Labor Party member and former Cessnock mayor Maree Callaghan has been helping set up the Australian Sport and Racing Party.

Central Coast trainer Ray Pitstock is leading the charge to have the group registered as an official political party.

The party will preference candidates who support greyhound racing and has sought backing from a range of sporting disciplines beyond racing.

Ms Callaghan, whose husband Tony is a prominent Hunter dog trainer, has been involved in the industry for four decades.

Premier Mike Baird announced his intention to shut down the greyhound racing industry last month, after a report by Commissioner Michael McHugh found evidence of widespread cruelty and animal wastage in the industry.

Despite some Nationals MPs crossing the floor to oppose the bill this week, the ban passed NSW Parliament after a marathon debate on Tuesday that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Ms Callaghan said she was “very confident” that all figures in the McHugh report were incorrect.

The industry is taking legal action to have the ban overturned.

“From our point of view, we are feeling deflated – there is a lot of sorrow out there,” she said.

“It has been my passion for 40 years.

“But the fight is not over yet. Baird has created his own opposition.”

According to a statement on the Australian Sport and Racing Party’s website, the group will oppose the Liberals, Nationals, Greens and Animal Justice Party.

“The ASRP condemns the mistreatment of animals and wants to ensure animal welfare is maintained at a high level and we know this can be achieved by reforming the industry which is what we will be fighting for,” the statement said.

“The ASRP believes the racing industry as a whole lacks appropriate representation within the government."