantera Nera (Trainer: Gavin Burke)
Time: 29.72 seconds
Winning Margin: 0.50L
Runner-up: Maja Mahi Mahi
Boxes: 2, 4, 6
In the 2015 final at The Gardens, Newcastle Greyhounds over 515m (Prize: $40,000), Uno Suzie, trained by Anthony Azzopardi, powered her way to victory.
2015 Black Top Race Results
Distance: 515m
Winner: Uno Suzie (Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi)
Time: 29.46 seconds
Winning Margin: 0.75L
Runner-up: Opus Forte
Boxes: 1, 3, 5
In 2014 at Ladbrokes Gardens over 515m (Prize: $40,000), Rose Of Galo, a small-trainer sensation, powered past the field.
The race is named after one of the best greyhounds to have ever graced the track, Black Top, who was whelped in February 1961. The son of Top Linen and Classy Jane was bred by Edna Hanson in the suburb of Birmingham Gardens, the town in which The Gardens greyhound track is now based, and was trained near Newcastle by Frank Holmes.