Recently-appointed Greyhound Racing SA Chief Operating Officer, Ben Kavenagh, flew into Mount Gambier last week in order to dedicate face-to-face time with Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Mark Dwyer and members of the committee.

Kavenagh said the purpose of the visit had been to work through issues such as role clarity, the role of clubs and understanding of intricacies related to Mount Gambier.

Budget and facilities plans for 2024 were also discussed, along with pressing issues such as off-track diagnostics and greyhound ambulance standards.

Further discussion with Kavenagh also included point of sale at the canteen and bar, much-needed road works at Tara Raceway, another storage shed and kennel house air conditioning.

Other points also raised included a clubhouse front verandah extension, track lighting for the race track, new starting boxes and the repositioning of the 400 metre starting boxes.

Already confirmed has been the construction of a greyhound education circuit, originally planned to be erected in an area adjacent to the 512 metre boxes. However it will now be situated in the slipping track area.

Meanwhile, following Kavenagh’s face-to-face, at the MGGRC’s monthly committee meeting it was confirmed that the twice-weekly trial mornings on Wednesday and Saturday would now also cater for four-dog puppy trials.

In addition, kennels would also be made available to puppies in order for them to acclimatise themselves to kennel house procedures.