Emma Pritchard

For the second consecutive year, the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club will host the world’s richest short course race.

Introduced by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) as a new feature event in 2022, The Thunderbolt proved immensely successful, drawing more than 400 guests, visiting trainers, and owners, to the Clarence Valley 12 months ago, while showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities of the track, and highlighting the class and quality of locally trained greyhounds.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club, Brennan Naidoo, said the opportunity to host the 350m race again is phenomenal for the club, adding there are many local and commercial benefits to be enjoyed and celebrated.

“It showcases the fact that greyhound racing is well and truly alive in regional NSW and demonstrates our club can be successful in hosting these flagship events,” he said proudly.

“We have some fantastic business partners, and hosting The Thunderbolt will allow us to double our business communications and connections.

“It’s a great community event which brings people together, and we’ve already doubled the ticket allocations compared to last year, which is fantastic.”

Worth $75000 to the winner, the inaugural Thunderbolt was won by the Robert Andrews trained Integrity Mate, who unleashed a powerful finish to deny Orson Laurie, trained at Whiteman Creek by Evelyn Harris, in a photo finish.

The Grafton Greyhound Racing Club is among eight regional venues set to host qualifying heats and semi-finals over 350m as part of the Thunderbolt series throughout the next two weeks, with the race meetings scheduled for June 11 and 18.

Winners of the Grafton heats will progress to the semi-finals where they will join the winners of other regional heats, and race for the chance to secure a box in the final.

Mr Naidoo said he expects Northern Rivers trainers including Ms Harris, Des Winters, and Robert Cooke, to bring their best greyhounds to the track over the next few weeks, adding it would be the pinnacle for the club if one of them were to be successful in The Thunderbolt.

“It would be fantastic,” he said.

The Grafton Greyhound Racing Club will host The Thunderbolt on June 24, with two of Grafton’s favourite country music stars Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, to perform live at the venue from 4pm.

Tickets for The Thunderbolt can be purchased online at www.tickets-thedogs.com.au

Gates open at 3pm.