Bbet Park Wauchope, formerly Hastings River Greyhound Club, is finally ready to host a historic first TAB meet after more than 20 years of dedication to the sport.
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The club will host their first full TAB meeting from noon this Friday, October 23 with ten races scheduled on the day. There will be free entry on the day.
After significant upgrades to the starting boxes and returfing of the surface, Wauchope is the second Mid North Coast track be granted TAB status by Greyhound Racing NSW. Taree received the honour earlier this year.
Wauchope president Rex Nairn said the club had secured a $50,000 sponsorship deal with corporate bookmaker BBet and changed the venue name to Bbet Park Wauchope.
"This is the launch of our main TAB meeting. Personally I have been waiting 20 years for this moment," he said.
"We have invited a few celebrities for this such as the chief executive and assistant chief executive of Greyhound NSW. We are hoping that mayor Peta Pinson and people from our electorate will make an appearance.
"Previously we were racing for $300 as a non-TAB club, now the cheapest fifth grade prize is $1500. It gives everyone in the greyhound game a bit of a boost. That's a fair jump."
The Kel Judd/Michael Kelly Maiden worth $1350 in prize money is the first race run at 12.07pm, followed by the Tweed Heads Centre of Excellence worth $4310 run from 12.24pm and the Rod Collins/Ian Ahrens worth $4310 run at 12.45pm.
Racing continues throughout the afternoon and many trainers are expected to be interested in the Harry Pledger & Norm Ahrens Appreciation Final Ng at 2.32pm, as it's worth $12,700 in prize money.
Race ten finishes the afternoon at 3.11pm with the Bbet Brian Ahrens Appreciation race over 384 metres, worth $4310 in prize money.
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