National Sprint and Distance Championship betting

The National Championships are two of the most exciting events on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, representing a unique series of racing encompassing chasers from each state around the country.

Greyhounds from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania contest heats and finals over both the sprint and distance trips in their home state, with winners of each state final meeting for a National showdown, with the venue for each final varying each year.

The winner of each National Championship collects $75,000, with the most recent series being run and won at Albion Park in Queensland.

Best bookmakers for betting on the National Championships

As two of the main races to be held each year, the National Sprint and Distance Championships attract the best of the best from each state in Australia.

With such high quality greyhounds contesting the series’, there is always plenty of betting activity both on the State and National finals.

All of our recommended online bookmakers offer betting on the National finals, with many, such as Bet365 and Sportsbet, also providing fixed odds markets for the State qualifiers.

Some bookies also offer all-in markets on the winner of the National finals prior to the running of the heats in each state – allowing punters to pinch some great value if they believe they can spot the winner of the final early in the series.

National Sprint & Distance Championship Bookies

History of the National Sprint and Distance Championships

The National Championships have been conducted in numerous forms since their inception, with the Sprint first being held at Harold Park in 1965 when won by NSW chaser Best Sun.

For more than a decade the Sprint Championship alternated between the four metropolitan tracks in Sydney and Melbourne until 1977 when it was staged at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The Distance Championship was first conducted in 1969 when won by Victorian stayer Amerigo Lady at Wentworth Park, before heading to Sandown for the 1970 edition. The Distance final of 1971 was held at Hobart and since that time has alternated around the states.

In 1990 the Australian Greyhound Racing Association was formed, with the national body, formed of member clubs from around the country, overseeing the series’ from that point onwards.

Early on, the two championships were held at different times of the year until a cost factor in 1994 saw both events run concurrently in the same state across two nights of stellar racing. The first time both the National Sprint and National Distance were held on the same night was in 2002 at Albion Park.

Since its inception, the Championships have had varying ways of determining the finalists for the national showpieces.

For the last quarter of a decade the states have conducted heats followed by a final to determine their representatives, with the home state each year allowed two finalists in both the Sprint and Distance.

The only state not represented in either national final is the Northern Territory which has not taken a part in either series since 2002.

From 2002 until 2009, due to the large breeding numbers in both NSW and Victoria, these two states alternated to fill the remaining spot in each final.

However, in 2008 a controversial rule was passed at the AGRA National meeting and came into effect the following year.

The new concept saw the spare position in both finals filled by the highest ranked sprinter and stayer, according to the AGRA rankings, to have competed in a state final but not have won.

Dubbed the ‘Wildcard’ position, it was immediately effective – with Jarvis Bale winning the 2009 National Distance Championship at Cannington after gaining entry into the final as the recipient of that year’s Wildcard invitation.

Both events remain a highly sought after title to this day, with every state having produced a winner of the Sprint, with Tasmania the only state left to have not won the Distance trophy.

National Sprint and Distance Championships – the recent years

• 2018 – Victoria
  West On Augie became the first dog in 11 years to win the National Sprint Championship. Jumping from box four the blue rug did the hard work and never found the rail despite holding the lead. It didn’t matter however as the Western Australian held on for a famous victory.

  2018 National Sprint Championship results

  August 24, 2018. August 24, 2018. Sandown Park. First Prize: $75,000
  Winner: West On Augie (Fernando Bale x Te Amo) Date of birth: Feb 2015 Red Fawn Dog
  Owner: Weston Weston (SYN) Trainer: Robert Britton.
  Time: 29.43 Margins: 0.51 X 1.03
  Others in finishing order: Hasten Slowly, Cairnlea Kenny, Big Flood, Maurice Minor, Shadale, Sky Wave, Buckle Up Rose.

  The National Distance Championship was claimed by Victoria after superstar Tornado Tears just held out fellow Victorian Rippin’ Sam in an engaging battle.

  2018 National Distance Championship results

  August 24, 2018. August 24, 2018. Sandown Park. First Prize:$75,000
  Winner: Tornado Tears (Fernando Bale x Tears Siam) Date of birth: Feb 2016 White & Black Dog.
  Owner: Millmi Synd M Ivers, C Limon. Trainer: Robert Britton.
  Time: 41.45 Margins: 2.46 X 1.40
  Others in finishing order: Rippin’ Sam, Poco Dorado, Dyna Chancer, Moment To Jive, Velocity Lilly, Double Gee, Wynburn Lucifer.

• 2017 – Queensland

  In 2017, the National Sprint Championship was taken out by local hope Jury for leading QLD conditioner Tony Brett. The black dog used box three to his advantage, bouncing to the front and racing clear to salute.

  2017 National Sprint Championship results

  August 25, 2017. August 25, 2017. Albion Park. First Prize:$75,250
  Winner: Jury (Cosmic Chief X Velocity Sheba) Date of birth:12 Mar 2015 Black Dog
  Trainer: Tony Brett.
  Time: 29.88 Margins:2.25 X 1.0
  Others in finishing order: On Fire, Aston Dee Bee, Bekin Street, Gold Lenny, Gunnadoo Rev, Bewildering, Max Profit.

  Meanwhile, the National Distance Championship was claimed by Victoria with champion racer Fanta Bale downing a stellar field including Burn One Down, Bogie Bekim and Ebby Ripper.

  2017 National Distance Championship results

  August 25, 2017. August 25, 2017. Albion Park. First Prize:$75,250
  Winner: Fanta Bale (David Bale X Ucme Typhoon) Date of birth: 14 Aug 2014 Black Bitch.
  Owner: Paul Wheeler. Trainer: Rob Britton.
  Time: 41.71 Margins: 1.0 X 1.5
  Others in finishing order: Burn One Down, Big Easy Red, Outside Pass, Ebby Ripper, Bogie Bekim, Shima Sun, Ramifications.

• 2016 – South Australia

  Local hero Worm Burner captured a home town victory when saluting in the final of the 2016 National Sprint Championship run and won at Angle Park. The brindle dog, trained by Cameron Butcher, speared the lids and never looked in danger, charging to the line to defeat Victorian chaser Zambora Brockie by five and three quarter lengths in a blistering 29.17.

  2016 National Sprint Championship results

  August 27, 2016. Angle Park GRSA First Prize $75,000
  Winner: Worm Burner (Oaks Road x Little Looper) Born Dec 2013 Brindle Dog
  Owner: C and Y Butcher, Trainer: Cameron Butcher.
  Time: 29.17 Margins 5.75 x 2.5.
  Others in finishing order: Zambora Brockie, Times Square, Dundee Osprey, Outside Pass, Benteke, Fabregal, Buckle Up Beneau

  The staying feature of the night was captured by Victoria when Ring The Bell, trained by Gerry O’Keeffe, powered clear over the testing 732m journey in 43.22.

  2016 National Distance Championship results

  August 27, 2016. Angle Park GRSA First Prize $75,000
  Winner: Ring the Bell (Kinloch Brae x Absolute Stunna) Born Nov 2013 Brindle Dog
  Owner: Four Frothys Synd, Trainer: Gerard O’Keefe
  Time: 43.22 Margins 2 x 0.5.
  Others in finishing order: Parsec Bale, Springvale Byrne, Senator Monelli, Big Easy Red, Cardiology, Whittaker, Mahalo Miss.

• 2015 – New South Wales

  Fernando Bale continued his brilliance in the 2015 National Sprint Championship final which was held at Wentworth Park. The white and brindle powerhouse blew away his rivals, including dual group 1 winner Keybow and Peter Mosman winner Bessy Boo, to salute by five and a half lengths in a scintillating 29.26.

  2015 National Sprint Championship results

  August 22, 2015. $75,000 NSW GBOTA Wentworth Park
  Winner: Fernando Bale (Kelsos Fusileer x Chloe Allen) Born March 2013. W&DK Bdl Dog
  Owner: Paul Wheeler. Trainer: Andrea Dailly.
  Time: 29.26. Margins: 5.5 x 1.75.
  Others in finishing order: Bessy Boo, Keybow, Nero Bolt, Margins, Jack Kade, Breaker’s Tip, Alex’s Entity.

  It was a clean sweep for Victoria, with champion stayer Sweet It Is far too good for her opposition when bolting to the line to win by almost nine lengths.

  2015 National Distance Championship results

  August 22, 2015. $75,000 NSW GBOTA Wentworth Park
  Winner: Sweet It Is (Mogambo x Off Springer) Born Nov 2011 Black Bitch
  Owner/Trainer: Braden Finn. Time: 41.52. Margins: 8.75 x 0.5. Others in finishing order: Lady Toy, deadly Boy, Lillycette, Psychotic Gold, Lord Golec, Mullaway, Ada Mary.

National Sprint Championship – honour roll

National Distance Championship – honour roll