TAREE Greyhound Club officials are now focused on Wednesday June 17 when a TAB meeting will be conducted at the Kanangra Drive track for the first time.
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"We're nearly there,'' a beaming club president Des McGeachie said.
The club conducted an 11 race non-TAB meeting last Wednesday - the first since some COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed. This was described as a dress rehearsal for June 17.
Mr McGeachie admitted there were some 'electrical faults' but assured these would be ironed out by June 17.
"Greyhound Racing NSW representatives were there and they were pleased with the way the meeting went,'' he said.
The club expects that all upgrades to the Kanangra Drive track will be completed in time for the TAB meeting.
Mr McGeachie is confident there'll be strong support from local and visiting trainers for the inaugural TAB meeting.
"We were offering non-TAB prizemoney - that's $350 a win, last week. We'll have TAB prizemoney from now on - $1500 a win, so that's going to be an attraction.''
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Mr McGeachie understands the club will have an 11 race card for June 17.
"We don't have lights at the track so we can't go too late into the afternoon,'' he explained.
"So we'll be sticking to 11 races, at least during winter.''
He said Greyhound Racing NSW board members Annette Mullen and Kevin Gordon were expected to attend the June 17 meeting while other representatives from GRNSW could also be there.
Mr McGeachie understands that owners of greyhounds running at the meeting could also be allowed into the track. COVID-19 restrictions currently mean spectators cannot attend meetings.
"That happened at the races last weekend and the dogs have been following the racing code,'' he said.
"So hopefully we'll be able to have some owners there.''
However, he isn't sure when the general public would be permitted on the track, while he doesn't know when Taree's next TAB meeting will be held after June 17.
"Greyhound Racing NSW's allocating meetings month-by-month,'' he said.