Victorian greyhound meetings reduced but starters payments doubled
From May 2022 there will be one less greyhound race meeting run in Victoria weekly, but greyhound trainers will now receive double the starters payments to offset rising transport and care costs.
Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) has announced that there will be “a change in the weekly race meeting program from 26 to 25 meetings per week, with Healesville's daytime slot on Tuesdays no longer a permanent fixture on the calendar as from next month”.
According to a GRV spokesperson, “the reduction in meetings follows a detailed review of the performance of the racing program”.
GRV claim that the “revised program will ensure the racing calendar is more closely aligned to the present climate, taking into account variables such as the current active greyhound population and the volume of races in the program being conducted with fewer than eight starters”.
Despite the reduced racing opportunities, GRV have said they remain committed to maintaining returns to participants at the budgeted $63.3M for the 2021/22 financial year.
Also starting in May 2022, GRV have approved an increase to starter payments.
GRV have said the increased return to participants is “in recognition of rising costs encountered by Victorian greyhound trainers”.
The starter payment to trainers for participation in the racing program will double from $10 to $20 per greyhound starting at a race meeting, with the increase designed to assist trainers in managing rising costs for items such as fuel, pet food and veterinary care.
Victorian greyhound trainers currently receive a $70 travel subsidy plus a $10 starter payment for every greyhound they train that competes at a Victorian race meeting.
GRV have said that “the increase to the Starter payment will remain in place while a comprehensive review of travel and starter payments and total returns to participants is undertaken in preparation for the 2022/23 financial year”.
Well done Grv thinking of the trainers is great