With the inaugural winner of the accompanying rich race series to be crowned tonight, Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has today confirmed that the highly successful Puppy Auction will return in 2026.
The announcement comes as the inaugural GRNSW Puppy Classic final will be held at Richmond tonight with the winner receiving $150,000, the fourth richest payday on the NSW racing calendar.
Each of the eight finalists tonight progressed through the series' heats last week which were exclusive to greyhounds purchased at the Auction in May 2024.
At the most recent GRNSW Auction held in May this year, a total of 154 lots went through the Auction at the Richmond Race Club, more than 50% up on the previous year, and with sales tallying more than $1.1 million.
Greyhounds from that 2025 Auction will compete in a similar series to this current one, in November next year, however, following feedback from the industry stakeholders, GRNSW is currently reviewing the Puppy Classic and looking at all options and alternatives, to offer more opportunities to all auction buyers moving forward.
"We're delighted to be able to announce the return of the GRNSW Puppy Auction in 2026," Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.
"We have clearly seen since the Auction returned in 2024, that there is a real appetite from breeders and buyers to be involved. To have 154 lots go through the Auction this year at an average of around $7,300 was a further step up from the success of the event in 2024.
"Before the Auction returned after more than five years' absence, the breeders were telling us that they needed a marketplace to sell their pups. They supported the Auction both in 2024 and again in 2025, and I would hope that support continues in 2026 now they have seen the success which can be had.
"I also feel that with public syndication - which is a key element of the GRNSW Industry Future Blueprint released earlier this year - and with the work on that project progressing very well, the 2026 Auction will also provide the perfect opportunity and avenue for those newly formed syndicates to increase their involvement in the sport.
"Following feedback from the industry we have reviewed the race series to see if improvements can be made for the benefit of the industry, our greyhounds and our participants. As a result, there will be changes made and we will announce the details early next year.
"As it is already in place, the 2026 Puppy Classic series will go ahead as it is planned, but we will look at potential improvements for the event for 2027 and for the graduates of next year's Auction."
The $150,000 to the winner GRNSW Puppy Classic has drawn together a strong field of up and coming sprinters and will be run at Richmond at tonight at 9.23pm.
