Casino Greyhound Club Celebrates 90 Years of Racing Heritage
The Casino Greyhound Club in New South Wales is marking a significant milestone this week, celebrating 90 years of greyhound racing in the Northern Rivers region. The club's journey began on March 18, 1936, when Pop Northfield first attended a race meeting at Carrington Park in Casino, sparking a family legacy that has spanned generations.
A Family Legacy in Greyhound Racing
Pop Northfield, who initially attended races without his under-18 family members due to venue restrictions, quickly became enamored with the sport. His grandson, Mitch Northfield, who has served as club president for over two decades, shared insights into the family's deep-rooted connection. "My grandfather didn't have greyhounds in those days; they had hound dogs for hunting on the farm," Mitch explained. Within four years of that first meeting, Pop trained Bonall's Return to win the Casino Cup and Ballina Cup, establishing himself as a key figure in promoting greyhound racing in the area.
After Pop's death in 1973 at age 73, the club honored him by launching the Pop Northfield Maiden race, which has grown into a prestigious annual event. Mitch humorously noted, "I can't win a Casino Cup, and I'm the only Northfield who hasn't won a Pop Northfield Maiden. That's a bit sad." The family legacy continued with Mitch's father, Billy, who trained the champion sprinter Pretty Short, achieving 58 wins and 16 placings in 88 starts, along with setting 15 track records. Billy passed away in 2023, but his sons and their offspring have upheld the Northfield name in the sport.
Community Support and Historical Challenges
Mitch emphasized the strong local support that has sustained the club for nine decades. "You don't get to celebrate 90 years if you're not doing something right, and our club gets great support from local trainers," he said. To acknowledge this support for their 90th anniversary, the club increased prizemoney for every race by $2000. However, the club's establishment faced opposition in 1935 from Casino Council town clerk Mr. Every-Burns, who argued that greyhound racing would lead to financial hardship for poorer residents. Despite his objections and call for a public meeting, the council ignored him, allowing racing to proceed in Casino.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Club Evolution
Over the years, the Casino Greyhound Club has undergone significant upgrades to enhance its facilities. In 1938, a mechanical lure was introduced, followed by track lighting in 1978. A major renovation in 2015 replaced the grass track with loam, costing over $750,000, and new lights were installed in 2022. Mitch expressed particular pride in the sand track installation, which was largely self-funded by the club. "Probably the most satisfaction in my 20-odd years as president was putting the sand track down. We did 90 percent of that ourselves with our own money," he remarked.
The club has benefited from dedicated secretaries, including Don Waldron, Bruce Knight, Ronnie Herd, and current secretary Donna Pezet, who have all contributed to its success. Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Steve Griffin praised the club's efforts, stating, "Throughout the years, the Casino club's committee and staff have worked tirelessly to ensure their club, track, and weekly race meetings are a success, supporting local participants in this heartland for our sport." He extended congratulations to Mitch, Donna, and the entire team ahead of the anniversary celebrations.
As the Casino Greyhound Club looks back on 90 years of history, it continues to thrive as a cornerstone of the community, blending tradition with modern advancements in greyhound racing.
