In a significant move, Australian greyhound racing’s premier event, The Phoenix, will be shifted a week earlier in the 2025-26 racing calendar, marking one of the key changes announced for the upcoming season. The Meadows will play host to this prestigious race on Saturday, 13 December this year, alongside the Silver Chief heats on the same night. Additionally, the Sale Cup, the only Group 1 race on a country track, will now take place on Saturday, 3 January 2026, departing from its traditional Boxing Day slot.
Various alterations to other feature events have been introduced following consultations with Clubs and Greyhound Clubs Australia, the coordinators of the Australian Group Race Calendar. The Maturity Classic and The Fireball finals, usually held at The Meadows, will be pushed back to Saturday, 26 July to avoid overlapping with the Queensland Winter Carnival. Similarly, the Ron Hawkswell Cup heats and the Sportsbet Healesville Cup final have been rescheduled to prevent clashes with major events.
The Laurels series at Sandown will see a shift from December to November, aligning the final with the Shootout on Friday, 14 November. Moreover, changes include moving the Sportsbet Warragul Cup final to Friday, 6 February, and adjusting the Sportsbet Horsham Cup heats from Friday to Tuesday to enhance nominations for the final on Saturday, 7 March. The Sportsbet Geelong Gold Cup series will also be moved back a week to avoid scheduling conflicts.
With an average of 23 race meetings per week totaling 1194 race meetings, the 2025-26 schedule will witness Bendigo Friday Twilight meetings transitioning to Night fixtures for better wagering outcomes. Additionally, the Sunday Day slot will be eliminated, and 13/14 race programs will be added permanently.
The breakdown of race meetings by class for the upcoming season includes 102 Level 1 (metropolitan) meetings, 622 Level 2 (provincial) meetings, and 470 Level 3 meetings. Notably, Traralgon GRC and Cranbourne GRC are currently not part of the calendar due to ongoing redevelopment, with a possibility of their inclusion post-revamp before July 2026.
Stuart Laing, the CEO of GRV, emphasized the significance of the revised racing calendar in providing clubs and trainers with the best opportunities for attendance, community engagement, wagering outcomes, and quality racing. The aim is to ensure a consistent schedule that caters to both participants and greyhounds, aligning with population trends and offering regular competitive opportunities.
The 2025-26 Victorian race dates calendar is now available for download, offering a comprehensive overview of the upcoming season’s events and meetings. The changes in the racing calendar reflect a strategic approach to optimizing the racing experience for all stakeholders involved in the greyhound racing industry.
📰 Related Articles
- Revolutionary ‘The Q’ Complex Elevates Australian Greyhound Racing
- Goldstar Ginny’s Australian Debut Marks Exciting Journey in Greyhound Racing
- Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway: Australian Drag Racing Triumphs
- US Lawmakers Urge Australia to End Greyhound Racing Industry
- Trainer Jack Smith’s Legacy in Greyhound Racing Evolution