Galaxy betting

The Group 1 Galaxy is the major staying feature held in Western Australia each year, acting as the support race on Group 1 Perth Cup final night.

The race is worth $80,000 to the winner, making it one of the most lucrative staying features on the greyhound racing calendar.

The 2016 edition of the Group 1 Galaxy was run at Cannington on April 23, 2016, and was taken out by Seeking Justice.

Betting on the Group 1 Galaxy

Because of the lucrative winner’s purse, the Group 1 Galaxy often attracts the best stayers from across the country, meaning that it is also a race punters are keen to bet on.

Our recommended online bookmakers all offer fixed odds betting on the heats and final, with the markets generally up quickly after the box draws are conducted. With the odds out early, it gives everyone the opportunity to snap up some great odds on offer which may not last until the jump.

Some of our bookies also offer all-in betting on the winner of the final once the box draw has been released for the heats, with some big prices normally included in the market which is fantastic for those punters who think they have spotted the series winner and are willing to take a punt prior to the running of the qualifiers.

Odds are not yet available for the 2017 Galaxy, however be sure to check this page in the week’s leading up to the series to snap up the best betting odds through our recommended online bookmakers.

History of the Group 1 Galaxy

The Galaxy was first run in 1982 as a minor feature on the WA racing calendar, with the inaugural edition taken out by Afro Freeway.

The race was promoted to group status in 2002, run as a Group 2 when taken out by Jennev, which also went on to win the Silver Bullet at The Meadows and the Sandown Cup.

The first time it was run as a group 1 was in 2007 when won by former sensation Flashing Floods, the champion Victorian bitch who won three races at the highest level and was named the 2007 Australian Greyhound of the Year.

Since receiving group status, the race has been won by some of the finest distance dogs the sport has seen, most notably Miata, the local star which became Australian greyhound racing’s highest earner when she took out her second Galaxy final in 2013.

While she has since lost her title at the top of the prize money tree, the daughter of Bombastic Shiraz and Winsome Bluebird is still regarded as one of the best greyhounds to have ever graced the track 42 of her 51 starts including wins in five group features.

The event is now firmly entrenched as one of the most prestigious races in the state, with it now acting as the main support race on the biggest night of racing in the west.

Group 1 Galaxy – the recent years

2016: Former Victorian Seeking Justice gave master WA conditioner Keith Harding his third success in the Galaxy when scoring in 42.35 – a new track record time. The brindle dog added to his win in the Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup and third placing in the Group 1 Zoom Top, taking his career earnings beyond $208,000. Harding previously won the Galaxy in 2008 with Elektra and with Hall of Fame greyhound Afro Freeway in 1982.

2015: Rob Britton took out his second consecutive Galaxy when Space Star scored an out of this world win. The black dog defeated a quality field to score by one and one quarter lengths in 41.63 over the 715m trip.

2014: Born Ali captured the first and only group 1 of her career with a dominant win in the 2014 Galaxy final. The daughter of Velocette and Born Princess began well from box one, battling on strongly to defeat Dyna Willow and kennel mate Gold Affair Two.

2013: The mighty Miata won her second Galaxy, becoming the first greyhound to ever do so. Trained by Paul Stuart, the fawn flash made the race a one act affair, defeating her rivals by a widening 13 lengths in 41.48. Her win was the start of a superb night for her trainer, who would take out the Group 1 Perth Cup two races later with former top chaser Dyna Nalin.

Group 1 Galaxy honour roll

1982 – Afro Freeway
1983 – Supreme Carmen
1984 – Aulfee
1985 – Lady Temlock
1986 – Abilene
1987 – Lassie’s Girl
1988 – Red Rambo
1989 – Ghetto’s Glider
1990 – Busy City
1991 – Galahad County
1992 – Petite Emma
1993 – Cousin Johnny
1994 – Floral Kwondo
1995 – Wits End
1996 – Rocket Racer
1997 – Gemarly Park
1998 – Paradise Street
1999 – Harvard Bale
2000 – Alencia Bale
2001 – “Not held”
2002 – Jennev
2003 – Why Complain
2004 – Winter
2005 – Best Quoted
2006 – Ronray Dancer
2007 – Flashing Floods
2008 – Elektra
2009 – Western Land
2010 – Drill’ Em
2011 – Blue Lorian
2012 – Miata
2013 – Miata
2014 – Born Ali
2015 – Space Star
2016 – Seeking Justice