The Arrow spearheads exciting initiatives in new Healesville Festival of Racing

Wandering Eyes · June 27, 2021

Sun 4 July – Sun 12 Sept | 5 Feature Races | $800K in prize money

Head-to-head greyhound racing will head up the Yarra Valley straight in one of several exciting new initiatives incorporated into greyhound racing’s inaugural Healesville Festival of Racing.

The Arrow – to be run on the last Sunday in August – will involve four head-to-head matches with the greyhound clocking the fastest time declared the overall winner.

Connections will need to come up with a $1,000 nomination fee in a classic battle of ‘putting your money where your mouth is’, but the rewards will be plentiful with the four head-to-head winners to receive $2,500, while the greyhound clocking the fastest overall time will land an additional $20,000 windfall. Read more

The inaugural Healesville Festival of Racing will run throughout a 10-week block incorporating five feature races and around $800,000 in prize money, culminating in the Group 2 Healesville Cup in mid-September.

“The Healesville Cup will return to Group 2 status with a first prize of $50,000.”

Bookended by two of the club’s traditional annual events – the Winter Cup and the Healesville Cup – the Festival will also include the Victorian leg of the National Straight Track Championship (final in Capalaba).

We’ll also see the first ever Highway 31 Maiden Challenge, a state versus state rivalry in which NSW greyhounds will earn the right to take on the Big V in the Healesville final via heats held at the new Richmond straight track.

GRV CEO, Alan Clayton is welcoming the new Festival with open arms.

“GRV is delighted to support the Healesville Festival as a key component of our racing program, and we look forward to seeing it create plenty of interest among racing fans,” Mr Clayton said.

“Straight track racing is not only a test of pure speed, but also a great avenue to educate younger greyhounds and prolong the careers of older dogs.”

“We’re so excited to run the Highway 31 Maiden series in conjunction with Richmond, and with the recent popularity of head-to-head greyhound racing, we’re confident The Arrow will be a huge winner with modern-day punters.”

Healesville Greyhound Association General Manager, Cynthia O’Brien is eagerly looking forward to seeing her club in the spotlight.

“The Healesville Festival is set to create plenty of buzz leading into our premier annual event, the Healesville Cup, which I’m thrilled to announce is stepping back up to Group 2 status with a first prize of $50,000,” Ms O’Brien said.

“We’re so excited to run the Highway 31 Maiden series in conjunction with the new straight track located in the NSW town of Richmond, and with the recent popularity of head-to-head greyhound racing, we’re confident The Arrow will be a huge winner with modern-day punters and racing fans alike.”

Click HERE for a list key dates, conditions & prize money throughout the Healesville Festival of Racing.

Ashley Baker, CEO of Healesville’s sister club, The Meadows, is expecting a groundswell of interest from greyhound trainers nation-wide.

“Healesville boasts Victoria’s only TAB straight track and with three race meetings every week it is one of the most utilised venues in our sport,” Mr Baker said.

“The Healesville Festival will take straight track racing to a whole new level, with the rich prize money on offer sure to attract many of the fastest greyhounds from all over Australia to the beautiful Yarra Valley straight.”