MAIN GRAFTON WINTER CARNIVAL SCHEDULE

June 28: Maiden heats (450m).

June 30: Sprinters Cup heats (450m); Stayers Cup heats (650m).

July 7: Sprinters Cup final (450m) $20,000; Stayers Cup final (650m) $15,000; Maiden final (450m) $20,000.

Also racing on July 2 and July 9.

By TERRY WILSON

LEADING local trainer Evelyn Harris, pictured, says the multi-million redevelopment of the Grafton greyhound track has made the circuit ‘100 per cent’ better than its predecessor.

Ready to be opened just in time for the annual Winter Carnival, the new-look track should be a winner according to Harris who just may have a couple of runners ripe for the occasion.

The Carnival, not held last year, is primed to burst on to the racing scene at the $4.6 million redeveloped facility from Monday, June 28, to Friday, July 9.

Harris, who lives just outside Grafton at Whiteman Creek, believes the new design offers far safer racing for the dogs than its predecessor.

“It’s a nice track, done perfectly, and it doesn’t have the banked corners like we used to have and it has a nice long straight for the run home,” she said.

“It is going to be a lovely track, so much better. In fact 100 per cent better, I reckon.

“And you’ll see lesser accidents.”

Harris is also impressed with the prizemoney structure for Carnival finals night on July 7, a Wednesday night finals program.

On offer then will be $20,000 to the winners of the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup (450m) and the big Clarence Village Sheds Maiden (450m); plus $15,000 for the winner of the Ladbrokes Stayers Cup (660m).

“That is good money this year,” said Harris of the significant purses on offer.

Harris has two litters of eight, one by Mepunga Blazer and the other by Orson  Allen, just broken and likely to have some representation in the Maiden.

Grafton club chairman John Corrigan said race meetings had been held on June 7, 14, 18 and 21 to iron out any potential glitches heading into the Carnival.

“I’m really looking forward to it because it has been a work in progress since November last year,” Corrigan said.

The first trials on the new track were held late last month.