The initial steps have been taken in developing a blueprint for the future of the NSW greyhound racing industry following the completion of a two-day Summit with key stakeholders in Sydney,
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) invited representatives from each of the TAB and Non-TAB racing clubs from around the State, members of the Trainers Advisory Group, the Young Participants Panel, the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, Greyhound Clubs NSW and a number of leading trainers, to attend the Industry Future Summit to help structure a path for the future.
The most significant topic tackled, Racing Footprint Optimisation, brought spirited discussion.
"Optimisation is crucial to our industry's future," GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said. "It's always been a difficult matter to broach with clubs and participants, and we wanted to ensure that they all had a voice, asked as many questions as they wanted, and ultimately contributed and played a large role in setting the criteria for how optimisation will work.
"This is not a decision where GRNSW can simply for "you're in and you're out," we have engaged a large multinational firm who attended our Summit and will audit and analyse the data and feedback, before presenting to us what they believe is the ideal Racing Footprint Optimisation plan for NSW.
"There was some passionate discussion and debate on optimisation and we all expected that. Everyone wants to put their own case forward and add their suggestions and tweaks to the criteria set out, and that's precisely what we wanted.
"We needed buy-in from all areas of our industry. This is a whole industry matter, not a GRNSW decision, and what we all ultimately want, is what will be best for everyone involved in our industry."
President of the Dubbo Greyhound Club, Shayne Stiff, described the two-day event as extremely valuable.
"I think everyone realises that optimisation is something we need here in NSW but naturally everyone wants their club to be a part of the future.
"What GRNSW have now done is allow everyone to come together and say what they believe should be part of the process in determining which clubs are best for that future.
"There are always winners and losers in rationalisation, but you have to go through that tough process or the industry will continue to suffer.
"I think that not only allowing everyone to have a say, but also having an external party conduct the process, will make the decisions in the end, clear and transparent for everyone."
Other topics discussed at the Summit were new plans and programs for Pet Placement for greyhounds after their racing careers, the establishment of an Industry Welfare Fund, a new innovation with hock straps to support the hocks of greyhounds which will now be trialled, a time-based grading system, 10-dog straight track racing, and public syndication.
John Corrigan, Chairman of the Trainers Advisory Group and President of the Grafton Club, said he felt everyone "walked away from the Summit with a more positive attitude towards the future of the industry."
"We all got something out it," Corrigan said. "Whether it be the hock straps which I thought was great or something else, I think the Summit covered everything that clubs were looking for and touched on every facet of the industry.
"I think GRNSW need to be commended for running the Summit.
"I know everyone walked away from the Summit with a more positive attitude towards the future of the industry, and while I know there will be some people who will be disappointed in the long run (with optimisation) that can' t be helped, and at least everyone had a say."
GRNSW are expecting to have a report on the Racing Footprint Optimisation delivered by late July before looking at implement the strategy throughout 2025-26.
