The NSW Government and Greyhound Racing NSW launched the Million Dollar Chase on Wednesday, an exciting new race they hope will take the industry by storm.

While the final will be held at Wentworth Park on October 20, some of the heats for the Million Dollar Chase will be held at 11 regional tracks across NSW.

The winner of the final will receive $1 million, subject to the greyhound being re-homed at the end of it’s racing caeer.

The series boasts total prizemoney of $1.7 million.

Wagga and District Greyhound Racing Club racing manager John Patton is looking forward to being involved with the Million Dollar Chase.

“It’s exciting,” Patton said.

“It promotes tourism, it promotes breeding and promotes the industry for future years to come.”

The NSW Government will contribute $500,000 towards the series, less than two years ago after-then Premier Mike Baird legislated to ban the sport over the live baiting scandal.

Patton believes the race is a shot in the arm for the industry’s future.

“It shows the NSW Government are fair dinkum about greyhound racing and it continuing,” he said.

“I think they realise now how big a role it plays in the state and how many people it affects.

“This is going to be the highlight of the NSW racing calendar every year.”

Wagga will host four heats of the Million Dollar Chase on Thursday night, September 6. The first two dogs in each heat will move through to Wagga’s regional qualifying final on Friday, September 14.

Temora will host it’s heats on Sunday, September 16 and the regional qualifying final on Sunday, September 23.

The first two dogs home from both regional finals will qualify for the semi-finals at Wentworth Park.

All greyhounds in Australia are eligible to compete and Patton expects some high quality visiting dogs to go up against Riverina’s best in a brilliant showcase event.

As a condition of entry, participants must agree to re-home their dog into the Greyhounds as Pets program (GAP) or and equivalent after its racing career.

Entry fees from every race in the series will include a donation to the GAP NSW program, with GRNSW officials hoping to raise $1 million.

Corporate bookmaker Ladbrokes are the major sponsor of the series.

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