Greyhound racing is set to disappear from Dunedin at the end of this month, but perhaps not from Otago.
The Otago Greyhound Racing Club cannot stay at Forbury Park, a move to Wingatui has been ruled out and it is understood developing a new site in or near Dunedin is no longer considered an option.
‘‘We are, however, looking at an option outside of the greater Dunedin area, but any decision on that is still some way off,’’ club manager John Carlyle said.
Forbury Park, owned by the Forbury Park Trotting Club, will become surplus to the racing industry’s requirements from August 1.
The greyhound racing club is a tenant at the St Kilda venue, it owns clubrooms and kennels there, and it has race meetings at Forbury Park on July 18, 23 and 30.
Mr Carlyle said the club's racing future beyond that was unknown, although 2021-22 dates had been tentatively reallocated to Christchurch and Southland clubs.
Oamaru has been touted as a possible home, but other options may be considered by the racing sector.
The final trotting event was hosted at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Moving to the Otago Racing Club’s Wingatui home is among the options for the Forbury Park Trotting Club, although the club needs to negotiate with Harness Racing New Zealand about how proceeds from selling Forbury Park might be used.
The St Kilda venue could be sold to a consortium proposing a housing development, assuming Harness Racing New Zealand does not stand in the way.
