Orange to shine as greyhound racing hub with Centre of Excellence
The central NSW town of Orange is poised to become the main hub of NSW greyhound racing with the development of a state of the art “Centre Of Excellence” to built on the site of the former Orange harness racing track.
The NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners, and Trainers' Association (GBOTA) revealed they have recently finalised contracts to acquire the site after having reached a preliminary agreement with Orange City Council in 2023.
The old harness racing track had been unused since harness racing stopped in the town over a decade ago.
The road to settlement on the old Highlands Paceway site faced multiple legal and technical hurdles amongst the Orange City Council and the GBOTA.
The GBOTA faced opposition from within the Orange City Council, with one councillor going on record in opposition to any greyhound racing in the area.
Now that the contract has been agreed upon and signed, a development application (DA) for the project will likely be lodged next.
Preliminary design plans for the “Centre of Excellence” include a restaurant, public all-weather sports fields, an onsite function centre, mini golf, a vet clinic, rehoming facilities, a pet shop, and offices.
The NSW GBOTA have been without a track in the vicinity of the area since the demise of Bathurst in 2022.
The decision by the NSW GBOTA to develop the Orange track will mean any hope of restoring the Bathurst Greyhound Track is long gone.
The new cutting edge Greyhound Centre of Excellence is expected to inject more than $20 million into the local economy.
NSW GBOTA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Daniel Weizman, was excited about developing the showpeice site in Orange saying, “We are now a step closer to re-introducing world-class greyhound racing and creating a world-class greyhound centre of excellence in Orange.”
“The site is fantastic.
“It has been a lot of work, but it is now coming together.
“This will create jobs and investment in the Central West and provide important facilities for the entire community.
“It will be a boost to breeders, owners, trainers, and race fans in the Central West, as well as creating local amenities for the whole community.
“Make no mistake, NSW greyhound racing industry has a bright future with its world's best practice in animal safety; prize money at an all-time high; and track and new facilities like Orange being created to ensure the welfare of greyhounds.”
It is understood that Greyhound Racing New South Wales (GRNSW) has promised the NSW GBOTA 52 televised race dates for the new track.