Racing Queensland has today announced the three finalists in the running for the 2020 TAB Greyhound of the Year.
Staged at Victoria Park on March 20, Bago Bye Bye, Dam Slippery and Wise Misty remain in contention for the major award at the Queensland greyhound industry’s night of nights, with a voting panel of nine judges narrowing the field to just three finalists.
The Darren Russell trained Bago Bye Bye stamped himself as one of the leading stayers in the country last year, securing a maiden Group 1 win in the TAB Gold Cup at Albion Park in June on his way to nine wins from 18 starts in 2019.
Brett Hazelgrove’s bitch Dam Slippery finished the year with an incredible 27 placings from 35 starts including 13 wins, the highlights being a second placing in the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park and a Group 2 win in the Richmond Oaks.
Wise Misty, trained by Craig Hazelgrove, established herself as the benchmark in the Queensland sprinting ranks, recording 13 wins and nine placings from 32 starts in 2019.
The four-year-old bitch was retired in November 2019 after scoring a well-deserved maiden Group 3 victory in the Ipswich Cup.
This is the first year that nominees for the Greyhound of the Year award were required to have been trained by a registered Queensland trainer for at least four consecutive months of the year.
“The panel of judges have done a terrific job shortlisting nominations, and the three finalists are all deserving of taking out the Greyhound of the Year award,” RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“Each finalist has won at Group level in 2019, and we are proud to see our Queensland greys taking it up to some of the best dogs nation-wide.
“I would like to congratulate the three finalists and their connections on this nomination, and wish them all the best on the night.”
This year’s gala will also see two new gongs awarded; the Run of the Year and the Helloworld Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising the tireless efforts of volunteers within the industry.
“It’s great to see two new awards added to the program, and in particular one that recognises significant contribution to the greyhound industry that often goes unnoticed,” Mr Parnell said.
“Our industry would not function without volunteers giving up their time to make racing possible, and the addition of this award recognises that importance.”
Click here for further information or to purchase tickets to the 2020 TAB Queensland Greyhound Awards.