Unlike previous editions of the Speed Star at Sandown Park, there will not be an event over 595 metres (Group 3 Racecallers) and 715 metres (Group 3 Lizrene) due to clashes with the national greyhound calendar.
There is also a change to the appearance of the match races for betting purposes:
- Each match race has its own race number as opposed to one overall Speed Star event encompassing all four match races (i.e. Race 1 is the first match race, Race 2 is the second match race, etc.)
In previous editions of the Speed Star, whether it be at Sandown Park or The Meadows, one race number (Race 9 for example) would be used for a Speed Star event, and the four match races would be housed in the race number provided (i.e. 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4, 5 vs 6 and 7 vs 8).
The prior betting formation would allow traditional pari-mutuel betting to occur with punters backing a greyhound or greyhounds to finish first, second or third based on the overall standings, which would also form the result for exotic bet types (quinella, trifecta, first four).
Now, punters will simply be able to back a greyhound to win a match race without the potential confusion of betting in an event which lists greyhounds in the usual one-to-eight format.
A TAB market is available on the greyhound that runs the quickest time overall, but it is now regarded as an ‘extra’ market, which will allow pari-mutuel punters to bet on the three remaining match races once the first match takes place.
Previously, pari-mutuel betting closed on all four match races for a Speed Star event when the first match commenced.
