GREYHOUNDS
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THE Greyhound, Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association has pledged it will handle the demise of racing at Wade Park "graciously".
Secretary Brenton Scott acknowledged the end is near for coursing at the traditional home of the sport in the Central West with the GBOTA working on a time-frame for its redevelopment of Bathurst's Kennerson Park.
It hopes to have that completed this week with Scott adding the GBOTA was impatient to get started on the $440,000 revamp.
"As soon as possible," he said, referring to the start of construction. "But there is a multitude of contractors involved and until I understand how all those dominos line up, I can't make a comment."
In winter recess, the Orange club is due to return to racing in September. Exactly how many meetings will be held after that is up in the air but Scott said this will be the last season at the track.
"There's no question about that," he said.
He explained that apart from its own dates, Orange could host Bathurst meetings while Kennerson Park was undergoing its facelift.
"We have racing dates at Orange, we have racing dates at Bathurst and we have a major redevelopment taking place at Bathurst. Once we understand the timelines for those, we need to speak to GRNSW and the Orange council as to how we best position racing during that period," he said.
Scott admitted the GBOTA was still 'being hit by a few missiles' from opponents to the amalgamation of its Bathurst and Orange branches and its rationalisation of the sport in the west.
However he said the majority of members supported the move which will deliver 26 TAB meetings a year, in excess of $10,000 prizemoney per meeting and cup racing offering between $10,000 and $15,000 at an upgraded track.
But he acknowledge Orange's contribution to the sport would be respected.
"It needs to be handled somewhat graciously," he said, referring to the track closure. "We need to speak to (Orange City) council, we need to speak to GRNSW as to what is the best continuity for racing in that region."
