From 1 August 2019 Racing Queensland will introduce the Queensland Greyhound Stayers Circuit to develop and promote longer distance greyhound racing in Queensland.
The Circuit will offer a continuous program of events, cater for all types of staying greyhounds, and provide a progression from sprint races to middle distance races to staying races.
The Circuit addresses a number of deficiencies in the current program by focusing on four key entry points for greyhounds stepping up in distance:
- Ipswich Saturday (Class 3) the starting point for low win greyhounds, or greyhounds that haven’t won Class 1 events.
- Albion Park Monday (Class 2) for greyhounds progressing from Ipswich, or city class greyhounds stepping up in distance. Top-grade Class 1 sprinters will not be eligible for these events.
- Albion Park Thursday (Class 1 – 600m) for greyhounds progressing from Albion Park Monday, or top-grade Class 1 sprinters stepping up in distance.
- Albion Park Thursday (Class 1 – 710m) for greyhounds stepping up to the staying distance.
Higher prizemoney levels for middle distance and staying events will support the Circuit in acknowledgement that staying greyhounds race less frequently. Class 2 and Class 3 events over 600m and further will now offer $3,150 to the winner (total prizemoney of $4,725).
To ensure ongoing opportunities for greyhounds stepping up in distance, a minimum of five nominations will ensure staying events are drawn, and a minimum of seven nominations will ensure middle distance events are drawn.
The Queensland Greyhound Stayers Circuit has a landing page on the Racing Queensland website with a full set of conditions. Programs for August, September, and October can be viewed here. The Circuit will remain ongoing with the program updated every 3 months.