At last October’s Nationals, Abilene launched a main stake sponsorship, run in honor of the Women of Greyhound Racing. In addition to supporting the semi-annual meet, the sponsorship also included a $500 purse to the fastest female in the meet, a beautiful trophy blanket, awards baskets and $2500 dollars donated to grassroots breast cancer charities. The event was designed to showcase the women working in the sport, be they breeders, trainers, owners, kennel helpers, adoption or haulers.

October is breast cancer month, the net amount over the sponsorship is donated to a nonprofit charity devoted to breast cancer outreach, research and support. Last years recipients were Save the Twinz and The Charmettes, both Broward county non profits in south Florida. The ladies were awarded the checks and lauded with a dinner and racing at the Hollywood track in January. They were delighted with the dogs and enjoyed the track atmosphere.

This sponsorship is a donated, collaborative, grassroots effort by all racing and greyhound enthusiasts that wish to honor, support and celebrate the women of our sport and the breed. The minimal goal is $1500 – enough money for a Main Stakes sponsorship and a $500 purse for the fastest bitch of the meet. Additional monies can be divided between the purse and a donation to a national or racing-regional Breast Cancer Awareness and Research cause. It is fitting that the meet is in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For those unaware of the meet’s sponsorship package deals it includes a track stake named for the Women of Greyhound Racing, with the name appearing in the programs through the week of the Meet, an opportunity to present trophy to the winner of the stake (with photographs will appear in the Review.) Also, Women in Greyhound Racing will be listed as a major sponsor on any NGA appreciation ads in the Meet programs, Review, local press, etc. And frequent mention during the announcements.