Australia’s fastest greyhounds will call Sandown Park home through May and June following the release of the Sandown Park feature race calendar.
Highlighting the programme will be the club’s three traditional May group 1s – the Sapphire Crown, Harrison-Dawson and the RSN Sandown Cup – and will be supported with a programme of Special Event ‘Best 8’ races over each distance through to the end of June. Each of the three group 1 finals will carry $71,000 in prize money while each of the Special Events will carry $15,000.
“Greyhound Racing Victoria, with the continued support of all of the clubs and trainers, have done an outstanding job in ensuring greyhound racing has continued through this challenging period,” said Michael Floyd, Sandown’s Racing and Media Manager.
“Because of that work we’re able to proceed with our May carnival which has long been a highlight on the national greyhound racing calendar. And we’re delighted that not only are we able to stage these prestigious races, but provide a support programme for trainers with top grade greyhounds over all distances.”
The feature programme kicks off with the heats of the group 1 Sapphire Crown (515m, female greyhounds only) on Thursday 7 May with the final the following week on 14 May. The heats of the group 1 Harrison-Dawson (515m, male greyhounds only) will be staged on the same night with the final to be run on Thursday 21 May. The heats of the RSN Sandown Cup will also be run on Thursday 21 May with the final on Thursday 28 May, meaning a group 1 final will be run on three consecutive Thursday nights.
Special Event Best 8s will be run in support of the group 1 features, and then each Thursday night following the Carnival at Sandown Park and each Saturday at The Meadows.
“We regularly receive feedback from trainers highlighting the difficulties in setting a programme for a middle distance greyhounds and stayers, especially once they get up in grade. This schedule will provide an opportunity to plot out a path for those dogs,” Floyd continued.
“The consistency of programming is fantastic for trainers, but is also a great opportunity to highlight the very best greyhounds in the country each week.
“Group and feature races are an important part of the calendar. With the quality of greyhounds racing at the moment fans of the sport are in for a treat every Thursday night.”
Click here for the full Victorian feature calendar for May and June.
| Date | Track | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 7/05/2020 | SAN | Sapphire Crown Heats |
| 7/05/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (715m) |
| 14/05/2020 | SAN | $71,000 Group 1 Sapphire Crown (515m, female greyhounds only) |
| 14/05/2020 | SAN | Harrison-Dawson Heats |
| 14/05/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (595m) |
| 21/05/2020 | SAN | $71,000 Group 1 Harrison-Dawson (515m, male greyhounds only) |
| 21/05/2020 | SAN | RSN Sandown Cup heats (715m) |
| 28/05/2020 | SAN | $71,000 Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) |
| 28/05/2020 | SAN | $10,000 Cup Night Stayers (715m) |
| 28/05/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (515m) |
| 30/05/2020 | MEA | $15,000 Best 8 (600m) |
| 4/06/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (595m) |
| 6/06/2020 | MEA | $15,000 Best 8 (525m) |
| 11/06/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (715m) |
| 13/06/2020 | MEA | $15,000 Best 8 (600m) |
| 18/06/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (515m) |
| 20/06/2020 | MEA | $15,000 Best 8 (725m) |
| 25/06/2020 | SAN | $15,000 Best 8 (595m) |
| 27/06/2020 | MEA | $15,000 Best 8 (525m) |
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