FOR the first time in more than five months the Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club will host a trial meeting on Saturday.
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After an inspection on Saturday the club was given the green light to host a trial-meeting on March 23 before a non-TAB meeting on March 30.
The track was closed in late 2018 for renovations after a dog had to be put down following the club's last meeting in November .
Renovations were carried out by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) with the club scheduled to host a trial-meeting on March 16, before hosting a non-TAB meeting on March 23.
However, GRNSW stewards deemed the track unfit for racing after inspecting the track last week.
But in a big step forward for the club, the Greyhound Welfare, Integrity Commission's (GWIC) chief steward gave the club the tick of approval to return to racing.
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Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club president Robert Munn told the Leader gaining the tick of approval was "a big positive" for the club.
"I certainly think we are heading in the right direction," Munn said.
"This one big step forward for us that's for sure."
Munn praised the efforts of the GWIC chief steward in helping the club return to racing.
"I can't say enough positive things about the chief steward of GWIC," he said.
"She took on the inspection duties herself, took a good look at the track and gave us the all clear."
As well giving the club the green light to return to racing, GWIC has also added another non-tab meeting to the club's calendar on March 30.
"So as is GRNSW policy, after a track upgrade we have to host a trial meeting before a non-TAB meeting," Munn said.
"We will have a trial meeting on March 23 before having our first non-TAB meeting of the year on March 30.
"It is really good news for us and with the rain we had over the weekend the track should be in really good shape."
In a further boost for the region's trainers, Gunnedah will also host a meeting on Saturday afternoon, while Muswellbrook will also offer trainers a race meeting on Sunday.
Gunnedah Greyhound Racing Club president Geoff Rose said Saturday's meeting was to make up for Tamworth's cancelled March 16 meeting.
"It will be classified as non-TAB meeting and will be held as a twilight meeting on Saturday," Rose said.
"I am so happy to see Tamworth return to racing and to see the region's trainers have some options as to where to race their dogs.
"We have spent a long time without any meetings so we will take what we can get."
Rose said the club would also host a TAB meeting on March 31, a day after Tamworth's first non-TAB meeting.
"I do worry that it might be a bit difficult for trainers who want to race on both days to do that," he said.
"Some trainers will have some tough calls to make, but I think they'd rather be spoilt for choice as opposed to not having anywhere to go."
Going forward Tamworth will only be allowed to host six-dog races, as opposed to the traditional eight-dog race.
"While that may concern a few trainers I think it could work in our favour," Munn said.
"The rule has been implemented for safety reasons and I think might encourage a few trainers to bring their dogs here.
"I'm not sure if that rule can be lifted in the future, we will just have to wait and see.
"From a club perspective we are happy to be back."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
