Greyhound racing in Victoria celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2023, with our sport now taking pride of place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s Australian Sports Museum (ASM) in recognition of the momentous milestone.
The exhibition was officially launched at the MCG on Monday night with a number of dignitaries in attendance including breeders, trainers, administrators, volunteers, media partners and a handful of greyhounds including reigning Waterloo Cup champion He’s No Slouch and all-time great sprinter and sire, Fernando Bale.
The ASM’s new greyhound racing display incorporates four spectacular showcases sprinkled throughout the museum, each containing iconic historical memorabilia relating to the early days of coursing, the prized Melbourne and Australian Cups, champion modern-day sprinter Wow She’s Fast and Victoria’s world-leading Greyhound Adoption Program.
GRV Chair Peita Duncan said the 150-year milestone is something the entire industry can be proud of.
“This heralds a significant milestone in the history of greyhound racing in Victoria – a history of evolution that is something that the many thousands of people that have positively contributed over 150 years – should be extremely proud of,” Ms Duncan said.
“It’s an honour to be part of this great museum and it absolutely feels like we belong.”
“To be able to showcase our great sport’s history, right here at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, alongside all of our country’s greatest sporting athletes and achievements is quite humbling.
“It’s an honour to be part of this great museum and it absolutely feels like we belong.”
The Sandown Greyhound Racing Club revealed at Monday’s event that it was just weeks away from opening its own historical museum at Sandown Park, with its exhibition to be named the Neil Brown Museum after the club’s current Chairman.
Brown, an esteemed greyhound racing historian who is a member of GRV’s 150th Anniversary committee, was shocked to learn that the Sandown display would be named in his honour.
Australian Sports Museum visitors will be able to view the four greyhound racing pillars for the next 12 months ending 30 April, 2024.
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