Mail-Times general manager Peter Hammond said the newspaper was thrilled to be naming rights sponsor of the club's weekly meetings and Horsham Cup, which is on March 10.

"We see it as a club which is making great advances and there are exciting times ahead," Mr Hammond said.

"We see greyhound racing as a family-type environment and we are more than happy to be major sponsor of the Horsham Cup and for the year.

"As the leading sports provider for the Wimmera, we get involved in a lot of clubs and our extensive sports coverage keeps readers involved with what's going on in the Wimmera."

Mail-Times marketing and promotions co-ordinator April Smith said it was a win-win situation for both parties.

"It's good for us becasue we will be able to do lots of promotions and giveaways in conjunction with Horsham Greyhound Racing Club, with the main emphasis on Horsham Cup," she said.

Horsham Greyhound Racing Club manager Justin Brilliant said the club was pleased with the new partnership.

"It's really beneficial for the club to have a major local business backing the club," Mr Brilliant said. "It would have been easy to get a multi national company but to offer value to a local business is what Horsham greyhounds wanted to do."

The Mail-Times' first fully sponsored race meeting was on Tuesday, with a final named after it.

Mr Brilliant said the Horsham Cup was on March 10.

"A lot of work goes into it. Being a Saturday this year, we're hoping for a crowd of 1000 people, which is about double what we're used to getting on the Sunday," Mr Brilliant said.

"Hopefully we can take advantage of the fishing competition."

Mr Brilliant said Horsham Cup prizemoney had increased from $40,000 to $60,000.

The winner will take home $40,000, up from $28,000.