The Hobart Greyhound Racing Club’s Group 1 Wrest Point Hobart Thousand series kicks off tomorrow night with seven heats to be run over 461 metres.
The prestigious race that offers a take home stake of $75,000 to the winner, will be held on Thursday 17 December 2009, at Tattersall’s Park which also was the venue for today’s official launch.
Tasracing’s CEO, Gary Lottering, said Wrest Point’s support of the event has been very beneficial.
“The partnership with Wrest Point has lifted the profile of Tasmanian greyhound racing throughout the State and interstate through Sky Channel” Mr Lottering said.
The event has again attracted top quality greyhounds with the cream of the local brigade entered for a chance at Group 1 glory including last year’s winner Little Spaniard from the Mick Stringer kennel.
The interstate contingent is strong with entries from four states – Victoria, South AustraliaNew South Wales and Queensland.
Interstate invaders likely to dominate are Disintergrate, Gripen Bale, Hurricane Luke and the highly promising Gardam Prince that has the imposing record of 28 wins from 38 starts and he is prepared by Darren MacDonald who has made no secret of the fact that he is very keen to win a Hobart Thousand.
The connections of the winner of this year’s Thousand will also walk away with a straw from former star Tasmanian chaser Chinatown Lad that was retired to stud this year.
Chinatown Lad was a multiple Group 1 winner in national distance events last year in the care of top local trainer Shane Whitney.
He stands at stud for a fee of $1000 plus GST.
Whitney is pinning his hopes of winning the Thousand with his smart bitch Crime Fighter that lines up in the second heat (race 3) tonight.
The Wrest Point Hobart Thousand race was first run in 1935 and still remains the longest running classic event on the Australian Greyhound Racing Calendar