MEDIA RELEASE
Gloucester Park Harness Racing today announced that the TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final will be broadcast live nationally on Free-to-air television for the next three years.
At a function signifying 200 days until the Grand Final on Sunday 13 December attended by the Minister for Racing and Gaming, the Hon Colin Holt MLC, the major announcement was that Channel Seven will broadcast the Inter Dominion Grand Final at Gloucester Park.
GPHR President Mr John Burt said the partnership will be a great boost for the championship as well as an excellent opportunity to promote Perth as a great sporting destination.
"The Inter Dominion is Australasia’s greatest harness race and an event of its stature deserves to be broadcast live to as many people as possible" said GPHR President Mr John Burt
"Through Channel Seven we will be able to promote our great sport as well as our beautiful city all over Australia."
Seven West Media chief executive, Chris Wharton, was delighted with the association.
"Gloucester Park is a Perth, indeed West Australian, landmark" stated Wharton
"The Inter Dominion is a part of racing history, especially to Western Australians, and Seven West is proud to be part of the championship.
"The $1.3 Million Grand Final will be one of the highlights of the sporting year and it is fantastic that a race of this calibre be shown live on Free-to-air television by Channel Seven," he said.
It was also announced that Bunbury will host the second heat of the series, the first for a provincial club in Western Australia. In another first for an Inter Dominion in WA, the Grand Final will be run on a Sunday.
Racing and Gaming Minister Colin Holt said the new timeslot would allow the final to be beamed live into the eastern states and New Zealand during prime time, creating further television exposure for the event and Perth.
"As well as a substantial television audience, we are expecting more than 30,000 people to attend the series over the four race meetings," Mr Holt said.
"More than 3,000 interstate and international trainers, horse owners and trotting fans are expected to visit Perth and Bunbury during the two-week series, tipping hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy."
Mr Burt also announced that iconic Western Australian sporting commentator Dennis Cometti will once again lead the promotion of the Perth Inter Dominion.
"Dennis is another great tie-in with Channel Seven. He will once again be an ambassador for the TABtouch Inter Dominion, reuniting with Gloucester Park after performing the role in 2012.
"Dennis is synonymous with first-class Australian sport and is a great Western Australian, much like the Inter Dominion itself" joked Mr Burt
Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) Chairman Jeff Ovens announced increases to the supporting races during the TABtouch Inter Dominion Championship inclusive of the Golden Nugget, Norm’s Daughter and Mares Classic.
"With strong performance of the WATAB underpinning industry funding for 2015/16, RWWA is pleased to invest a total of $1.85M towards the Inter Dominion Championship and its supporting feature races." Ovens said.
Grand Final Day will stage a massive four Group One Events, including the $50,000 Trotters Cup, the first-ever Group One race for square gaiters in Western Australia. In addition, the Group Ones will be supported by three Group Two races.
The TABtouch Inter Dominion Championship starts on November 27 at Gloucester Park, culminating in the $1.3 Million Grand Final on Sunday 13 December.
Visit www.perthinterdominion.com.au
