Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has reported record nominations for its upcoming 2026 Puppy Auction, attributing the surge to several key factors. These include increased interest from a broader participant base, particularly younger breeders, growing confidence in the sport's future, and an expanded adjoining race series.
GRNSW received nearly 300 nominations for the annual event, scheduled for June 28 at Richmond. Due to logistical constraints, the number of pups in the auction will be reduced, but approximately 200 greyhounds are expected to be offered, significantly up from last year's 169 and the 145 in the inaugural 2024 auction.
"We are thrilled with the response from breeders wanting to be involved in this year's Puppy Auction," said GRNSW's acting chief executive officer Brian Charman. "Naturally, some were disappointed that not all nominated pups made the final catalogue, but the team ensured a fair process, and breeders with many nominations could select which pups remained. It was an embarrassment of riches, and the result is quality like never before, from the opening auction to the final lot. We expect plenty of interest from buyers."
In conjunction with the Puppy Auction, GRNSW runs a race series called the Puppy Classic, held late the following year. For the 2024 and 2025 auctions, the Classic was a single 520m event at Richmond. Now, a revamped series will be held in 2027.
"We received feedback from participants who purchased at our 2024 auction, suggesting we spread prizemoney across more events instead of investing all in one," Charman explained. "This approach benefits a wider variety of greyhounds and encourages more buyers to invest, knowing they will have options next year. This has resonated with vendors and potential buyers, and we expect this to reflect in the results on June 28."
The 2027 Puppy Classic Series will feature three regional heats and finals, with distances ranging from 300m to 500m. Each final will offer $10,000 to the winner, plus a $500 Breeder's Bonus for nominated greyhounds (limited to one payment per greyhound). A major final over 500m will have a total prize pool of $150,000, with $100,000 to the winner. Additionally, GRNSW will offer the Puppy Classic Race Series Bonus of $20,000 in 2027.
The catalogue will be available online by May 29, and more information can be found at thedogs.com.au under the Puppy Auction tab.
This article was produced as part of an ACM partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW.
