Dapto gone to the dogs as greyhound venue runs its race
Maeve Bannister |
It was standing room only at the final meeting of the world-famous Dapto Dogs as punters came in droves to pay tribute at the iconic race track.
There were thousands trackside almost 89 years after the first greyhound race meeting was held at Dapto in Wollongong, on the south coast of NSW.
It was a stark contrast with what has been, in recent years, a mostly empty venue on Thursday nights.
But locals and visitors of all ages turned up to make some final memories with food trucks, live music, jugglers and performers on stilts to entertain, along with the greyhounds.
The lively and nostalgic atmosphere was tinged with sadness as people came to terms with the reality that it would be the last time the dogs would run there.
The decision to close the racetrack came after the showground’s owners, the Dapto Agricultural and Horticultural Society, opted not to extend its lease.
Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Steve Griffin, who took on the job in March, said the organisation tried to negotiate a 20-year lease with the owners but was unsuccessful.
“It may sound cliched but the Dapto Dogs is as Australian as meat pies and Holden cars and whether you are a punter or not, you have heard of the name,” he told AAP in July.
“It is an iconic venue and location and it’s disappointing but we do need to move forward.”
Former trainer Joe Formosa, who entered greyhounds as a hobby in the 1970s, was saddened by the track’s closure.
He brought along his racing tip book from 1971, which showed a first place win was worth $98.
“The prize money was nice at the time and the dogs didn’t cost too much to raise,” he told AAP.
“They’re one of the best dogs to have as pets because they’re actually very docile.”
Despite having a skin cancer cut out earlier in the day, Mr Formosa did not want to miss out on the track’s farewell.
“This is an amazing turnout and not what I was expecting,” he said.
Dapto local Caroline Dyball has been going to the track with her family since she was four years old.
“As a kid, I remember it being packed pretty much every time we came,” the 25-year-old said.
“It’s changed over the years, but I think now that everyone’s realising it’s going, they’ve thought they’ve got to come one more time.
“I think it’s really sad. I’m getting quite emotional about it because I don’t want it to close.”
Trainers and punters will still have two greyhound racing options in the Illawarra area after the closure, further north at Bulli and to the south at Nowra.
But neither is as well known as Dapto, which held its first race in February 1937 and has since become a venue recognised not only throughout Australia, but globally.
After Race 12 – named The Last Race Ever – punters were allowed onto the track to take a jar full of sand as a piece of racing history, and the finish post arch was auctioned off.
Then the racetrack lights were turned off for the final time.
The Dapto Dogs have had their day.
AAP
