Long held dreams have become reality in Wauchope with the Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club securing its first internationally televised TAB race meet.
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Hastings River Greyhound Racing Club president Rex Nairn said the club will host the 10 race event during the afternoon of Friday, October 23.
"Port Macquraie and Wauchope have never had one before and I'd say this will be similar to the 200 year anniversary of moving into Wauchope. It will be huge I'd say," Mr Nairn said.
"I've been trying to get a TAB meet here for about 20 years. It's only just come about lately.
"It will be a free meet and free entry on the day. I hope it's something that Port Macquarie and Wauchope will remember for a very long time."
Mr Nairn said the primary race, likely to be called the Border Park Wauchope Cup is worth $10,000 to the winner. There will also be two races worth $4000 each, five races worth $3000 each and two maiden races worth $1800 each.
"From what I can work out this will be somewhere between a Wednesday and a Saturday at Wentworth Park. It will be a fairly big meeting in terms of prize money and the first time we have had a TAB meeting," he said.
"They can send these TAB meetings all around to 40 different countries across the world.
"I like to think people will get to know Wauchope because it's a big track, it's 600 metres once round and there's no corner starts. This suits what TAB meetings are after perfectly.
"I think trainers will come from everywhere and I've even spoken to trainers in Queensland who want to bring dogs down."
Improvements are currently under way at the Wauchope track to ensure it meets the standard required to run a TAB meeting.
Hastings hosted a race meeting with the highest prize pool in the club's history earlier this year with a $30,000 prize purse offered up for the Tweed Heads Border Park Wauchope Challenge on January 11.
Taree also held a TAB race in June this year, a first for greyhound racing on the Mid North Coast.
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