By BEN HARRIS

The future of Mudgee Greyhounds Racing Club (MGRC) has been secured for at least three years thanks to a $10,000 sponsorship from Club Mudgee.

The sponsorship will be held over three years but it could continue beyond 2014 if Mudgee's entertainment club decides to remain as the major sponsor.

Club Mudgee CEO Maureen Heywood said she did not want to see the greyhound club fold.

"The board believes the community needs the greyhound races. We want to see racing going ahead in Mudgee," she said.

"We based our decision on keeping them here," she said.

Club Mudgee president David Nelson said he did not want MGRC to fold.

"We didn't want to lose the history of the club," Nelson said.

The sponsorship has come at the right time for the greyhound club.

Since September, the club lost two months of racing because Greyhound Racing NSW took action against the Mudgee club.

The sports NSW governing body suspended MGRC in September because of financial reasons.

On December 22, the GRNSW board did not renew MGRC's registration because they failed to satisfactorily meet the 16 operating standards.

But MGRC president Len Haaring said the club has their house in order and welcomed Club Mudgee's sponsorship.

"It has secured our future," Haaring said.

"We had several meetings with the club so it has been a plan in process.

"The trainers are very happy with it."

Club Mudgee's audit committee chairman John Cross had a look at MGRC's financial books before the board decided to sponsor the greyhound club.

Maureen Heywood said this sponsorship was only the beginning.

"We have made an effort to include this club [Club Mudgee] in the community as much as possible," Heywood said.

This month's MGRC race meet will be on Sunday, February 26.