Wagga's premier greyhound race has been given group three status and a significant prizemoney increase amid a number of changes to club's racing calendar.
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Next year's Wagga Gold Cup will carry $25,000 in prizemoney and group three status for the first time after Greyhound Racing NSW announced a number of changes to its racing calendar for the 2019-20 season.
Prizemoney for the Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial Wagga Gold Cup will rise from $10,000 to $25,000, a whopping increase for the richest greyhound race in the Riverina.
Wagga has also been given three extra TAB meetings for next season, going from 32 to 35.
Wagga and District Greyhound Racing Club racing manager John Patton is confident the changes will take the Gold Cup to a new level.
"It's a great result," Patton said.
"We'll get some super dogs and it's a real step forward for the future.
"The top trainers are always chasing the big money so I'm sure we'll get a lot of them. We've also got the Million Dollar Chase heats here in September, where we expect some quality dogs in the two heats there."
Wagga joins Goulburn, Dubbo, Grafton and Bathurst as country TAB clubs that will host a group three prizemoney series.
The Wagga Gold Cup carnival will kick off with maiden heats on April 29 with the Cup heats on May 8. The Gold Cup will be held on Friday night, May 15.
The Wagga club has also been given approval to hold an Anzac Day meeting for the first time in more than a decade.
Wagga will also hold a Wednesday night meeting, ahead of the two big days of the thoroughbred Gold Cup carnival at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
"The club had an Anzac Day meeting years ago and were happy with it," Patton said.
"There is no racing on in Wagga on Anzac Day so it should work well.
"We also think the Wednesday night before the Town Plate will work well too. There are a lot of people in town for the races so this will give them an opportunity to go to the greyhounds the night before."
Patton believes the three extra meetings for the season will provide a boost in confidence for participants.
"It's good for trainers and owners," he said.
"With more meetings they know they can invest in greyhounds into the future."
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