Chasing funds for disability
Warragul Greyhound Racing Club hosted a Great Chase last week in support of local disability support and aged care organisations.
The series of community events, racing and prizes is hosted by Greyhound Racing Victoria at 13 regional and metropolitan greyhound racing clubs, culminating with a series final at The Meadows in Melbourne on October 24.
The event is designed to provide an entertaining day out for disability groups and aged care residents, with each organisation in the running to win cash prizes.
Now in its 16th year, the Great Chase has provided more than $600,000 to more than 100 community groups that care for the intellectually and physically disabled and the elderly.
Each racing club invites local disability groups, including staff, clients, their families and carers to a day or night out at the races to enjoy entertainment, prizes, gift bags and lunch or dinner and, to add to the excitement, each group is randomly assigned greyhounds to cheer on.
The greyhounds accrue points according to wins and placings and the groups with the most points at the end of the day take home cash prizes.
Eight community groups will be selected at random and allocated greyhounds to cheer on at the final at The Meadows, where the winning organisation will take home $10,000 and other organisations take $2000.
In previous years community groups have used prize money to buy computers, equipment and to pay for excursions and activities.
The series also has an official racing component to it. Heats will be held at each racing club in the lead up to final at The Meadows, where eight greyhounds will compete for a share of $67,000.