Racing Queensland advises some important changes to the feature race calendar in 2021-22.

Firstly, the Townsville Cup carnival will be run in the first two weeks of September rather than the last two weeks of August. This is to avoid a clash with the MDC qualifiers at Lismore and Casino.

Furthermore, the Capalaba Cup and Bundaberg Cup have virtually swapped positions in the calendar with the Capalaba Cup now holding a position in the first two weeks of October, 2021, and the Bundaberg Cup occupying two weeks in late March, 2022.

The reason for the swap is due to the ongoing flood risk at Capalaba during the summer months. As such Capalaba will run two ‘Cups’ in the 2021 calendar year.

Bundaberg will not run a Cup in the 2021 calendar year but RQ will program an open class feature event at Bundaberg in early October to cater for greyhounds that would have been nominating for the Cup heats. RQ thanks both Clubs for their cooperation in resolving this matter.

In August the Capalaba Greyhound Club will host the Final of the 2021 National Straight Track Championships at Group 3 level. Heats will be conducted at Richmond, Healesville, Murray Bridge, and Capalaba, with the Grand Final on Sunday, August 15, 2021. This represents a fantastic opportunity for a Queensland-trained greyhounds to claim the title of National Straight Track Champion. A greyhound is eligible to nominate for a qualifying race if it has been domiciled in their qualifying state for at least 76 days out of the 150 days immediately prior to the nomination closing date in their state. For Queensland, the nominations close on Thursday July 29, at 9.30am. Full series conditions, including eligibility, are available on the Racing Queensland website.

Around the same time the National Sprint and National Distance Championships will get underway. The local Sprint and Distance finals in Queensland will be held at Albion Park on August 12, 2021, with the Grand Finals in Victoria at the Meadows on Saturday August 28, 2021, at Group 1 level. Greyhound Clubs Australia (GCA) will advise full conditions for the National Sprint and National Distance Championships shortly. Any trainer unsure of state eligibility for the Nationals should contact the graders at Racing Queensland prior to the nomination cut-off date.

For further information please contact Racing Queensland on 1800 851 155.