As the greyhounds walked onto the track for the first race on the last night of the Dapto, the grandstand was filled by the local community.
Not a seat to be had along the 100m straight.
It’s not something that will happen at any racecourse in any of the three codes this year or any year.
It was recognition of what the dogs on a Thursday night meant to the suburb of Wollongong.
“Everyone in the world knows Dapto dogs,” famous caller Paul Ambrosoli said.
Everything has to come to an end, and with the lease up at the Showgrounds, this was Dapto’s turn.
After 88 years, Dapto’s final night was one to remember.
These weren’t rusted-on punters, rather, families with kids there to say goodbye and say that they were there on September 11, 2025.
The gates were shut by race three when Col Pomeroy was interviewed, he may have seen more Dapto races than anyone else.
“My first night here, I was about five, dressed in my pyjamas, and I have been coming ever since for 67 years,” he said. “My mum and dad put on the first Silver Collar here. They supplied the prizemoney and trophy and it has been going ever since – up until last week. The original prize money was 50 Guineas, which was 50 pounds and 50 shillings. Crazy.”
Pomeroy remembered when the stands were full and the ring had more 30 bookies, when the only way to bet was on-course, unless you were friendly with an SP bookmaker.
This was a celebration, and as the families left for bedtime, the Dapto gates reopened, allowing more people to come in to see the bunny whiz around the 500m oval track with dogs eagerly chasing.
By the end of the night, 5000 could say they were there.
After the last of 12 races, which was won by Taw Major, those who were still there were invited onto the track to take home some of the Dapto sand as a memory.
Earlier, leading trainer Andy Lord paid $10,000, which was donated to the Mark Hughes Foundation, for the Dapto winning post.
He had seen many of his winners fly past it and gave him the ultimate keepsake.
Eriza Sparkles led all the way to take the final Dapto Megastar for Steve Fitch from Nowra. She’ll fly Dapto’s flag into the future.
“I can’t explain how I’m feeling – she’s just so special this little girl,” Fitch said. “She’s just a star. After 12 starts she’s taken on a field that’s won God knows how many Group 1 races and she’s just beat them all.
“What do you say? Just a special night.”
