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Attendees from the Greater Shepparton region and beyond are invited to take part in a day at the greyhounds to celebrate and support local disability groups on Thursday, September 3. The Great Chase Community Event will head to the venue on the Goulburn Valley Highway, Kialla, with this the first of eight stops at different locations across the state over the next couple of months. Alongside the date in Greater Shepparton, events will be staged in Traralgon, Geelong, Sale, Warragul, Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Broadmeadows before the close of October. Established by Greyhounds Racing Victoria in 2003, the program has raised an estimated $800,000 groups that care for the intellectually and physically disabled over the past two decades. Groups come together to enjoy a day out at their local racetrack where they receive a free meal, a chance to socialise and meet some the greyhounds in the process. The groups are randomly allocated competing greyhounds to cheer for on the day, with the best performing dogs winning prize money for their respective groups. The Great Chase community program is open to any organisation based in Victoria which cares for the intellectually or physically disabled. For more than two decades, Greyhound Racing Victoria has proudly hosted the Great Chase – a much-loved event that brings together people with intellectual and physical disabilities for a day of excitement, entertainment, and community connection. “In 2026, greyhound racing clubs across Victoria will once again open their doors for Great Chase Community Days– inclusive, all-abilities events and facilities designed to celebrate and support local disability groups,” a GRV spokesperson wrote. “Since 2003, the Great Chase has donated more than $800,000 to disability-focused community groups across the state – and this year, your group could be next! “If you or your organisation would like to be part of this unforgettable day out, simply get in touch with your local participating greyhound racing club. “Let’s make this year’s Great Chase the biggest and most inclusive yet!” Damien Ractliffe, GRV’s head of public affairs and corporate communications is looking forward to welcoming attendees to the Shepparton event. “We're thrilled to have the Great Chase back again again for 2026. It's a campaign that will run across a number of our clubs across the state from Shepparton down to Gippsland,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be able to host local disability groups, give them a free day out provide them with entertainment and just that social inclusion that they might not always get. “It’s great great chance to open our doors and let them pat some retired greyhounds too.” “Local community groups can go home with some prize money too and we hear some wonderful stories of groups taking home $2000 and being able to put that into upgrading local facilities providing further social inclusion opportunities.” You can register to take part in the Great Chase events across the state by emailing: events@grv.org.au.