Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club has received a major boost ahead of its annual cup carnival meetings on June 15 and 22.
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Since undergoing a major track upgrade earlier this year, the club has been allowed to host only six-dog races instead of eight under Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) guidelines.
However, GRNSW recently confirmed the restriction would be lifted off the Tamworth track ahead of the annual cup carnival.
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Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club president Robert Munn said the move was "a positive step forward".
"For us as a club, it doesn't get much better than this," Munn told the Leader.
"We have already received a lot of interest about the cup carnival and I think this decision will see even more trainers from right across the state come along.
"Really, this is a fantastic result for us."
The eight-dog field was not the only restriction GRNSW lifted.
Also removed was the rule stating dogs could only compete at the track after having trialled at the track previously.
"The lifting of both restrictions is great, but I think this one will have the most benefit short-term," Munn said.
"It was always difficult for trainers from far away to be able to come and just trial at our track.
"Now, though, there is a far better chance of us attracting trainers from all over to come, race and stay in Tamworth."
GRNSW has had the restrictions on the club since the track was closed in November 2018 after a dog had to be put down at a meeting.
After the incident, upgrade works of the track began in January and racing returned to the club on April 27.
"We are in a vastly different position to where we were six months ago," Munn said.
"It really is a credit to everyone behind the scenes at the club for hanging in there, working hard to get everything right and now seeing some good results."
Munn said he was unsure if the restrictions had been lifted permanently.
"I think we are just taking it stage by stage at the moment," he said.
"Our recent meetings have gone really well, so hopefully this could be a permanent move."
Munn said this year's cup carnival was shaping up to be one of the best ever.
"We are still working on it at the moment, but we are organising a lot of fun activities for the two days," he said.
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.
