Greyhound Racing NSW has been left “totally stunned” by the decision not to extend their lease at Wentworth Park and has called on the Minns' Government to open the lines of communication for “a fair and equitable exit”.
The Government announced on Tuesday that the GRNSW lease on the venue will not be renewed when it expires in September 2027.
GRNSW had hoped the Government would either extend the lease on a long or short-term basis, to allow the industry to plan for the future. It was also hoped for help in funding a new metropolitan track should a move be required.
“We are totally stunned by this decision as I am sure the entire industry and our participants are as well,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said.
“The Government say that they are supportive of us on one hand, then with a decision such as this, they appear to be closing the industry by stealth.
“They have offered a meagre $10 million over four years to upgrade regional tracks through our Capital Grants Program. That is ludicrous. We want all our tracks upgraded but we need a metropolitan racetrack.
“And we don’t want the taxpayer to fund it. We just want a fair share of the money we are earning and then we could rebuild a great metropolitan racing precinct to replace Wentworth Park.
“The funding being offered doesn’t even cover one month of lost wagering revenue which would occur when the industry leaves Wentworth Park.
“Can you imagine the thoroughbred industry being told to leave Randwick but here’s $10 million to upgrade your country facilities.
“We need a presence in the metropolitan area. We are very much sport that has its roots in the regions, but we need a showpiece for all those in the regions to aspire to reach. We have that with Wentworth Park.
“We call on the Minns' Government to reach out to GRNSW and open the lines of communication to discuss a fair and equitable exit from Wentworth Park that will enable the industry to rebuild a new metropolitan precinct that it can be proud of.”
While attendances have fallen across racing industries, the crowds and wagering on feature race nights at Wentworth Park continue to be strong.
At the recent Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase Grand Final, ticket sales for rose a massive 43.7% on 2024, with an estimate crowd around 3,000, while wagering on the three city MDC race meetings - City Qualifiers, Semi-Finals and then the Grand Final night - rose from $20.9 million last year to almost $22 million in 2025.
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