Greyhound racing’s most exciting format will take over Sandown Park in September with Australia’s fastest chasers converging for an entire program of match racing.
The Speed Star ‘Super Sunday’ will be run on Sunday 10 September and will see 48 greyhounds contest 24 match races with $150,000 up for grabs. Matches will be run over all three racing distances.
“The Speed Star has grown to become one of the most popular and most eagerly anticipated events we run each year,” said Sandown CEO Greg Miller.
“Seeing the fastest chasers in the country racing head to head and against the clock – it’s as pure racing as there is. The response from greyhound racing participants, punters and fans for previous series has been extremely positive, and expanding the concept to include more greyhounds and over all distances is an exciting evolution that will only help drive further interest.”
Jason Cauchi, Fixed Odds Racing Manager of Greyhounds at TAB, concurred.
“Head to head greyhound racing is an exciting wagering product that has proven very popular with punters, and I am sure that the extended format will also prove popular,” he said.
The match races will be run in six events with eight dogs in each event, allowing TAB to offer a range of pari-mutuel and fixed odds betting options.
Greyhound qualify for each event based on times recorded at Sandown Park from Thursday 1 June 2017 until Sunday 3 September. Additional qualifying trials will be run on Sunday 20 and 27 August, and Sunday 3 September.
Black Mumbo is the current fastest qualifier over the 515m with his brilliant 29.275 gallop, Burn One Down leads the stayers with 41.733, while Bella Shima heads the middle distance qualification with 34.074.
Click here for the current leader board for each event.
Patrons attending the match racing spectacular will be treated to live music and a chance to win great prizes. Entry to the meeting is free.
Speed Star Super Sunday – Key Information
Date: Sunday 10 September 2017
Prizemoney: $150,000
Format: 6 events consisting of four, two dog match races. 24 match races in all
Qualification: Greyhounds can record a time by competing in a Race, a Satisfactory Trial or via an Exhibition Trial. Greyhounds then qualify for each series based on their fastest time from 1 June 2017 to 3 September 2017 inclusive.
Qualification trials: Will be available on Sunday 20 and 27 August, and Sunday 3 September and must be booked with the club by noon the preceding Friday. Maximum of eight trials per session, first in basis.
An additional trial session will be conducted after the race meeting on Sunday 3 September if the trial session that day is fully booked
Interstate contenders that have not raced at Sandown Park since 1 June 2017 may trial between races on Thursday 31 August
Nominations: All nominations must be made with the club. Nominations will close at 4pm on Tuesday 5 September 2017. The meeting will be box drawn on Wednesday 6 September.
Speed Star Events
Speed Star (515m)
Open to: Fastest 8 nominations, plus reserves
Total prize money: $50,000
Each match winner: $5,000
Finishing positions:
1st – $20,000
2nd – $7500
3rd – $2500
tab.com.au (515m)
Open to: Random 8 nominations ranked 9-24 on times. Remaining 8 nominations drawn into the Momentum Gaming.
Total p/money: $20,000
Each match winner: $2000
Finishing positions:
1st – $8000
2nd – $3000
3rd – $1000
Momentum Gaming (515m)
Open to: Random 8 nominations ranked 9-24 on times. Remaining 8 nominations drawn into the tab.com.au.
Total p/money: $20,000
Each match winner: $2000
Finishing positions:
1st – $8000
2nd – $3000
3rd – $1000
Stayers Challenge (715m)
Open to: Fastest 8 nominations, plus reserves
Total p/money: $40,000
Each match winner: $4,000
Finishing positions:
1st – $16,000
2nd – $6000
3rd – $2000
Young Guns (515m)
Open to: Greyhounds whelped on or after 1/6/2015. Fastest 8 nominations not drawn in the tab.com.au (515m) or Sky Racing (515m), plus reserves
Total p/money: $10,000
Each match winner: $1,000
Finishing positions:
1st – $4000
2nd – $1500
3rd – $500
Galactic Diamond (595m)
Open to: Fastest 8 nominations, plus reserves plus reserves
Total p/money: $10,000
Each match winner: $1,000
Finishing positions:
1st – $4000
2nd – $1500
3rd – $500
Dundee Osprey wins the 2016 Speed Star
