The Australian Greyhound of the Year Award was introduced in 2002 and has developed into one of the highest individual honours in Australian greyhound racing.
The award recognises outstanding performance at the elite level and is determined by a national voting panel comprising representatives from the greyhound racing media and administration across Australia.
From 2002 to 2006, the award was announced through special editions of Sky Channel’s weekly greyhound racing program The Catching Pen, before the presentation began evolving into a major industry event.
Awards ceremonies were subsequently staged at The Meadows and Sandown before the Australian Greyhound Racing Association (AGRA), now Greyhound Clubs Australia (GCA), established the Australian Greyhound of the Year Awards as a premier national presentation celebrating excellence across the sport.
Sydney hosted the 2008 awards at Sheraton on the Park in April 2009, followed by presentations in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria as the event continued to rotate around the country.
A significant change came in 2013 when the awards moved away from the traditional calendar-year format and adopted a racing-season format, aligning the presentation more closely with the National Championships.
Since then, the Australian Greyhound of the Year Awards have become an important part of Nationals week, bringing together participants and administrators from across Australia to celebrate the achievements of the sport’s leading greyhounds and people.
Over more than two decades, many of Australian greyhound racing’s greatest champions have been recognised through the award, ensuring the Australian Greyhound of the Year remains one of the sport’s most prestigious national honours.
Today, the GCA Australian Greyhound of the Year Awards continue that tradition, celebrating outstanding achievement while recognising the champions and contributors who have helped shape Australian greyhound racing.
The inaugural Australian Greyhound of the Year was Boomeroo. His success was followed by Bombastic Shiraz 2003, Whisky Assassin 2004,Pure Octane 2005, Betty’s Angel 2006,Flashing Floods 2007, El Galo in 2008, Cindeen Shelby 2009, El Grand Senor 2010, Dyna Tron 2011, Miata 2012, Miata 2012-2013, Xylia Allen 2013-2014,Fernando Bale 2014-2015, Dyna Double One 2015-2016, Fanta Bale 2016-2017, Fanta Bale 2017-2018, Orson Allen 2018-2019, Simon Told Helen 2020 – 2021 Tommy Shelby, 2021 – 2022 She’s A Pearl, 2022 – 2023 Wow She’s Fast, 2023 – 2024, Palawa King, 2024-2025 Explicit, 2025-2026 Without A Trace
If you click on the links above it will give you a detailed description of the achievements of each winner in the particular year they won the award.
AUSTRALIAN HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES – GCA ANNUAL AWARDS
Greyhound of the Year
| 2002 – Boomeroo | 2014/15 – Fernando Bale |
| 2003 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2015/16 – Dyna Double One |
| 2004 – Whisky Assassin | 2016/17 – Fanta Bale |
| 2005 – Pure Octane | 2017/18 – Fanta Bale |
| 2006 – Betty’s Angel | 2018/19 – Orson Allen |
| 2007 – Flashing Floods | 2019/20 – Simon Told Helen |
| 2008 – El Galo | 2020/21 – Tommy Shelby |
| 2009 – Cindeen Shelby | 2021/22 – She’s A Pearl |
| 2010 – El Grand Senor | 2022/23 – Wow She’s Fast |
| 2011 – Dyna Tron | 2023/24 – Palawa King |
| 2012 – Miata | 2024/25 – Explicit |
| 2012/13 – Miata | 2025/26 – Without A Trace |
| 2013/14 – Xylia Allen |
Trainer of the Year
| 2007 – Jason Thompson | 2016/17 – Robert Britton |
| 2008 – Reg Kay | 2017/18 – Tony Brett |
| 2009 – Graeme Bate | 2018/19 – Chris Halse |
| 2010 – Darren McDonald | 2019/20 – Anthony Azzopardi |
| 2011 – Graeme Bate | 2020/21 – Steve Withers |
| 2012 – Jason Thompson | 2021/22 – David Geall |
| 2013 – Graeme Bate | 2022/23 – Jeff Britton / Angela Langton |
| 2013/14 – Darren McDonald | 2023/24 – Jason Thompson |
| 2014/15 – Andrea Dailly | 2024/25 – Tom Tzouvelis |
| 2015/16 – Anthony Azzopardi | 2025/26 – Peter Presutto |
Stud Dog of the Year
| 2007 – Token Prince & Brett Lee | 2016/17 – Barcia Bale |
| 2008 – Token Prince & Bombastic Shiraz | 2017/18 – Barcia Bale |
| 2009 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2018/19 – Fernando Bale |
| 2010 – Surf Lorian | 2019/20 – Fernando Bale |
| 2011 – Collision | 2020/21 – Fernando Bale |
| 2012 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2021/22 – Fernando Bale |
| 2013 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2022/23 – Fernando Bale |
| 2013/14 – Where’s Pedro | 2023/24 – Fernando Bale |
| 2014/15 – Bekim Bale | 2024/25 – Fernando Bale |
| 2015/16 – Kinloch Brae | 2025/26 – Fernando Bale |
Brood Bitch of the Year
| 2007 – Floodfawn | 2016/17 – Ucme Typhoon |
| 2008 – Chinatown Babe | 2017/18 – Aston Elle |
| 2009 – Thai Again | 2018/19 – Chica Destacada |
| 2010 – Rosemary Bale | 2019/20 – Ready Riot |
| 2011 – Abbadale Gold | 2020/21 – Serena Fly High |
| 2012 – Winsome Bluebird | 2021/22 – Mepunga Rosie |
| 2013 – It’s A She | 2022/23 – Victa Polly |
| 2013/14 – Tayah Bale | 2023/24 – Maximum Dos |
| 2014/15 – Maple Bale | 2024/25 – My Ethanol |
| 2015/16 – Chloe Allen | 2025/26 – Foxy Bourbski |
Run of the Year
| 2007 – Miss Grub | 2016/17 – Burn One Down |
| 2008 – Chinatown Lad | 2017/18 – Rockoon |
| 2009 – Turanza Bale | 2018/19 – Zipping Bailey |
| 2010 – Satanic Cash | 2019/20 – Hooked On Scotch |
| 2011 – He Knows Uno | 2020/21 – Stanley Road |
| 2012 – Bizarre Barbie | 2021/22 – Extra Malt |
| 2013 – Xylia Allen | 2022/23 – Kelsey Bale |
| 2013/14 – Sweet It Is | 2023/24 – Hector Fawley |
| 2014/15 – Fernando Bale | 2024/25 – Palawa King |
| 2015/16 – Bourbski Fever | 2025/26 – Cumbria Jack |
Denise Fysh Award
In April 2019, the Australian greyhound industry lost a true icon with the passing of Denise Fysh after succumbing to cancer. Her passion and selfless devotion to the Hobart Club and to her home state Tasmania had a profound influence that will benefit generations to come.
2018-2019 Jade McKenzie (WA), 2019-2020 Frank and Tracey Hurst (NSW), 2020-2021 Ron Hawswell (VIC), 2021-2022 Stevie White (NSW). 2022 – 2023 Amanda Grice (TAS), 2023 – 2024 Kevin “KD” Douglas (SA), 2024 – 2025 Angela Brown (QLD), 2025 – 2026 Peter Hayes (TAS)
Hall of Fame Inductees in Categories
Greyhound Based on Racing Performance.
1999 Tenthill Doll, Flying Amy & Rapid Journey, 2000 Chief Havoc, Zoom Top, 2001 Macareena, Rookie Rebel, & Sandi’s Me Mum, 2002 Brett Lee & Bold Trease, 2003 National Lass & Winifred Bale, 2004 Lizrene, 2005 Bogie Leigh, 2006 Temlee & Black Top, 2007 Paua To Burn, 2016 Miata.
Male Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Temlee, 2009 Black Top, 2013 Byamee (Coursing) & Brother Fox, 2014 Tell You Why, 2016 Tumble Bug,2019 Keen Jet, 2022 Barcia Bale, 2025 Fernando Bale, 2026 Dyna Double One.
Female Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Osti Too, 2009 Wee Sal, 2018 Francis Colleen, 2021 Strand Belle.
Trainers
2007 Sam Bladon, 2008 Ray Herbert & Jim Coleman, 2009 Ned Bryant & Stan Cleverley, 2010 Vivian James Beresford & Doug Payne, 2011 Paul Cauchi & Tony Zammit, 2026 The Britton Family.
Breeders
2008 Rod Deakin & Allen Wheeler, 2016 Paul Wheeler, 2022 Martin Hallinan, 2024 Jan Wheeler
Administrators
2008 Arthur Morgan, Roy Maidment & Howard Ashton, 2009 J.G. (Jack) Nelson, Vic Peters & Henry Harrison, 2010 Brian Johnstone & Noel Banks, 2011 Albert Bunny Hewton & Ken Carr, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor, 2023 Neil Brown, 2023 Geoff “Smokey” Dawson, 2023 Eddie Caruana, 2024 Marg Long, 2024 Brenton Scott, 2025 Geoff Rose, 2026 Jack McKenna & Richard Stamford
Associates
2008 Bill Pearson & Paul Ambrosoli, 2009 Dr Jim Gannon & Frank Kennedy 2011 Dr John Murray, 2015 George Schofield, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor, 2021 Jeff Collerson, 2024 Judi Hurley