It’s been 16 years since Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) started one of the most memorable series of events on the greyhound racing calendar; The Great Chase.
Since 2003 GRV has donated more than $600,000 to community organisations who care for intellectually or physically disabled people, and the event has been supported since 2008 by TAB. All Victorian greyhound clubs participate and invite their local community groups – clients and carers – to a special community day where they have the opportunity to win prize money.
Further, every group that attends a Great Chase community day at their local racetrack are then invited to the TAB Great Chase Final at The Meadows on Wednesday 23 October, where eight organisations are randomly drawn a runner in the Great Chase Grand Final. The eight lucky groups drawn share in an extra $24,000 prize money, including $10,000 to the group which draws the winning greyhound.
All guests attending Great Chase events receive full catering, a show bag and a chance to meet the stars of the show – the greyhounds. In 2018, Broadmeadows Disability Services won $10,000 at the grand final but were equally excited by a personal visit to the centre by the greyhound which won the Grand Final, Go Commando.
The race itself attracts a great number of promising young greyhounds, who can make the final through the heats, to vie for the ultimate $47,000 winner’s purse. As the heats start in regional clubs, it can be a good opportunity for less experienced dogs to make it through to a metro final. Go Commando was a reserve in the race last year but surprised all when he provided breeder and owner Peter Knott with his biggest win yet.
