DAPTO DOGS COME TO A CLOSE

Thursday 11 September, marked the final greyhound racing meeting to be held on the site. After 88 years, the Dapto Dogs chapter draws to a close.

The Dapto Agricultural & Horticultural Society Ltd proudly operated the Dapto Dogs from its opening race meeting in 1937 until 2019 and was responsible for building the world-famous legacy and Thursday night institution it became. Milestones across that history include the introduction of night racing under lights in 1939, being among the first tracks to transition from grass to loam, staging the then world-record Greens Super Coat Classic in 1991 with a $100,000 first prize, the highest in the world at the time, and becoming the first regional NSW venue to host a Group 1 greyhound race in 2010. The “Go Nads” campaign in the 1990s, in partnership with Channel 9’s Footy Show, also made the Dapto Dogs a household name while raising more than $250,000 for charities across Australia.

“Dapto Dogs” is and remains a registered trademark of the Society, which has proudly carried the brand and its legacy for generations.

After 2019, when the Society ceased operating racing and Greyhound Racing NSW assumed control, the profile of Dapto racing changed. Broadcast times shifted from Sky 1 to Sky 2, meetings were scheduled in competition with Wentworth Park, and promotion reduced, leading to lower visibility and smaller crowds.

We take this opportunity to thank all the participants, volunteers, and committees who over the decades made the Dapto Dogs possible and helped shape its unique place in sporting and community history. It is time to hang up the collar and move forward.

The Groundz is now entering a new era. The precinct is growing as a vibrant hub for Dapto and the Illawarra, offering family-friendly spaces such as the Tap House with live music every weekend, a Thai restaurant open seven days, newly renovated bar and function facilities, and an expanding calendar of events including markets, festivals, fairs, ticketed events and the annual Dapto Show. Over the coming years, further transformation of the site will create new opportunities for recreation, community gatherings, and major events, ensuring it continues to serve the region for generations to come.

 CEO Katrina Novak said: “The Dapto Dogs will always be part of our story and our heritage.”

“With the local population growing and expectations changing around racing, our focus is on the opportunities ahead. As a non-profit, this Society has always been about community, and our mission is to create more spaces that support the town we love and build a vibrant hub for connection.”