The Golden Easter Egg is a race that’s been won by some of greatest of all-time and is yearned by trainers all over Australia as the trophy they want to see on their mantelpiece. Hall Of Fame inductees Brett Lee, Bogie Leigh, Paua To Burn, Highly Blessed, Tenthill Doll, Rapid Journey have all been victorious in the Egg.

The Inaugural Golden Easter Egg was first held at Wentworth Park, Sydney in 1990 over the 520m and has carried Group 1 status since its inception.

The event, which has reigned as the number one race in NSW, commences two weeks prior to Easter each year. Week one comprises heats, the second week sees semi finals conducted, with the series culminating on Easter Saturday night with the $250,000 to the winner final. 

Prior to the introduction of the Million Dollar Chase, the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg was the richest race in NSW, and while it has lost that status, it still sits alongside the MDC as the most sought after events in the State.

The Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg Carnival also comprises other Group and Listed events: the New Sensation, the Magic Maiden, Association Cup, The Ambrosoli and the Ultra Sense.  

The time-honoured Golden Easter Egg has been won by some of the country's best chasers, including Ultra Sense in the inaugural year, Brett Lee, Rapid Journey, Tenthill Doll and in 2019 by Zipping Bailey.

In 2024, Mackenna produced a magical month of racing to claim a deserved Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg victory.

The raging hot favourite jumped in front and carved out scorching early splits of 5.35 and 13.62 to hold off a gallant Zipping Megatron with the Jason Magri-trained dog taking ground off the winner in the straight but going under by one and a quarter lengths.

Mackenna's win prompted owner Giorgio Alvaro to declare her the best greyhound he has raced.

After Mackenna won at Wentworth Park on March 30 in 29.20, second fastest time ever posted at the Glebe track, Alvaro said: "I owned a dog called Ben's Fury who won the group one Silver Chief in Melbourne in 2005 so until she wins a group one he holds that honour.''

After Saturday night's final Alvaro said: "Yep, she is better than Ben's Fury.''

Alvaro paid tribute to caretaker trainer, Sydney's Michelle Sultana, and to Melbourne trainer Paul Abela, who prepared Mackenna for her first start for her new owner when she resumed from a seasonal spell to win at Shepparton on February 26.

Alvaro said: "After I closed the deal but before I had deposited the purchase money, Mackenna came in season.

"Her owner called me and offered to let me change my mind but I said the money would be there that day and I definitely still wanted her.''

Mackenna's $350,000 collect on Saturday night means Alvaro, partner in Alvaro Brothers fruit and vegetable business at Sydney's Flemington markets, means her new owner has well and truly recouped his hefty six figure outlay.

In 2023, Simply Limelight outrailed and outstayed Victoria's Baby Jaycee and WA's Custard Monelli to give western Sydney trainer Peter Rodgers his biggest success in 57 years.

Simply Limelight went into the race as by far the most prolific Wentworth Park winner in the field, having won 16 of 38 appearances at headquarters, and he made full use of his knowledge of the course to overcame a slow start and win by nearly two lengths in 29.48 for the 520m.

Those figures equalled the race record time set by the great Fernando Bale in 2015 but were well wide of the new record of 29.27 posted by WA's Tommy Shelby in 2021.

The star of the 2022 Golden Easter Egg heats and semis was the Jodie Lord-trained She's A Pearl who was brilliant in both races running times far superior to her rivals.

When the final came around it seemed only bad luck would stop her, and when he main rival for the lead, Victorian Idolize, literally walked out of the boxes, it was clear the bad luck was not with She's A Pearl.

She took the lead heading around the first turn and was never headed, going on to win in 29.73s, with Good Odds Cash chasing hard to get second and Fantastic Raven running on to grab third.

Like many events in 2020, the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg Carnival had to be abandoned due to COVID-19.

In 2021 the series was again delayed after torrential rain hit NSW, forcing a 24-hour postponement of the heats, then when rain continued, the series had to be pushed back a week.

Due to the delay, the final would clash with the Perth Cup heats, and connections of West Australian Tommy Shelby were torn whether to stay or go home for their local feature.

In the end they stayed and what a good decision it was, with Tommy Shelby leading throughout from box 8 in race record time and becoming the Easter Egg first winner from Western Australia.