It wasn’t all that long ago that the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club was running seven and eight race meetings on Thursday afternoons. And with the threat hanging over its head of a total closure until such time as the SA/Victoria border was re-opened.

But the club weathered the storm after being assisted by the support of Adelaide trainers, in particular Tony Rasmussen, Clint Trengove and Kevin Bewley.

Then saw the introduction of the 40 km travel bubble on the SA/Victorian border. This allowed Victorian trainers Captain Abbott of Edenhope and Monty Wilson of Mumbannar back to Tara Raceway.

Further to that, earlier this month was the announcement that the bubble had been extended to 70 km. Scott Blacksell, Robert Halliday, Andy Graham, Robert Proctor, Bob Wombwell, Sindy Colpoys and Ben Boers now also have approval to race in Mount Gambier.

With the exception of Halliday, they all have greyhounds racing at Tara Raceway on Thursday. As do Rasmussen and Trengove, along with Meningie trainer Tim Richards.

From a Mount Gambier perspective this has made for a nomination boost of considerable proportion. So considerable in fact that this week’s 12-race meeting will be one of the biggest, numbers-wise, run at the track this year.

It’s marvellous how much difference 30 kilometres makes.

Eight young greyhounds will contest the Greyhound-Data.com Maiden (277 metres) and seven “old” ones the Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake, also over the short course. And for the first time in a while there will be no vacant boxes in the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Mixed Stake (600 m).

And Hello I’m Jade will be chasing her fifth win on the trot for owner-trainer Shelley Trengove when lining up in the Progreyhoundtips.com Grade 5 final (512 m).

Taking a line on last week’s heats, this should be a terrific final with Hello I’m Jade defeating Buddy Guy in the last bound while Black Spring scored by a similar margin in the second heat over Top Right.

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