Wentworth Park runs final greyhound race as Million Dollar Chase ends 1932 era

Wentworth Park held its final night of greyhound racing during the Million Dollar Chase, ending an era that began in 1932. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the final attracted a larger-than-usual crowd. The night marked the end of racing at the Sydney venue, while the people quoted at the event differed over what the sport and its closure represented.

Nathan Horrigan told the newspaper that his first visit to Wentworth Park was as a child in the 1990s. He said he had trained 10 to 15 dogs over the years and attended the final because of his longstanding connection to the sport. Horrigan described some of his dogs as successful and others as less so, and said greyhounds were well cared for.

Stephen Arnold, whom the article described as having attended Wentworth Park for 50 years, also defended the care of greyhounds. He said the dogs were treated better than many ordinary pets. Arnold, who said he was approaching 72, questioned whether city residents would make the trip to Richmond on a Saturday night to attend greyhound racing.

The article also recorded opposition to the sport. Some attendees and trainers lamented the end of racing, while others described greyhound racing as cruel and out of date. Hurst argued that the site should not belong to an industry that kills dogs for a hobby. The newspaper’s excerpt does not provide further detail on the views or evidence behind that statement.

Moore said tens of thousands of people living in high-density housing near the stadium would benefit when the site is returned to public parkland. The statement describes the proposed future use of the grounds and identifies nearby residents as potential beneficiaries; the excerpt does not specify when the change will take place.

The final-night crowd and the contrasting comments captured two reactions to the closure: attachment to a longstanding racing venue and opposition to greyhound racing. Horrigan and Arnold spoke about their personal ties to Wentworth Park and their views on greyhound care; Hurst criticized the industry, while Moore pointed to the planned return of the site to public parkland.