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Pathway Racing

16/12/2015
Racing News

PATHWAY RACING TO START IN JANUARY 2016

In acknowledgment of the need that exists within greyhound racing to accommodate all levels of greyhounds with the opportunity to compete, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has committed to an immediate trial of lower grade racing for greyhounds with recent racing form which falls outside an identified time standard.  This initiative will be called “Pathway Racing” and is part of a broader review of industry strategy which places animal welfare outcomes at its focus.

Further to consultation with the Industry Consultative Group, GRSA will introduce Pathway Racing for races at published race meetings in support of providing opportunities for lower grade greyhounds, commencing in January 2016. GRSA believes there is an immediate need to identify a vehicle for such greyhounds to be able to compete against greyhounds of a similar ability.  GRSA will run races to accommodate those greyhounds which meet a time standard on a trial basis with an intention to review outcomes after six months.

Race meetings identified for Pathway Racing in January & February are –

  • Wednesday 6th January 2016 at Angle Park (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Thursday 31st December)
  • Wednesday 20th January 2016 at Angle Park (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Friday 15th January)
  • Sunday 31st January 2016 at Gawler (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Wednesday 27th January)
  • Wednesday 10th February 2016 at Angel Park (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Friday 5th February)
  • Sunday 14th February 2016 at Gawler (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Tuesday 9th February)
  • Wednesday 24th February 2016 at Angel Park (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Friday 19th February)
  • Sunday 28th February 2016 at Gawler (Provincial 2) (Nominations close with GRSA at 9am on Tuesday 23rd February)

It is anticipated these races will take up half the programme and will be run with normal Provincial 2 prizemoney.  The trial will run for 3 months to gauge the response of owners and trainers, followed by a subsequent 3 month trial under conditions of ‘flattened’ staking, with prizemoney being more evenly distributed across all greyhounds in the event.

Greyhounds must have run outside a time standard in their last 4 starts to be eligible for selection.

Track

Distance

Time Standard

ANGLE PARK

388m

22.54

515m

30.33

600m

35.65

731m

44.08

STRATHALBYN

319m

18.58

400m

24.64

536m

32.38

762m

46.22

GAWLER

400m

23.03

531m

31.33

643m

38.31

MT GAMBIER

277m

16.58

400m

23.63

515m

30.98

600m

35.75

732m

45.84

**No time required for Port Augusta as a Non TAB meeting

Trainers will have to specifically nominate for these races or will be considered for normal races on this program. 

 

Refer to conditions of Pathway Racing eligibility below.

  • Pathway Racing to be run at Angle Park Wednesday meetings and Gawler Sunday meetings initially as part of the trial. Each meeting will be programmed around 1 to 2 weeks apart for the first two months.
  • Prizemoney for these races will be normal Provincial 2 levels for the first 3 months and then will be at flattened stake money levels for the next 3 months during the trial.
  • Pathway Racing events will only be for Maiden, Grade 6 and Grade 5 greyhounds at the track.
  • Winners of these races will take a penalty (When run at Flattened stakemoney these races may be Non Penalty)
  • Trainers must nominate for these “Pathway” races to be considered otherwise the grader will grade in normal events. However if a trainer advised ‘Pathway Racing Only” then the grader will only consider for that event. Trainers are advised to put as much information on their nomination to assist the grader.
  • Greyhounds must have started in South Australia on 4 occasions to be eligible for these races. First starters and greyhounds with one, two or three starts in SA will not be considered for these events.
  • Fields will be selected worst form to best form in the opinion of the Grader. The Order of Preference will not be used for Pathway Racing.
  • Races will be graded on race wins where possible.
  • SA Bred greyhounds will be given preference into these events if nominated
  • Fields will be made up with all trainers first before those trainers with multiple nominations are considered. For example, trainers will go in with 1 dog first then 2, then 3 etc
  • Guarding will occur where possible
  • Initially there will be no feature heats programmed on these specific Pathway Racing meetings

GRSA will make every effort to convey the conditions of Pathway Racing to participants by attending race meetings, electronically and via social media however owners and trainers are encouraged to contact GRSA to establish if their greyhound would be eligible for these events prior to nominating.

 

Further Information:

Shaun Mathieson

Racing Manager

(08) 8243 7100