Rapid fire racing returns to Sandown Park this May.
As announced on Sky Racing’s The Catching Pen, the group 3 Bill Collins Memorial will now be run as a Speed Star, the country’s newest and most exciting racing format.
“The inaugural Speed Star was an amazing success and we’re excited to add a second edition to our annual calendar,” said Michael Floyd, Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.
The four matches will be conducted in rapid succession with gaps of approximately 10 minutes between matches. Qualification for the series is based on times run at Sandown Park between 1 February 2016 and 1 May 2016 including a series of exhibition trials on the three Sundays leading in, with the eight fastest nominated greyhounds qualifying for the series.
The series will carry $61,000 in prize money, with the winner of each match picking up $10,000, with a further $15,000 bonus for the fastest time and $6000 for second.
“In this format of racing we have the opportunity to showcase the fastest greyhounds in the country, racing head-to-head and against the clock. It’s as pure as racing can get.
“The response from punters and racing fans last time was sensational. All eyes were on the clock not just on the night, but in the lead up too. The final qualification series was one of the most exciting days I’ve had on the track. This series promises to be bigger and better again.”
Head to head betting on each match will be available, as well as full fixed odds and pari-mutuel wagering options.
The Bill Collins Speed Star will be run on Thursday 5 May and will kick off a massive four weeks of racing at Sandown Park, culminating in the world’s richest race for stayers, the $250,000 RSN927AM Sandown Cup on Thursday 26 May.
For more information, contact Sandown GRC on (03) 9546 9511, or email racingatsandown@grv.org.au.
Click here for more on the 2015 Speed Star.
Click here for event conditions
The 8th ranked greyhound in the 2015 edition, Lamia Bale, qualified with a time of 29.233
Smart Missile scorches around Sandown Park to claim the inaugural Speed Star in 29.006
