Group Racing Calendar Review Underpins Changes To Major NSW Races
The Australian Greyhound Racing Association's (AGRA) review of the 2010/2011 Group Racing programme has been central to significant changes to the format of the NSW GBOTA's Wentworth Park Classic events.
The Association's Classics are the Schweppes Vic Peters Classic and the Rapidvite Peter Mosman Classic. Both events have been classified as Age Restricted Classics by AGRA and as such both events will now comply with the AGRA Aged Restricted criteria which is as follows:
New AGRA Rules For Age Restricted Events
- The event must be ranked as a Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 event.
- The event, whether open to male greyhounds only, female greyhounds only or both, is to be restricted to greyhounds that were no older than 30 months of age on the first day of the month in which the heats of the event are scheduled to be staged when dates are initially approved by AGRA.
- Greyhounds that have not won a maiden race will be ineligible to contest any event approved as an Age Restricted Classic within the AGRA Group Racing Calendar.
As a consequence, the 2010 Vic Peters series will be open to greyhounds whelped on or after April 1, 2008 where as the event has been restricted to July or later pups in the past.
The NSW GBOTA has also determined that the heats of both classics will now be staged at TAB race meetings moving away from the previous non-betting qualifying trial format which has, until this year's Peter Mosman, applied for the first round.
Heats of the Vic Peters are set for Friday, October 15, 2010 with the semi-finals on Saturday, October 23, 2010 and the $50,000 to the winner Group 1 final on Saturday, October 30, 2010.
In other classic news certain to be appreciated by owners and trainers, the Peter Mosman Classic has been elevated to Group 1 status and will also provide the winner with a $50,000 prize. The Peter Mosman will be staged in June 2011 over three consecutive Saturdays; June 11, 18 and 25.
NSW GBOTA Executive Officer, Brenton Scott, said his Association was confident the changes would only add to the significance of the events.
“More greyhounds will now be eligible for both events, the shift away from non-prizemoney qualifying trials was clearly successful with this year's Peter Mosman series and the elevation of the 2011 Mosman to Group 1 status is great news,” explained Scott.