Snow kennel eyes new Purga kennel site

By Jordan Gerrans

With the green light given to the new Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre last month, leading kennels are working towards relocating to near the Purga site.

Experienced greyhound trainer Ned Snow has identified a new property for his kennel which will see him live and train just seven minutes from where the new facility will be built.

The Vince Curry Memorial Final winning trainer from earlier this year is in the process of relocating to a new 54 acre property that he believes will be perfect for preparing his expanding team of dogs into the future.

Construction on the multi-million dollar GBGC will commence during 2022-23 after receiving planning approval from the Palaszczuk Government.

“It will be ideal, definitely,” Snow said.

Situated just south of Ipswich, GBGC will feature three tracks - a straight track, a much-needed one-turn track and a two-turn track – and will be beamed to more than 60 nations across the world through Sky Racing.

The veteran dog man currently is based at Cornubia and thinks his new set-up will allow him to increasing his breeding interests and therefore have more starters on a regular basis.

Snow has applied for a licence to have 100 dogs on the new property through the Ipswich City Council.

“We have been looking around and if all this goes ahead, we can now breed a couple more litters,” Snow said.

“That is what we had in mind.

“We have already had one meeting with the council up there so far – they told us what they want – and once we put the plans in for the kennel and what we want, we will go from there.

“So far the council has been really good to deal with and I think we should be able to get through all this ok.

“There is a boarding kennel for dogs just two miles away from my new place that has a licence for 120 dogs so that should be helpful for us and our numbers.”

On the 54 acres, Snow plans to install a straight track to prepare his team as well as a bull ring.

“We are just waiting for the current place to sell and then waiting for council up there to approve our plan for the new kennels,” Snow said.

“I cannot see myself being up there within the next two months.

“There is a lot of work to be done, building runs and emptying out yards.”

Racing at the new venue is expected to commence in 2024.

Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson AM said the project would redefine greyhound racing in the Sunshine State.

“The approval of the GBGC is a momentous occasion for the greyhound code,” Wilson said last month.

“Not only will we deliver a state-of-the-art racing complex, but we will provide an invaluable community asset.

“GBGC is a once-in-a-generation project and we look forward to delivering a local amenity that will be enjoyed for decades to come.”

In Snow’s new venture, he is going halves in the property with fellow trainer John Catton.

Catton – who is also the president of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club – is expected to join Snow at the property in around two years’ time.

On his current team of dogs, Snow has five set to go around on Thursday evening from Albion Park.

One of those is Queensland Origin hero Shipwreck, who is likely to soon turn his focus to Victoria.

The trainer is planning to take three from his team – Shipwreck, Oh Oh Range and Pocket Money – to the southern state for feature racing opportunities.

“I have been offered a place to stay down in Melbourne by a trainer and I have been thinking about taking Shipwreck down for the Cup and all those races,” Snow said.

“The Melbourne Cup and Tog Gun and what have you.

“Oh Oh Range and Pocket Money, there is races for all of them in November and later this month.”