Breaking down the 2017/2018 AGRA racing calendar

THE Australian Greyhound Racing Association (AGRA) has released the group racing calendar for the 2017/2018 racing season.

Over the next 12 months we can expect to see 121 group or listed greyhound events – 33 of which will be run at group 1 level, 28 at group 2 level and 41 at group 3 level. Additionally, there will also be six races at group 3 level which are restricted races and a total of 13 listed events.

Unlike many years, the prize money levels for most races have virtually stayed the same across the board, with a couple of exceptions detailed below.

Over the next year more than $6.44 million in prize money will be handed out to winning connections of feature races across the country, with $3.62 million going to winners of group 1 races.

As it has been for a number of years, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup remains the country’s richest greyhound race, offering $420,000 to the winner. Also carrying lucrative prize money cheques are the Group 1 Australian Cup ($250,000) and the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg ($250,000).

Notably, the Group 2 Ballarat Cup has dropped back down to $47,000 from $77,000 in 2016.

Another important difference between the calendars is that the Shootout will now revert back to group 3 status. Once holding group 2 status and a $50,000 winner’s cheque, the four-dog invitation-only race will now be worth $25,000.

The Shootout will also be run at a different time this season. Having previously been held during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it will now be run and won on New Years Day at Sandown Park.

In NSW, the Richmond Riches, open to pups purchased from the Richmond Puppy Auction, has fallen significantly from $100,000 in 2017 to $40,000 in 2018 – the biggest drop on the calendar.

Over in WA, the flagship races, the Group 1 Perth Cup and Galaxy, have been moved to April. Previously, the races clashed with the Group 1 National Derby and Futurity at Wentworth Park, with the new scheduling providing a perfect lead-in to the world’s richest staying race, the Group 1 Sandown Cup in May.

Western Australia will also have a new group race, the Group 3 The Miata which will be run over the 715m trip. Named after one of the state’s best greyhounds, The Miata will carry a prize money purse of $25,000.

The Easter Gift has also been elevated to Group 3 status, having previously been run as a Listed race. It is held at Sandown Park on the Thursday before Easter, with its prize money remaining at $25,000.

The full break down of the 2017/2018 AGRA calendar is as follows:

2017/2018 Group 1 Greyhound Races

• Winter Cup – $75,000
• Maturity Classic – $100,000
• National Sprint Championship – $75,000
• National Distance Championship – $75,000
• Dapto Megastar – $75,000
• Adelaide Cup – $75,000
• Vic Peters Classic – $75,000
• Topgun – $150,000
• Hume Cup – $75,000
• Melbourne Cup – $420,000
• Bold Trease – $100,000
• Brisbane Cup – $75,000
• Hobart Thousand – $75,000
• Sale Cup – $75,000
• Silver Chief Classic – $100,000
• Paws of Thunder – $75,000
• National Futurity – $75,000
• National Derby – $75,000
• Temlee – $100,000
• Rookie Rebel – $75,000
• Zoom Top – $75,000
• Australian Cup – $250,000
• Super Stayers -$100,000
• Golden Easter Egg – $250,000
• Association Cup – $75,000
• Galaxy – $100,000
• Perth Cup – $150,000
• Sandown Cup – $175,000
• Sapphire Crown – $100,000
• Harrison-Dawson – $100,000
• Peter Mosman Classic – $75,000
• Gold Cup – $75,000
• Winter Cup – $75,000
  

  2017/2018 Group 2 Greyhound Races

• Bendigo Cup – $47,000
• McKenna Memorial – $40,000
• Shepparton Cup – $47,000
• Black Tip – $40,000
• Bob Payne Spring Sprint
• Lismore Cup – $40,000
• Geelong Cup – $47,000
• All Stars Sprint – $40,000
• Top Gun Stayers – $75,000
• Ballarat Cup – $47,000
• Laurels Classic – $50,000
• Gosford Cup – $40,000
• Warragul Cup – $47,000
• Summer Distance Plate – $40,000
• Traralgon Cup – $47,000
• Cranbourne Cup – $47,000
• Launceston Cup – $47,000
• Bulli Gold Cup – $40,000
• Richmond Oaks – $40,000
• Richmond Derby – $40,000
• Horsham Cup – $47,000
• Launching Pad – $150,000
• Maitland Cup – $40,000
• Queensland Futurity – $40,000
• Queensland Derby – $40,000
• Warrnambool Cup – $47,000
• WA Derby – $40,000
• WA Oaks – $40,000
  

  2017/2018 Group 3 Greyhound Races

• Darwin Cup – $25,000
• Dapto Maiden – $25,000
• Townsville Cup – $25,000
• Chairman’s Cup – $25,000
• Healesville Cup – $25,000
• Canberra Cup – $25,000
• SA Oaks – $25,000
• Sa Derby – $25,000
• Casino Cup – $25,000
• Top Cat Video Cup – $25,000
• Gold Coast Cup – $25,000
• Mandurah Cup – $25,000
• Sydney Cup – $25,000
• Gawler Cup – $25,000
• Silver Bullet – $25,000
• Young Star Classic – $25,000
• Nowra Spring Puppy Classic – $25,000
• Ipswich Cup – $31,500
• Sir John Dillon Memorial – $25,000
• Summer Cup – $25,000
• Christmas Gift – $25,000
• Shootout – $25,000
• Birthday Cup – $25,000
• The Miata – $25,000
• Devonport Cup – $25,000
• Queensland Cup – $25,000
• Vince Curry Memorial Maiden – $40,250
• Magic Maiden – $25,000
• New Sensation – $25,000
• Easter Gift – $25,000
• The Ambrosoli – $25,000
• Gold Cup – $25,000
• Nowra Summer Puppy Classic – $25,000
• Perth Cup Consolation – $25,000
• Ladies Bracelet – $25,000
• Bill Collins Speed Star – $25,000
• The Racecallers – $25,000
• The Lizrene – $25,000
• Flying Amy Classic – $25,000
• Super Stayers Invitational – $25,000
  

  2017/2018 Restricted Group 3 Greyhound Races

• Cranbourne Classic – $25,000
• GRV Great Chase – $47,000
• Brian Johnstone – $25,000
• GRV Vic Bred Series – $25,000
• Ipswich Auction Series – $40,000
• Howard Ashton – $25,000
  

  2017/2018 Listed Greyhound Races

• Destini Fireball Stayers – $25,000
• Northern Districts Cup – $25,000
• Globe Memorial Maiden – $15,000
• Cup Night Sprint – $25,000
• Newcastle Cup – $15,000
• SA Sprint Championship – $15,000
• The Collerson – $15,000
• Australian Sprint – $15,000
• Maidment Memorial – $15,000
• Mount Gambier Cup – $15,000
• Ultra Sense – $15,000
• Richmond Riches Puppy Classic – $40,000
• Cup Night Stayers – $15,000