Gosford Ready For Bumper Return

LOCK it into your diary – Gosford's much anticipated return to racing has been rubber-stamped for Tuesday, October 16.

In a real shot in the arm for NSW greyhound racing participants, in particular those residing on the central coast, racing is set to return at the popular venue in just over a month, with the club's first meeting back highlighted by the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Fundraiser, staged annually through the tireless deeds of event organiser Raelee Shearer.

And whilst racing at Gosford has been off the scene since mid-February, after the track surface had been grappling with significant safety concerns for some time, NSW GBOTA Gosford Manager Ryan Freedman told the Recorder earlier this week the Club is all set for a big return to racing, which will include the introduction of some great initiatives and new sponsors.

"The work on the track is coming along very well – it looks fantastic," told Freedman earlier this week.

"The new 388m start is sure to be very well received by owners and trainers – it has been designed to reduce interference, and along with all the other upgrades and improvements, racing at Gosford will return as good as ever – I can't wait."

The works at Gosford, including remediation of the track, installation of a new safety rail, upgrades to the irrigation system and a variable speed motor lure, has largely been a collaborative approach between Industry and Government.

In July, the NSW GBOTA and GRNSW announced that $762,000 of funding had been secured from the $30 million grant made available by the NSW Government to increase race track safety in NSW.

"The Club has been really heartened by the level of support, especially in the local community," added Freedman.

"We are still awaiting confirmation on a few sponsors but the box sponsors have all been sewn up with Sires On Ice (388m), Woy Woy Poultry (515m), Six String Brewery (603m) and Brightfields (710m) all coming on board, with of course Woy Woy Poultry continuing their outstanding support of Gosford through Laurie Refalo for which we are extremely thankful.

“It's also fantastic to bring on Tony Wiseman (Sires On Ice) as a sponsor again as well, he and his business do so much for the industry and we are looking forward to repaying that loyalty here at Gosford into the future.”

And in another piece of positive news in the countdown to Gosford's much hyped return to racing, Freedman told the Recorder exclusively that the club's partnership with local brewery Six String Brewery will see a portion of the proceeds return to GRNSW'S Greyhounds As Pets program.

"There's the two draught beers provided be it full or mid-strength, and one will be renamed "Dishlickers Lager" which will serve to acknowledge the terrific new partnership between the two parties.

"And what makes the partnership even more meaningful is that 50 cents of every draught beer sold will be donated to the Greyhound As Pets program – commercial agreements such as this can only lead to brighter times in NSW greyhound racing and here at Gosford we're committed to leading the way where we can."