Just as owners and trainers are lapping up some extra prize money announced by GRNSW a funny thing happened in the news media.

Ever since the Neds 280 program started up early in 2019 the Sydney Morning Herald has been running a little box containing a handout from GRNSW. It was not too exciting – just a copy of a news item already posted on the authority website; but it allowed greyhounds to match motors with the Harness and Thoroughbred codes, which had similar boxes. It also boosted awareness of the Million Dollar events (funded by unclaimed Tab dividends and Ladbrokes).

Anyway, that box has gone. Starting this week it is no more.

But much worse is happening.

Field lists and tips for the main greyhound meeting of the day have also disappeared. That's much more important as they contributed directly to betting as well as to general publicity, especially in these days of smartphones and quickie bets.

Once upon a time, newspapers also contained fields and results for interstate races but they are now just historical relics.

Who paid for these items, and how much, is unknown as GRNSW has never published any information on the Neds series or any other promotion.

No doubt The Telegraph coverage will continue. Unlike the SMH, which is now part of the NINE network, it is owned by the Murdoch press conglomerate (as is the Greyhound Recorder, Racenet, Punters.com.au, the Courier Mail in Brisbane and the Herald Sun in Melbourne). That's good, but it broadly addresses a different demographic to the SMH, or indeed The Age and The Australian.

GRNSW did use The Australian for direct publicity of the Neds series but otherwise that paper never acknowledges greyhound racing at all.

It's all become too hard to follow. But greyhound racing is not winning.

Is advertising worthwhile?

Well, Harvey Norman must think so. The recent onslaught of multi-full-page ads in all papers and on TV has led to higher turnover and record profits for the company. That's a fine result in a very difficult age.

It is official Australian Racing Greyhound is Australian greyhound racing's sole survivor.

Well, to be honest it is not official. There has been a distinct lack of transparency around the deal, but ARG can confirm The Greyhound Recorder has fallen to the mighty Newscorp dollar.

The same way Punters.com.au and Racenet.com.au fell under the Newscorp umbrella, so too has The Greyhound Recorder gone under the Newscorp bus.

Newscorp now own the largest racing sites in the country, and of course control much of the racing message through their other publications; in addition to having the website content contract with Racing Queensland through their Punters brand. This development supplements their other racing revenue which see's Newscorp receiving significant industry spend from state racing bodies to print fields and provide coverage in their dailies.

The three acquisitions now see Newscorp as Australia's biggest bookmaking affiliate. Online bookmaker affiliates make money from driving traffic to bookmaker partner programs, for which they are rewarded through a percentage of that customers losses at the bookmaker; or they receive a fixed fee for each customer they refer who signs up.

Is this good for Australian racing?

We will let others decide that, but importantly it leaves sites like Australian Racing Greyhound, HorseBetting.com.au and BettingSite.com.au as one of the few independent websites covering Australian sport and racing.

Australian Racing Greyhound is the only independent greyhound racing site of its size left in Australia, and proudly led the fight to overturn the the NSW greyhound ban despite numerous legal threats and intimidation.

Australian Racing Greyhound's lone voice is now more important than ever.

Greyhound racing fans can rest assured we will continue the good fight, and continue to provide Australia's best, impartial, experienced, educated, editorial coverage of all things greyhound racing.