The world’s richest greyhound event, the TAB Million Dollar Chase Grand Final, will create more history on October 18, with the announcement the race will be shown live on free-to-air television.
It will be the first time in Australian television history that a dedicated greyhound racing broadcast, will be shown live, nationally, with the event airing on 9Gem.
The one hour coverage will be hosted by leading Nine sports presenter Cameron Williams, and will air between 9pm-10pm, and feature three events including the Million Dollar Chase – where the winner will receive $1 million – and the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
Williams will be joined on the coverage by leading greyhound form experts, James Van De Maat, Liz Whelan and Dave Carlson.
“This is a tremendous and very significant announcement for greyhound racing, which will showcase our sport to a much wider audience,” Greyhound Racing NSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said. “This historic telecast will mean that our race – the world’s richest greyhound race – can now be seen in the living rooms of all Australians.
“The popularity of this race series has grown dramatically since its inaugural year, and we have seen it embraced by participants, greyhound fans, and regional communities around the State.
“Our thanks go to Tom Malone and his team at Nine for all their support and the opportunity to showcase greyhound racing at the elite level, nationally, on their platform.
“We are naturally hoping that we can this year sell-out Wentworth Park, but for those who can’t get there, they now have the option of sitting on their lounge and watching what will be a great coverage, live and free on 9Gem.”
Nine’s Director of Sport, Tom Malone, said “We’re excited to be broadcasting this new, and already iconic race, and support the NSW Government and Greyhound Racing NSW as they transform this industry to exceed community standards for animal welfare.”
While the night will see the sport’s fastest dogs, and its latest millionaire crowned, welfare remains a high priority for GRNSW, with all proceeds from tickets sold for the evening going to the Greyhounds As Pets NSW program, the registered charity arm of GRNSW, which rehomes dogs after their racing careers have finished.
The Million Dollar Chase has wound its way around regional NSW since the series began on August 31 in Gunnedah. A total of 14 regional venues have staged heats, and regional finals, with the first four greyhounds advancing to the semi-finals to be held at Wentworth Park on October 11.
A further eight qualifiers will be determined next Saturday at Wentworth Park, and from the semi-finals, the eight winners progress to the grand final, where the connections of one greyhound will walk away as millionaries.
