The original Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) clubhouse opened in January 1997 at its new track at Tara Raceway on Lake Terrace East. And the venue has served the club well.

Inside the clubhouse had been a sign welcoming everyone to the South Eastern Greyhound Racing Club. Back then there had been no ceilings, just the iron roof. And a couple of bookmaker’s boards were prominent.

Of course, over the years there have been improvements made to the clubhouse. But it had been some time since the MGGRC clubhouse major upgrade had first been mooted.

The major upgrade commenced earlier this year with a new toilet block high on the list of priorities. Also, the trusty old wood fire was removed and replaced by reverse cycle air-conditioning – well received by patrons at last Thursday’s meeting.

And the almost-completed new bar is looking flash – very flash, actually – as are the new ceilings, lights and floor coverings. And work also continues on the office renovations.

The main entrance will be at the western end of the building and incorporate double glass doors and wheelchair access while the back door will become a service entrance.

So, really, the MGGRC clubhouse is going to be more than just a clubhouse. Maybe a name such as the MGGRC Clubhouse and Function Centre would do the building justice.

Anyway, irrespective of its name, the soon to be completed project will certainly be worth a trip out to Tara Raceway. If only to see just how far greyhound racing in the south east has actually come since that first meeting at Glenburnie racecourse on Saturday, July 21, 1979.

Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club president Rob Gore and his wife Linda were back among the winners with Moonlight Grand at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway.

In fact, Moonlight Grand, named after the grandkids, was having her first start in Mount Gambier after having previously won five races at Horsham and Warrnambool.

Chasing her first win since August at Horsham, the daughter of Flying Ricciardo and Mossy Girl led all the way from box two in the Da’Leni Meats TG5+W Stake (400 metres) for a three length win over Starvin’ Marvin in 23.11 seconds.

Mossy Girl, a five-race winner, is also the dam of local winners Send It Blue and Tigger’s Run from her second litter by Cosmic Rumble.

Moonlight Grand was trained by Rob Gore when dead-heating for first on debut at Warrnambool prior to joining Beulah trainer Garry George for a six-month period.

Later, last week, it had been a case of Linda Gore chasing a family double for the day when Moonlight Annie raced at Angle Park over 595 metres. Trained by Melissa Freitag at Moorak, the daughter of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy finished third behind Spin And Burn.

Bred by Linda, the litter also includes Pass Mark, a winner of more than $100,000 in prize money and a finalist in the recent Group 1 Bold Trease (715 m) at Sandown Park.