Greyhounds

BALLARAT Greyhound Racing Club’s new Racing Operations Centre has been officially opened in Redan.

Worth $3.5 million, the Morshead Park-based centre includes 112 large kennels aiming to improve animals’ race and trial day comfort, grassed outdoor zones, dog wash areas, isolation kennels, a stewards’ room, and storage.

The club’s goal with the redevelopment was to boost the safety and experience of those involved in Ballarat’s greyhound racing community and events.

“Ballarat is very fortunate to have a brand-new Racing Operations Centre and it’s not something we take for granted,” said Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club general manager Jodie Faralla.

“We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback and participants are amazed by the size of the new building.”

Local greyhound trainer Wayne Gray said the new centre has lifted the feel of the club to a new level.

“The design is fantastic,” he said. “There’s so much open space.

“It’s the best facilities I’ve seen in greyhound racing, and I’ve been in the sport since I was eight years old.”

The space was opened on Wednesday 8 May by State Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines, who took a tour alongside Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, and City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Des Hudson.

More than $1.6 of the project was funded by the state from its Victorian Racing Industry Fund with the remainder covered by Greyhound Racing Victoria.

“The project to upgrade the kennelling area at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing strongly demonstrates Greyhound Racing Victoria’s unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of facilities at our racetracks, ensuring comfort and safety for all participants, staff and of course our athletes, the greyhounds,” said GRV chair, Peita Duncan.

A statement from GRV said the sport generates tens of millions of dollars for the Ballarat economy, with amost 750 people locally involved and 171 of those employed. GRV reports about 5000 people are employed within the sport across the state.