Zammit Marvels At Queensland's Meteoric Rise

As Tony Zammit walks to the boxes with De Ferran for the running of the QGOLD Summer Sprint (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night, it will not be lost on him how times have changed.

Zammit is a member of the Australian and Queensland greyhound racing Hall of Fame.

His list of training premierships at the Gabba and Albion Park are to be admired by anyone in the industry.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

On Thursday night, De Ferran will be chasing a winner's cheque of $25,000 when he takes on a field of top grade sprinters on a night restricted mostly to Queensland-bred runners.

Tony can remember “like it was yesterday” racing the best in the land for a pittance compared to what prizemoney levels are today.

The Queensland racing industry is set to receive an additional $31 million in increased prize money as a part of its latest Investment Growth Plan, which will commence from February 1, 2023.

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— Racing Queensland (@Racing_QLD) December 1, 2022

And now Racing Queensland has announced an injection of prizemoney into the industry to make the locals sit up and take notice.

Never did Tony Zammit think he would see the day when a Thursday night fifth grader would win $6000, or a top grader $8000 over 520m, or a top grade 710m stayer earn $9800 for a win.

“But, who would have thought we could be racing for a winner's purse of $1 million,” he said.

Zammit remembers his first Queensland greyhound of the year, 1984 star Pewterfrost, earning a career total of $40,000.

“We raced at the Gabba for $880 and at Lawnton and Beenleigh for about $400,” said Zammit.

“I remember when the Golden Easter Egg started off, the first $100,000 greyhound race in the country. We ran second one year with Cool Marvel (behind Highly Blessed) and earned $20,000.

“It was something.”

Zammit puts today's prizemoney levels down to massive punting support for greyhound racing and race fields payments by corporate bookies.

Zammit, 67, now has eight dogs in training and De Ferran is his star.

At his peak his kennel had 32 in training, plus pups being educated, pre-trained and reared.

Of De Ferran's chances in Thursday night's QGOLD Summer Sprint, he says the eight box is perfect for his dog.

“But, Hara's Herbie and Shipwreck are both well boxed in the race,” he said.

The 2022/23 Golden Greys Summer Carnival is set to shine with a new-look program and a record-breaking $2 million in prize money on offer, headlined by the $300,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion.

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— Racing Queensland (@Racing_QLD) November 22, 2022

“Who would have thought we'd be racing in a Free For all, best 8, for $25,000 to the winner.”

QGOLD racing on Thursday night also has five Listed events all worth $15,600 to the winner, plus the Listed Summer Chase over 600m worth $25,000 as well.

Two QGOLD sprints are worth $12,545 to the winner.