Canberra greyhound officials hope to lure the best trainers and dogs in Australia to the capital when they shift their marquee race to host a farewell event before the ACT government enforces an industry ban.
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The Canberra Greyhound Club has started talks to move the Canberra Cup forward by five months from September to April next year for what looms as the last time the race will be run.
![The Canberra Cup will be moved forward by five months next year. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong The Canberra Cup will be moved forward by five months next year. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/a1f296ae-4c0a-41d9-9bf4-5cf0fb855eaa/r0_0_2000_1331_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The ACT will become the first Australian jurisdiction to ban greyhound racing after two bills were passed in the Legislative Assembly to shut down the industry on April 30.
Officials are still determined to fight for their future and are refusing to accept the ban, vowing to pursue every legal option possible to overturn the decision.
![Chairman Canberra Greyhound Racing Club Alan Tutt, three-year-old greyhound fan Kree Gibbs, with retired greyhound Porsha, and Martina Taliano, co-ordinator of Canberra Region Greyhound Connections Group with retired greyhound Sadie. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong Chairman Canberra Greyhound Racing Club Alan Tutt, three-year-old greyhound fan Kree Gibbs, with retired greyhound Porsha, and Martina Taliano, co-ordinator of Canberra Region Greyhound Connections Group with retired greyhound Sadie. Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/e49f5966-d292-4ec6-b023-8956545f2d9a/r0_0_1999_1396_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But they are also intent on hosting the 39th Canberra Cup before the ban starts, with plans already in place for a celebration of greyhound racing. The Canberra Cup heats and the final would be run in the last two weeks of April.
Canberra Greyhound Club chairman Alan Tutt said the move was designed as a show of "solidarity" and said there was still hope of gaining an injunction against the decision.
"We want to bring the Canberra Cup forward, we've already spoken about. We want to look after the club's history," Tutt said.
"The date in May is the official day we have to stop racing. So to give everyone in the Canberra region and Australia a chance to protest this decision, it would be great to do it at the Canberra Cup.
"If we could get the top trainers in Australia a chance to get here to race and have the best greyhounds on the track ... let's do it one more time. We're going to bring the cup forward.
"We understand what's coming and no one likes it, but a final Canberra Cup would be a swansong for us."
The government will enforce the ban from April 30 and people caught illegally racing greyhounds could face a fine up up to $15,000 or a year in jail.
Owners who live in Canberra but race outside the capital will need to apply for a greyhound racing controller licence.
The government has offered a transition package, but Tutt said employees at the club would not budge on their belief the industry will find a way to beat the ban.
Tutt has been inundated with messages from around the country and Clubs Australia have offered their support, believed to be worth more than $1 million.
The club hopes to host a bonanza five months of racing to ensure trainers and dogs are given a proper send off.
The ban is set to be enforced despite the club having a clean record and no animal cruelty breaches since it opened in 1979.
Canberra greyhound trainers could find a new home at Queanbeyan if the NSW government pushes for plans to build a new track.
"I've got no doubt that based on the phone calls we've had ... whether they're greyhound or racing enthusiasts, I believe they'll come out to support us," Tutt said.
"We think this is just wrong. The process has been wrong. They're shutting it down because of people racing in NSW ... but we stopped them and we caught them here.
"We have the highest level of integrity of racing in Australia. My wife was in tears [on Tuesday night].
"I've got to keep my staff going ... my staff will stay strong and hard because they know we will keep fighting. People from around Australia are angry about this.
"There are plenty emotions flying around about this. Trainers are being made out to be the bad guys ... they're abused in the street. That's not who we are. We'll stand firm."