DAPTO A&H SOCIETY ACKNOWLEDGES GRNSW ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL DAPTO GREYHOUND RACE MEETING

The Dapto Agricultural & Horticultural Society Ltd acknowledges today’s announcement by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) that it will stage its final greyhound race meeting at the Groundz on Thursday, 11 September 2025, coinciding with the Group 1 Ladbrokes Megastar.

While GRNSW’s lease extends until 30 June 2026, its decision to conclude racing on Megastar night will mark the end of nearly 89 years of greyhound racing at the site.

The first greyhound race meeting was held on 25 February 1937, during the height of the Great Depression. At a time of high unemployment, poverty and plunging incomes, greyhound racing drew thousands of spectators and over a hundred bookmakers. The income it generated helped sustain the community during an incredibly difficult period.

In 1939, Dapto became the first club in New South Wales to introduce night racing under lights, a bold innovation that expanded access to the sport. Racing paused in 1942 when the Australian Army seized the showground during World War II as part of the war effort, and racing resumed in 1944 when the Army vacated.

Dapto was also one of the first tracks in NSW to transition from grass to loam a specialised clay-and-sand surface that improved safety and performance.

In 1991, Dapto made global headlines with the Greens Super Coat Classic, which offered a then-world-record $100,000 first prize — the highest greyhound purse in the world at the time.

In the mid-1990s, the Dapto Dogs further burst into the spotlight through a bold and successful partnership with Channel 9’s The Footy Show. The now iconic “Go Nads” campaign, a collaboration between the Society, Channel 9 and Nature Vet, featured the greyhound Nads and raised over $250,000 for charities across Australia.

In 2010, Dapto became the first regional venue in New South Wales to host a Group 1 greyhound race — the highest level of competition in the sport. Group 1 status is reserved for only the most prestigious events, attracting Australia’s top greyhounds and trainers.

Dapto Dogs became a Thursday night institution recognised both nationally and internationally. No other greyhound club in Australia has built a brand of such legendary proportion.

Dapto A&H Chief Executive Officer Katrina Novak said the final meeting marks the end of an era and acknowledges the proud legacy it leaves behind.

“The Dapto Dogs has long been at the heart of the community and became a world-famous name in greyhound racing,” Ms Novak said.

“The Society operated the club from its inception until 2019 and was instrumental in its growth and success across every major milestone. Its achievements were built on strong community support from members, volunteers, racing families and the Dapto A&H Greyhound Supporters Club.”

“As we head into the final meeting, it’s a moment to recognise what’s been achieved and the many people who made it possible.”

The Society is excited to celebrate greyhound racing with the send-off it deserves and encourages everyone to come along on 11 September. It’s a chance to honour the legacy, share stories, and be part of a special moment in local history.

And while we’re saying goodbye to racing, there’s plenty still to come — with fresh opportunities and new memories waiting to be made on this historic site.