The Bundaberg Wildcard (550m) is set to form part of the Bundaberg Cup program for the first time in 2022.
The new Listed event is for locally trained greyhounds (as per eligibility conditions) and will provide the winner with automatic entry into the Group 3 Bundaberg Cup Final (550m) held on March 28.
Prizemoney has been increased for the Bundaberg Cup Final to $60,000 ($40,000 to the winner) with the event now progressing towards Group 2 status in three years’ time.
The Bundaberg Wildcard final on March 14 will carry total prizemoney of $25,000 ($15,000 to the winner). Racing Queensland (RQ) will also roll out Wildcard events as local leadup events for both the Rockhampton and Townsville Cups later in 2022, with identical prizemoney to that which applies in the Bundaberg Wildcard.
The heats of the Bundaberg Wildcard will be held on Monday, March 7 with nominations closing on Thursday, March 3 at 9.30am.
Greyhounds will be eligible to nominate for a Wildcard event if they qualify under one of the following criteria:
- The greyhound has been domiciled* in the local zone for 50 days or more before the date of the heats and has started at the track at least once.
(*The change of kennel notification form (or equivalent evidence) will be deemed as the commencement date of domiciliary.)
- The greyhound is not domiciled within the local zone but has started at the track 10 times or more in the six months before the date of the Wildcard heats.
- The greyhound is not domiciled within the local zone but has started at the track 20 times or more in its career before the date of the Wildcard heats.
The local zones for each Wildcard event will be defined as the following:
- Bundaberg Wildcard – inclusive of post code 4570 (Gympie area) to 4678 (Agnes Water area)
- Rockhampton Wildcard – inclusive of post code 4680 (Gladstone area) to 4799 (Mackay area)
- Townsville Wildcard – inclusive of post code 4800 (Proserpine area) to 4895 (Cooktown area)
The following feature event dates have been amended to accommodate the Wildcard programming:
- The Rockhampton Young Guns (407m): Heats programmed for February 16 have been brought forward to February 2. Age eligibility conditions remain unchanged - open to greyhounds whelped on or after 16/8/2019.
- Th Bundaberg Young Guns (550m): Heats programmed for February 28 have been brought forward to February 21. Age eligibility conditions remain unchanged - open to greyhounds whelped on or after 28/8/2019.
- The Rockhampton Anniversary Cup (510m): Heats programmed for March 30 have been brought forward to March 23.
- The Colleen Jackson Memorial (510m): Rescheduled to May 11.
For more information, please contact Racing Queensland on 07 3869 9407.