Caption: Bulli Greyhound Club’s operations manager Darren Hull with the Ladbrokes Bulli Gold Cup

AS BULLI prepares to hold its Group 2 Gold Cup series, the club’s operations manager says the Covid epidemic has transformed Greyhound racing for the better.

Darren Hull says Covid shut down most forms of gambling worldwide and punters were looking for somewhere to place a bet.

“When sports that people traditionally bet on virtually closed overnight, the racing industry in Australia found a way to still operate but under strict government conditions,” he said.

“This opened the Australian racing industry to an entire new world fan base as a wagering product, attracting a whole new generation of punters who have stuck even after restrictions from the pandemic were lifted.

“It was weird as I was receiving emails and enquiries from overseas and countries I had never heard of.”

Hull called greyhound racing a highly attractive digital sport with people wagering online from around the world.

“This is where most of the sport’s income comes from, so it has worked out well for greyhound racing’s future,” he said.

“The effort of everybody involved in Australian greyhound racing should never be forgotten.

“The combined effort from commercial and regulatory authorities, the tracks and most importantly the greyhound participants got us through.

“I firmly believe there are further opportunities for the sport to grow in the digital space. It is endless what can be achieved.

“It’s fair to say the interest in greyhound racing leapt to an all-time high when the Covid pandemic hit worldwide.”

Hull admitted that attendances at the track fell.

“A lot of the older trainers and participants in our sport have told me they wished for the return of the ‘good old days with multiple bookies and big crowds on course’,” he said. 

“My reply has been the good old days are right now. Participants have never had it better with increased prizemoney, and welfare initiatives and a range of former non-TAB tracks transitioned to TAB racing.  

“There are more bookies online now than there ever were on course and you can get a bet on at the flick of a button.”

Those overseas punters get a chance to spend their money on the 2023 Cyril Rowe-Ladbrokes Bulli Gold Cup series.

Bulli traditionally holds twilight meetings on Tuesdays, but this year the Group 2 Cup to be run over 472m will be held on Sunday nights.

The heats will be run on February 12 and the final the following week.

Hull, who recently clocked up 20 years as a track manager (11 at Wagga and nine at Bulli), believes 2023 will continue as a growth year for the industry in Australia.

Hull said the Bulli club lost two years’ worth of non-greyhound events during the pandemic.

“These events are all coming back with new bookings for 2023. Our involvement in community events is exciting.”