Dapto Dogs: Greyhound racing to close in June 26
Greyhound racing at the world famous Dapto Dogs will draw to a close by June next year at the latest, bringing an end to 88 years of history at the iconic racing venue.
News Corp can reveal that the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society (DAHS) advised Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) this week that advances for a new long-term lease to continue racing at the track, which first began in 1937, had been rejected.
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The two sides had been locked in negotiations in recent months with GRNSW requesting a new 20-year lease which would provide the certainty needed to allow for significant – and much needed – investment in the venue.
But in response to the proposal, the DAHS said a long-term commitment 'would severely limit the society's ability to adapt and deliver its evolving vision for the site' while adding that a 'shorter-term arrangement would impose constraints that restrict broader planning and limit future use of the precinct'.
GRNSW has been conducting racing at Dapto since 2019 when the DAHS abruptly brought a halt to racing under its management, citing issues around club funding and race dates as reasoning for the decision.
The closure of Dapto will draw to an end 88 years of racing history at the venue
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Since then, the industry's commercial arm has been leasing the track on a year-to-year basis to maintain a racing footprint in Dapto for the benefit of owners and trainers in the region.
But the process has proved to be a costly exercise for a track that races just once a week and was last year relegated to Sky 2 broadcasts under a revamp of the racing schedule which saw Wentworth Park moved to prime time on Thursday night.
The move resulted in Dapto, a one-time centrepiece of NSW greyhound racing, finding itself battling for relevance, with meetings comprised of predominantly lowly 297 metre events on the second-tier racing channel.
In confirming news that racing will soon come to an end at Dapto, GRNSW CEO Steve Griffin said 'that while the decision is disappointing' there are 'exciting plans to modernise greyhound racing in the months and years ahead'.
GRNSW CEO Steve Griffin Picture: Thomas Lisson
'GRNSW has been in consultation with the Society in recent months about the future of racing at the Dapto Showground and we held hopes that a long-term extension at the venue may be possible,' Griffin said.
'The Society informed us this week that greyhound racing did not align with their long-term goals at the site.
'We understand it was a commercial decision, but that doesn't soften the disappointment which will be felt right across the industry, particularly within the Illawarra.
'It may sound cliched, but the iconic Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars, and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name.'
Mr Griffin also confirmed news that hopes of a Centre of Excellence being built at Dapto were slim but he hadn't ruled out the possibility of a straight track being brought to the region.
In early 2023, GRNSW – under the direction of former CEO Rob Macaulay – announced amid much fanfare the purchase of a parcel of land on Bong Bong Rd at Dapto for $4 million.
The land was to become the home of a new Centre of Excellence for the industry but zoning concerns and lack of clarity around funding for the project plagued the concept from the outset.
The land purchased at Bong Bong Rd Dapto by Greyhound Racing NSW.
It's understood GRNSW is currently exploring alternate options for the land, including the construction of a straight track, but a Centre of Excellence is no longer being considered.
While the lease at Dapto expires in June 2026, it remains to be seen whether GRNSW considers an earlier exit given the track's fate is now sealed and the recently upgraded track at Nowra is being very well-supported.
News of the demise of Dapto comes ahead of GRNSW this week launching its Track Optimisation Strategy in which stakeholders from across the industry will come together to discuss the NSW racetrack footprint for the future.
Originally published as World famous Dapto Dogs to close next year, ending 88 years of racing at the historic venue
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