Dennis Napthine Announces GOBIS Boost

The popular Victorian Greyhound Owners Breeders Incentive Scheme () is set to receive a boost, with news the State Government is injecting extra funds, via the Racing Industry Fund, into the Victorian Greyhound Industry.

Premier of Victoria and Minister for Racing announced at the 40th Greyhound Industry Awards Night an additional $775,000 in funding would be provided to Greyhound , to extend the Victorian Governments commitment to Greyhound Racing and to the GOBIS structure.

Dr Napthine said some of the enhancements to GOBIS for the next two years included all the Greyhounds that for a start in a Race would now receive a $1000 Breeders and an additional 132 GOBIS-only races will be run throughout the year in Country Victoria, with the 11 Country Greyhound Racing Clubs running 12 races each.

The funding is provided through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund, which has been established using unclaimed dividends.

The increase in GOBIS funding is a welcome boost to greyhound racing in Victoria, with the incentive to breed, buy and race a Victorian Bred Greyhound now very attractive.

“Victoria is a world leader in Greyhound Racing and this scheme encourages the breeding, ownership and racing of locally bred Greyhounds”, Dr Napthine said.

GRV Chairman Peter Cailard said the Victorian Greyhound Industry has been reinvigorated by enhancements to GOBIS and the support of the Premier and State Government has been vital in the Scheme's ongoing success.

“GRV is committed to promoting the highest breeding standards.  This is achieved by rewarding star performers on the track through GOBIS, which stimulates the growth of the Victorian Breeding Industry”, Mr Cailard said.

“These new breeder's bonuses will be welcome.  Importantly, they will be additional to the $10,000 bonus that is awarded to any GOBIS Greyhound that wins a Group Race, a bonus that was won 8 times in the past financial year.”

The Victorian GOBIS scheme has been the envy of other States in Australia and has continued to prove very popular with participants.  However, while any extra funding is always most welcome, some participants are still critical and look to improve the way the funds are distributed, citing not enough of the money is returned to grass roots owners and breeders.

I personally know of a greyhound which recorded in excess of 20 races wins on the provincial circuit, however did not win a GOBIS event, despite being registered under the scheme.  This was due to the fact the maiden the greyhound won was not a GOBIS event, despite the race being a maiden Final at .

Should a Greyhounds maiden victory not carry a GOBIS bonus, many provincial or country chasers may not get another opportunity to compete for a GOBIS bonus for the remainder of their racing life.

Possibly all Maiden events in Victoria should carry a GOBIS Bonus to the winner.  In this way, so long as your Greyhound is a race winner in Victoria, you would receive at least one GOBIS payment.  This would certainly be a strong incentive for all to register for the GOBIS Scheme and ensure the pool of money gets spread to all in the industry, not just those competing at the elite level.

While we always look for improvement in any facet of Greyhound Racing at ARG, for mine, to criticise the GOBIS scheme is splitting hairs, as overall it has been wonderful for the industry in Victoria.

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RufusLelevrier
RufusLelevrier
10 years ago

Last year the Victoria government was boasting “a substantial reduction in the number of litters bred and in the last
two years there has been a large decrease in the number of greyhounds
euthanased in Victoria”. Throwing more financial incentives to breeders will certainly reverse this trend. Bad news for the dogs!

RufusLelevrier
RufusLelevrier
10 years ago

Last year the Victoria government was boasting “a substantial reduction
in the number of litters bred and in the last
two years there has been a large decrease in the number of greyhounds
euthanased in Victoria”. Throwing more financial incentives to breeders
will certainly reverse this trend. Bad news for the dogs!

RufusLelevrier
RufusLelevrier
10 years ago

Last year the Victoria government was boasting “a substantial reduction in the number of litters bred and in the last two years there has been a large decrease in the number of greyhounds euthanased in Victoria”. Throwing more financial incentives to breeders will certainly reverse this trend. Bad news for the dogs!

RufusLelevrier
RufusLelevrier
10 years ago

Last year the Victoria government was boasting “a substantial reduction in the number of litters bred and in the last two years there has been a large decrease in the number of greyhounds euthanased in Victoria”. Throwing more financial incentives to breeders will certainly reverse this trend. Bad news for the dogs!