Golden Easter Egg: $300,000 prize ignites coveted NSW greyhound race

Greyhound racing news from around the NSW regions | March 27

While there are richer events around the country and even the first prize of $300,000 is dwarfed by the $1 million to the winner of the Million Dollar Chase, the Golden Easter Egg remains an event coveted by many industry trainers and owners.. Now in its 36th year, the Wheeler Kennels-sponsored Easter Egg with its prestigious honour roll and history, has long been a race NSW trainers in particular aspired to win.. Nowadays, when asked to choose between NSW's biggest events, most admit the money on offer in the Million Dollar Chase is enticing but they all have a desire to win and a soft spot for the Egg..

Nine heats of the Wheeler Kennels Golden Easter Egg will be run at Wentworth Park on March 28 with the winners and placegetters, plus the five fastest fourths advancing to the four semi-finals on April 4.. First and second in the semi-finals will qualify for the grand final on April 11.. Jodie and Andy Lord added another feature race to their tally when the promising Consigliere took out the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park on March 21..

With changes to the programming of the Golden Easter Egg Carnival in 2025, Consigliere will now tackle that feature event and has drawn box two in heat six of the Egg on Saturday night.. The series was originally part of the Carnival and held as a support race, but to allow greyhounds to contest both events, the timing of the New Sensation was changed.. Yass trainer Neil Staines has been involved in the sport for 50 years, but he had one of the most special days in his long career at Goulburn on March 20..

Staines trained five winners on the card, Jungle Cobra, Bandit Blaze, Bandit Lynne, Royal Bandit, and Cawbourne Dollar.. It wasn't his best performance having trained six winners one day at Canberra in the mid-2000s, but what made this memorable was that his twin 14-year-old grandsons Daniel and Cameron were there helping out.. "Daniel was the handler, he placed them in the boxes, and Cameron caught them, so it was a really special day,'' Staines said..

John Richardson, who, with his wife Judith owned and trained the Wentworth Park record-holder Sunburnt Highway, died following a long illness on March 20.. John was aged 79.. Sunburnt Highway, or "Billy" as he was known to the Richardsons, won a record 39 races at Wentworth Park during an illustrious racing career which was highlighted by victory in the $100,000 Masters Meteor in 2022..

John is survived by his wife Judy, son Neville, daughter Michelle, six grandsons and one granddaughter.. The industry extends its sincere condolences to his family on their sad loss.. This article was produced as part of an ACM partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW..