The Bookmakers’ Afternoon Greyhound Services (BAGS) has unveiled its fifth Track Championship, the biggest yet, in which 20 teams will compete for the coveted crown and the ultimate in bragging rights.
The BAGS/SIS Track Championship is the sport’s only team event and prize money this year is better than ever.
Each qualifying race is now worth £300 to the winner, group prize money has increased significantly and the winning team will scoop £15,000, to be split between winning trainers and the track. Runners up collect £10,000, the team finishing third £7,500 third.
The Grand Finals on Wednesday December 23rd will again be televised live on Sky Sports. Viewing figures last year peaked at 120,000, attracting more viewers than the Greyhound Derby itself.
Following on from last year, an additional 10 per cent of all prize money from the qualifying rounds and Finals will be paid to trainers, an extra £10,000. This is in addition to the existing prize fund.
Total cost of the competition, including prize money, trophies, travel allowances etc, will be in the region of £350,000. SIS will again share the cost.
This year’s renewal will see four regional groups of five tracks take on each other in a series of qualifying events with the winner in each group going through to the Grand Finals at a neutral venue on Wednesday, December 23rd. The two highest scoring runners up from the group stage will also take their place in the decider.
Last year’s renewal at Nottingham proved a thriller in which Peterborough lifted the title following a photograph for fifth place in the last final of the day.
The BAGS/SIS Track Championship will also reach a wider audience for the second year running, broadcast live on Sky Sports, in a three and a half hour show on a day when there is no UK horseracing.
Each track will each stage one qualifying match consisting of six races, supplying a runner in every race, the home side will field two.
The qualifying events will comprise of a sprint, one standard race for dogs, bitches and one unrestricted, a youngsters race, plus one stayers.
“Just when you thought the Track Championship couldn’t get any better,” said Scott Harvey, BAGS’ race programme controller. “Everyone looks forward to this. It brings people together and renews old rivalry.
“Romford will want to redeem themselves after finishing last in their group last year, and you can expect the gloves to come off at Hall Green on September 14tjh for the start of the Midlands/South group.
He added: “Towcester will not get an easy time of it, in with the likes of Sheffield, Nottingham, Yarmouth and defending champs Peterborough. Their home leg is the last in the group. They will need to make every point count.”
Competing greyhounds must have had at least five graded races at their home tracks and can have won one open race in 2015 before the start of the event at Romford on Thursday, September 10th, when the track plays host to the Southern region tracks, Hove, Sittingbourne, Crayford and Wimbledon.
This year the Northern region will see Newcastle, Sunderland, Kinsley do battle with Belle Vue and Doncaster.
The last qualifier before the final will take place at Wimbledon on Saturday, December 5th.
At the end of the group stage, the highest points-scoring team in each will go through to compete in the Grand Finals, along with the two highest scoring runners-up.
Similar to last year, Track Championship Finals Day will comprise 10 events, two staying races, and two each of the standard unrestricted, dogs and bitches, plus one sprint and one youngsters race.
And to give team captains an even bigger headache selecting their teams, each race will be worth £1,000 to the winner, up from £500 last year.
Points are scored 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 in order of finish. Each home team will field two greyhounds per qualifying race, and collect points from each. Heats are worth £300 to the winner, runner-up £100, others £75.
Another added bonus this year is that the Group winners prize money has increased to £3,000, with runners-up receiving £2,000, third £1,000.
Team purses are split among trainers at the discretion of the racing manager.
Travel allowances for the tracks have doubled, and £2,000 will be paid per team.
The overall winner’s prize has increased to £15,000 and will again be split between the winning trainers and the track (to be added to BAGS prize-money in the following period), with £10,000 to the runners-up and £7,500 for the team finishing third.
Groups
(with dates of the matches)
The North
Newcastle – Saturday, September 12th (PM)
Kinsley – Sunday, September 27th (PM)
Sunderland –Tuesday, October 13th (PM)
Belle Vue – Wednesday, November 11th (PM)
Doncaster – Wednesday, December 2nd (EVE)
Midlands/South
Hall Green – Monday, September 14th (AM)
Poole – Sunday, October 4th (PM)
Perry Barr – Sunday, October 25th (PM)
Monmore – Friday, November 13th (PM)
Swindon – Monday, November 30th (AM)
East/Midlands
Yarmouth – Monday, September 21st (EVE)
Sheffield – Monday, October 12th (PM)
Peterborough – Friday, October 30th (EVE)
Nottingham – Monday, November 16th (EVE)
Towcester – Friday, December 4th (EVE)
The South
Romford – Thursday, September 10th (PM)
Hove – Friday, October 2nd (PM)
Sittingbourne – Thursday, October 22nd (EVE)
Crayford – Thursday, November 12th (PM)
Wimbledon – Saturday, December 5th (EVE)
Previous winners
2014 Peterborough
2013 Sheffield
2012 Newcastle
2011 Monmore
