Festival of Fire to heat up Angle Park in December
GRSA will continue to support local participants in December when the Festival of Fire series of races are conducted. GRSA is thrilled to conduct for the third year, the Festival of Fire series, our newest and most exciting fortnight on the South Australian greyhound racing calendar.
The “Festival Of Fire" series will provide opportunities for the best 48 nominations for the 530m trip, the best 16 nominations over 595m, and the best 8 nominations for a 730m event. There will be heats and final of a restricted event (0-5 wins), running from Saturday morning to Thursday night which will provide a separate opportunity for that category of runner. Again this year there will be a 530m Time Graded event for those greyhounds that rate towards the end of the Time Grading table.
The Festival of Fire is an end-of-year celebration for the local industry, which provides fantastic opportunities across the entire spectrum of racing classes, across all three distances at Angle Park, the home of SA greyhound racing.
The Festival of Fire series will commence on the race night of Thursday, December 14, continue into the Saturday morning timeslot (December 16), and then culminate in 5 finals and a special stayers event carrying a collective purse in excess of $100,000 the following Thursday night (December 21).
Conditions –
• Greyhounds must be SA trained.
• Greyhounds must be in South Australia as of midnight 1st November 2023 to be eligible (greyhounds that have not had their first training amendment lodged that are in SA at this time will be eligible). For those greyhounds that have left the state prior to this date however, are considered SA based on the Nationals criteria of 76 days out of 150 days prior to the close of nominations for each event will be eligible.
• All races will be Non Penalty
THURSDAY 14TH DECEMBER
THE ASHES (530M) – Best 16 Nominated – Selected By The GRSA Grader – No Reserves – Maidens Ineligible – Maximum Of Two Heats – Guarding Applies For Heats
Heats Thursday 14th December (Open City A Prizemoney)– Final Thursday 21st December (1st $20,000, 2nd 5,800, 3rd 2,900)
THE INFERNO (530M) – For Those Greyhounds Not Selected For The Ashes And Not Selected For The Flame. Best 32 Nominated On Time Rating With Reserves – Maidens Are Ineligible – Maximum of Four Heats - Selection Of Heats Will Be Guarded And Separated Under Normal Heat And Final Rules. If Same Time Rating Most Race Wins Go In And Then Most Prizemoney Go In And Then By Graders Discretion).
Heats Thursday 14th December (Grade 5 City A Prizemoney)– Final Thursday 21st December (1st $12,500, 2nd 3,650, 3rd 1,825)
THE FLAME (530M) – Lowest Ranked 32 Nominated On Time Rating – With Reserves - Maidens Are Ineligible – Maximum Four Heats Guarding Applies. Selection Of Heats Will Be Guarded And Separated Under Normal Heat And Final Rules. If Same Time Rating Greyhounds With The Least Race Wins Go In Then The Least Amount Of Prizemoney Go In And Then By Graders Discretion. Greyhounds Must Have Had Atleast One Race Start Over 455m Or Further In The Last 3 Months Prior To Close Of Nominations To Be Eligible.
Heats Thursday 14th December (Grade 6 City A Prizemoney) – Final Thursday 21st December (1st $10,000, 2nd 2,900, 3rd 1,450)
*Reserves may be the same for Inferno and Flame, preference if a scratching will be given to Inferno series. The Grader reserves the right to formulate the Reserves as required with the view to providing opportunities for all greyhounds where possible.
THE BONFIRE (595M) – Best 16 Nominated – Selected By The GRSA Grader – With Reserves – Maidens Ineligible – Maximum Of Two Heats – Guarding Applies For Heats
Heats Thursday 14th December (Open City A Prizemoney) – Final Thursday 21st December (1st $15,000, 2nd 4,400, 3rd 2,200)
Remaining events determined by nominations received for other events.
*If All Heats Are Taken Then GRSA Will Allow Any 730m Greyhound Nominated For This Night To Solo Trial In Preparation For The Blaze On Thursday 21st December however GRSA will also program a Stayers event at Angle Park on Saturday.
SATURDAY 16TH DECEMBER
THE SPARK (530M) – Best 64 Nominated (0-5 Wins Only) – Selected By The GRSA Grader With Reserves – Maidens Are Eligible – Maximum of Eight Heats – Guarding Of Heats Apply (Greyhounds Are Not Eligible If Have A Race Start On Thursday 14th December).
Heats Saturday 16th December (Open City B Prizemoney) – Final Thursday 21st December (1st $10,000, 2nd 2,900, 3rd 1,450)
Remaining events determined by nominations received for other events.
THURSDAY 21st DECEMBER
THE BLAZE (730M) – Open Event– Selected By The GRSA Grader – With Reserves – Maidens Ineligible
Thursday 21st December – Best 8 (1st $10,000, 2nd 2,900, 3rd 1,450, Unplaced $400)
Finals – The Ashes, The Inferno, The Bonfire, The Flame and The Spark
Remaining events determined by nominations received for other events.
GRSA reserves the right to vary conditions of heats as required based on nominations