GBOTA Begins Search For The Phoenix Slot Holder

The NSW Greyhound, Breeders, Owners & Trainers Association will begin their search for its inaugural The TAB Phoenix slot holder at Bulli next Tuesday.

The NSW Greyhound, Breeders, Owners & Trainers Association will begin their search for its inaugural The TAB Phoenix slot holder at Bulli next Tuesday.

The meeting will be headlined by heats of the Ladbrokes Flight to The Phoenix where the ultimate series winner will secure the GBOTA's coveted place in the $1.145m event at The Meadows on December 18.

"What better way to showcase top racing around our network of tracks than offering such a great incentive like a spot in The Phoenix," GBOTA general manager Steve Noyce said.

"I don't know anyone that you'd speak to that would say the opportunity of racing for $750,000-to-the-winner isn't life changing. And next week we begin a series that will ultimately provide that very chance.

"The GBOTA is very excited to be getting behind this fresh, new innovative concept."

The Ladbrokes Flight to The Phoenix will see heats staged at eight GBOTA tracks between October 26 and November 13.

First and second from each heat will then proceed through to four semi-finals at Wentworth Park on November 20 before the final is run and won on November 27 with victory booking a spot in The Phoenix at The Meadows three weeks later.

Ensuring the qualifiers have a NSW feel, greyhounds must have been domiciled in the state on or before September 11 to contest the series.

The winner of the Flight to The Phoenix will take home $25,000 while semi-final winners will earn $12,000. Heats will carry a first prize of $5,000.

"The next month of racing will offer participants right across the state with an immense opportunity," Noyce added.

"The series has been structured to offer participants in all regions the chance to dare to dream and race in the second richest race in the world."

In recent weeks varying slot holders have begun devising plans on how they will determine which greyhound will represent their place in the showpiece event at The Meadows on Saturday, December 18.

Today's announcement guarantees the GBOTA's place will be decided at Wentworth Park on November 27 following the staging of a rigorous qualification process.

Tracks to stage heats will be Bulli (26/10), Maitland (1/11), Lismore (2/11), Gunnedah (4/11), Temora (5/11), Bathurst (8/11), Gosford (9/11) and Wentworth Park (13/11).

"As part of our successful application the GBOTA made a commitment to promote The Phoenix in an innovative way," Noyce added.

"Work is well underway on that and whoever represents the GBOTA will do so with the knowledge they're representing NSW and that racing fans in the state are right behind them."

The GBOTA will also provide a $5000 travel subsidy for the successful connections.

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