Tassie Pushing The Envelope

Tasmania, the country’s smallest greyhound state, has just launched trials of the controversial finish-on lure at the Launceston track. Three states have already tried the same experiment but SA is the only one that has persevered. But this is only one part of a challenge which has national implications.

The FOL ran extensively at Albion Park with results showing that injury rates were lower and non-chasing problems improved. Despite that, a sizeable proportion of local trainers remained opposed to the change and eventually Racing Queensland (formerly QGRA) decided to revert to the traditional lure.

NSW ran trials at two tracks, apparently with success, but the subject then disappeared off the agenda.

SA also conducted lengthy tests at Angle Park. An in-depth review then revealed much the same as in Queensland – interference, injuries and chasing factors had all improved. Consequently the SA board approved a permanent change.

Other states’ views are unknown but chatter in Victoria has included a number of “over my dead body” comments. No trials have been run.

Apart from the statistics, no conclusive report has been seen about the pros and cons of the FOL. So let’s interpret from the data we do have and add our own observations.

First, objections often related to injuries suffered when the dogs eventually catch up with the lure. Yet no such trend is evident in the actual results collected in Brisbane or Adelaide.

Second, you could theorise that the higher physical profile of the FOL makes it more visible to runners back in the field, which would in turn encourage them to chase more keenly. Certainly the stats support that view.

Third, a further possibility would be that the nature of the FOL reduces interference because it tends to encourage runners to spread out a little more, rather than diving towards the rail, as many are usually keen to do.

Why, then, has the FOL had a generally negative experience in Australia, unlike in New Zealand where it has been in use for donkey’s years? It seems the only answer is that state authorities, or their advisers, are cemented to traditional practices and do not want to change, whether to the FOL or anything else.

Given that the subject is essentially one of safety and consistency, it should normally fall under the reach of Greyhounds Australasia. However, no words of wisdom have been emerging from its Melbourne bunker.

This is disappointing as an issue like this one is precisely what a national body should be looking into. The secrecy surrounding GA’s agendas means we do not know whether it has even been discussed or, if so, what the outcome was.

In the same vein, you can add track and equipment specifications to the list warranting independent and objective analysis. Another item would be an expert and ongoing assessment of the state of the greyhound breed – what are the genetic trends, for example? How are they affecting race programs?

Together with varying grading systems or agreements with various TABs and bookmaker groups or a national betting pool, these are all matters which would be better handled on a national basis where the full power and expertise of the industry could be brought to bear.

Instead, we are stuck with GA members from each state taking a parochial brief to meetings, then returning home to further consider whether they can be bothered implementing any changes – and they often don’t.

Racing’s processes may be likened to having a different leg-before-wicket rule in each state. Or to tennis courts having different dimensions. Or to different rules for AFL reserves from one state to another. It would be farcical.

Yet that is the system so jealously guarded by incumbent state authorities. It is one which, at heart, must take the blame for the general failure of the racing industry to keep pace with modern society. It is why racing had been losing influence over betting activity, which has been in relative decline for over two decades now.

It is why the Australian Institute of Sport has served notice on backward looking sports that they must measure up to modern governance standards or lose their federal subsidies. AIS has demonstrated that sports with independent national bodies do much better than those with state-centric organisations. It is why Rugby League, Rugby Union and Cricket have each implemented major changes over the last year or so.

To have a working, competent and authoritative national body is a no-brainer.

New Sensation Semi Finals Won’t Disappoint

Once the semi-finals of the Magic Maiden are run and won on Friday night, the group racing spotlight will shine upon round two of the inaugural New Sensation series. The New Sensation Series carries with it a group three status and a terrific winner’s cheque of $25,000 which has attracted some of Australia’s most promising young pups.

With strict rules that competing canines must be under 27 months of age and must have won no more than ten wins from no more than twenty track appearances, this series certainly diversifies the Easter Egg carnival and gives the future stars of the track the chance to be victorious when they otherwise may have been out of their depth with the big guns in the Group One Golden Easter Egg.

Last Friday night eight impressive heats were held, with some standout athletes showcasing themselves as potential superstars.
Keinbah trainer Ryan Tredway looks to have unearthed himself a gem in talented sprinter Rigs who will line up in the first of four semi-finals from box seven. Beginning only moderately from the squeeze box in his heat, the red fawn son of Pure Octane showed plenty of field sense, navigating his way through the pack to score a very dominant win by an impressive five and a half lengths on the line. At what is a remarkable achievement, Tredway bred the powerful chaser himself from his talented race bitch Really Satisfies, with his quest in the breeding barn definitely paying off, as Rigs has now won six races after just eight starts on the racetrack. Rigs is certainly among the best pups of his age which was illustrated when the two year old made the final of the 2013 National Derby.

Whilst luckless in the final coming fourth to Golden Easter Egg hopeful Jagger Swagger, the dog certainly stamped himself as one to follow, running very slick times throughout the series at Unibet Gardens including a scintillating 29.57 victory from box eight. Whilst his class is clear, he does face some talented opposition in his semi-final with Trevor Hagneys flying 30.03 heat winner Johnny Fire exiting box five, and the ‘first section specialist’ Helena Izmir boxed on his direct outside in eight. Helena Izmir has won four at the track with a sizzling 29.76 personal best to her name, and with her perfect box manners she should make the race a contest for whoever can keep up with her in the run to the first turn.

The fastest Heat winner from last week was the aptly named Fast Archer who was far too strong for his opposition when stopping the clock in a red hot 29.87 seconds. The son of Collision looks a star in the making and has definitely developed an affiliation with the Ultimo circuit, saluting in three of four attempts over the tracks gruelling 520 metre distance. Trained by Clay Mullens, the black chaser does prefer to be drawn on the inside, however with a nippy 30.04 second success at Wentworth Park from box seven to his name; he should be able to handle the wide alley on Friday night and only needs to get away with the pack to feature in the finish.

Fast Archer looks the standout performer in his semi-final, with his main danger appearing to be the 30.23 heat winner Super Colossal drawn inside him in box seven. Super Colossal is a winner of four races from six starts, with his speedy win last Friday his debut at Wentworth Park after previously racing in Victoria.

Mullens also has a qualifier in the third semi-final, with Fast Archer’s litter sister Camouflage Model lining up from box eight. The pint size performer that Tips the scales at just over 24 kilograms ran an honest third behind Super Colossal in their heat however she does come up against some fast types with last week’s winners Sanjuan Slim and Charmed Assassin looking the likely pair to fight out the finish.

Sanjuan Slim kept his flawless Wentworth Park form intact, claiming his second victory from as many starts at headquarters in a swift 30.19 seconds. The Bit Chilli youngster does not turn two until June but has untapped potential winning four of his six career starts including a scorching 29.83 seconds at Unibet Gardens, with box three ideal for the chaser who has a liking for the rails.

The Jane Carruthers trained Charmed Assassin should also run a honest race with his nippy 29.97 heat triumph certainly capturing the attention of racegoers on Friday with the six box seemingly his biggest obstacle his semi-final this week. Another strong player in the third semi that should not be forgotten is Kristy Sultana’s charge Sydenham Pearl who has the ability to bounce back to the winners list after two unlucky runs at Wentworth Park over the past two weeks. The Just the Best pup has won four from seven and has the ability to run quick times; however she will need to ping the lids with the rest of the field after her naughty habit of missing the kick of late.

Regally bred chaser Lachlan Loaded looks the goods in the fourth and final heat, with the son of Dyna Lachlan and the dependable little chaser Dolphin Call showing industry participants what he is capable of when blistering around the circuit in a fast 29.98 seconds in his heat. A winner of five races from twenty starts, he is proving to be very reliable with the handy record enhanced by a further eight placing’s to his name. Jason Mackay’s One Inch Punch will also be looking to make it into next week’s final for his Richmond Vale mentor who also has his ‘golden girls’ Sometimes Speedy, and Punch One Out engaged in Saturday’s Golden Easter Egg Semi-finals. The son of Knocka Norris has won four races, and has had five starts at Wentworth Park for a handy win in 30.35 seconds.

One Inch Punch should improve from last week when he struck trouble after a slow start before showing plenty of determination to regain momentum and finish strongly in second place. The other main chances in heat four look to be litter brothers Dark Assassin and Tricky Business. The sons of National Futurity winner Daydream both have massive motors and are both more than capable of taking out the race. Dark Assassin is trained by Anthony Azzopardi and is a winner of seven from fourteen including a quick 30.02 at Wentworth Park, whilst Tricky Business for trainer Kristy Sultana is a winner of four from six and was a heat winner last week in a brilliant 30.14 seconds.

All four semi-finals look to be mouth-watering appetisers for Saturday’s main course – the semis of the Golden Easter Egg. Every dog in this series is capable of winning with boundless amounts of talent ready to be showcased when the lids fly open this Friday.

Magic Maiden Series Unveils The Sports Next Superstars

As the pursuit of group racing glory continues this week, punters and spectators alike will be treated to yet another tantalizing weekend at Wentworth Park. The action starts on Friday with the semi-finals of both the Group Three New Sensation and The Group Three Magic Maiden series.

Both semi-final series contain some sensational young sprinters and provide the perfect appetizer for Saturday night- when the track will again light up for the semi-finals of the Group One Golden Easter Egg as well as the heats of The Association Cup- which will see some of Australia’s best stayers converge on Sydney for their own slice of the group racing action.

The first of the semi’s to kick off on Friday will be the $25,000 to the winner Magic Maiden Series, with four fantastic fields assembling for what is sure to be a thrilling competition. Impressive heat winner Good Odds Demon looks a live chance in the first semi-final after his gutsy chasing effort in claiming his heat victory. Beginning only moderately from box two, he was crossed early and had to dig deep before finding the lead and eventually stretching out to win by two and a half lengths on the line. The well bred son of Collision and handy race bitch Punk Angel was having his first start on Sunday with his slick victory in 30.24 seconds indicating that he may have a bright future on the racetrack for his astute mentor Frank Hurst.

Fellow heat winner Ibrox Digger, out of star stayer Laura’s Legacy also showed some talent on Sunday and should be considered after his 30.22 heat success, whilst Big Daddy Cool youngster Cloud Ten will also be in contention after his 30.54 effort when taking out his heat. One that may slip under the radar and should definitely not be overlooked is flying Jilliby pup Mike Marlow who came in third to Ibrox Digger on Sunday. Whilst he was safely held by four and a half lengths on the line, the son of Lochinvar Marlow certainly has a massive motor recording a scorching 29.78 in a performance trial at Gosford earlier this month. Out of the fantastic racer Fascinate Marina, Mike Marlow was bred to be speedy and punters should not rule him out of this week’s semi-final.

Heat Two will see heat winners Palucka, Tollo and Zipping Simba vie for their spots in the final. Palucka is yet another one of Lochinvar Marlow’s handy offspring who has made it through to the semi’s, with the Kristy Sultana trained speedster a dominant all the way victor in his heat. Running a sizzling 30.19 seconds the black dog was triumphant at start four for his Londonderry trainer, and with a nippy first section of 5.49 seconds, he should be racing up with the leaders, if he repeats last week’s flawless beginning.

Looking to bring him undone will be Zipping Simba- a member of the astute Jason Mackay kennel who won his heat last week in 30.46 seconds. Whilst his victory may not have been as fast as Palucka’s performance, it was just as impressive as he overcame all sorts of trouble to finish over the top of his rivals. The son of champion Mantra Lad certainly has the bloodlines to be quick on the track, being out of prolific producer Or Catra, and with his heat success being his only race start, he will certainly improve for the semi-finals this week. Mark Bells Tollo also lines up in Semi two after a heat victory on Sunday and whilst his time was only 30.58 seconds, he has recorded a handy performance trial at Richmond clocking 30.95 seconds for the 535 metre trip.

Lochinvar Brando looks the standout in semi-final three with the Robert Smith trained dynamo scoring an emphatic victory at headquarters on Sunday when taking out his heat. Continuing the trend of being well bred, the son of Where’s Pedro and Smart Betsy could not have been more exciting when winning by two lengths in a nippy 30.19 seconds. Lochinvar Brando was having his fifth start on Sunday, and after running two placing’s in prior starts he was able to salute with his experience certainly being an advantage.

Also in contention from the cherry in semi-final three is the Doreen Drynan prepared Doo Wop Hooligan who was a winner in a moderate 30.59 seconds on Sunday. After a slow getaway, the black daughter of Premier Fantasy and Wentworth Park Specialist Eluthra had to work extremely hard, posted wide the entire trip and showed plenty of tenacity in running down early leaders Got the Life and Dither.

David Pringle’s heat winner Travelling Joe is also in with a chance and is well boxed in the two alley after a 30.46 triumph. Those looking for value in heat three should also be mindful of the Brian Mckivat trained Clonakilty Man who was a luckless second to Palucka in his heat. The blue dog was never out of trouble and did a fantastic job in running second for his Marulan mentor with a race victory not too far away based on his determined effort.

The fourth and final heat will be the most anticipated with another of Jason Mackay’s starters in the series, Tricky Jade, the fastest of the heat winners last week. Posting a sizzling first section split of 5.48 seconds the Bit Chilli Youngster was far too strong for her opposition, clearing away to win by an ultra-impressive ten and a half lengths in a scintillating 29.86 seconds. Out of a former National Futurity finalist in Navigator Miss, the black sprinter was having just her first race start after two impressive performance trials at Unibet Gardens and Wentworth Park.

Whilst Mackay’s charge looks the favourite she will have some tough opposition in heat winner Black Rip who took out his heat in 30.51 seconds and Jane Curruthers Clockwise who was shunted back in her heat after leading and did a brilliant job when coming back along the rails to qualify in second. By Magic Sprite out of the impressive chaser Elizabeth Royal, the powerhouse has clocked some fast times in performance trials, most notably a flying 29.88 seconds at Gosford in February. The well-bred bitch is certainly in with a big chance and should be given a second chance.

The semi- finals of this prestigious maiden series will definitely be exciting with many of these pups sure to improve. Racing kicks off at 7:18pm on Friday night, with all eyes focused on The Ultimo Circuit as the next generation of Australian sprinters is unveiled.

Jason Mackay’s Packing A Punch In 2013 Golden Easter Egg Series

If there’s one thing master Hunter Valley trainer Jason Mackay knows how to do is prepare greyhounds for the big occasions. This makes it even harder to believe that Mackay is still searching for his first Golden Easter Egg victory since the race’s inception in 1990.

2013 maybe the year with his two assault charges; Sometimes Speedy and Punch One Out, both ultra-impressive in their respective heats last Saturday night.

Sometimes Speedy, who clocked a flying 29.68 in an all the way display from box four in heat ten, impressed the Richmond Vale mentor for several reasons.

“The track was slowing down a bit towards the end of the night so she can improve on that. After being in the kennels for nine races I could not have been happier” said Mackay.

The daughter of Collision and Gemstone Supreme came to Mackay’s kennels in January from South Australia and has oozed class in all of her eight starts, recording eight consecutive victories. Her biggest win to date was saluting in last month’s Group One National Futurity final, clocking an airborne time of 29.40 in defeating kennel mate Punch One Out.

Drawing box three in semi-final number two of the Easter Egg, Mackay believes this will give her a great opportunity to improve.

“The earlier race will definitely help. You could see the track slowing down towards the end of the night so that time was very pleasing. She has won all eight starts for me since coming from South Australia and that’s a sign of something special”.

It was a credit to Mackay; he followed his instincts and took Sometimes Speedy on board after originally rejecting the offer. His team are now certainly reaping the rewards, just one race away from a Golden Easter Egg final.

By no means discourage kennel mate Punch One Out after a sensational runner up performance last week behind Graeme Bate’s Fully Advanced, who was just .02 seconds outside Noble Pedro’s Wentworth Park 520m track record of 29.43. After sitting behind the leader from box six, the daughter of Knocka Norris and Little Egyptian, checked off the leader in the home straight eventually beat by less than a length, still managing to clock a sizzling 29.51.

“She took three lengths off the leader who run a near track record. She still clocked one of the fastest runs of all time around the track and she came second. It’s hard to believe” said a delighted Mackay.

Coming up with box five in semi-final number four would usually be a deterrent for any trainer, quite the contrasting thought with Mackay extremely positive about the draw.

“I know this might sound strange but I’m happy with the five. If she draws the inside she crashes, so the middle is perfect for her. Hopefully she can put it all together”.

Mackay may head to Wentworth Park on Saturday night with two final spots already secured for next week as Tricky Jade and Zipping Simba were both successful at headquarters last Sunday night in heats of the Group Three Centrebet Magic Maiden series.

Tricky Jade recorded best of the night figures with a blistering 29.86 performance from box six, leading all the way to score by an enormous 10.5 lengths. Scarily, Mackay admits there is still more to come.

“I was very happy with her time but she can improve on that. The wind was howling which made conditions hard so I’ll look for her to go even better” said Mackay.

It’s no surprise Mackay expects the daughter of 2012 NSW Sire of the Year Bit Chili and Navigator Miss to lower her personal best, after an astonishing 29.45 performance trial at Unitbet Gardens in November last year.

On the contrast, Zipping Simba displayed a far from perfect performance, however did show promise in navigating his way through the field to score in 30.46. The raw nature of the youngster by Mantra Lad out of multiple group winning producer Or Catra will improve with experience, as Mackay explained.

“He did everything wrong and still won the race which was pleasing. He’s exactly the same at home, he’s very green in what he does but the more races he gets under his belt, the more mature he will become’.

There is no denying Jason Mackay is a true master in the art of training having racked up 29 winners already in 2013, inevitably with many more to come. Easter Egg Final night could provide the Mackay camp with multiple victories as he prepares live chances in both the Group One and Group Three semi-finals.

The passion Mackay exudes talking about the Easter Egg is obvious and infectious; even suggesting that I (as an unabashed Jason Mackay fan) make sure to “pull the whip” on Saturday night as he chases the illustrious $250,000 first prize; to be run and won next Saturday night.

In The Next Five Years?

It’s often said that there are no new ideas in marketing, just old ideas refreshed. So, here are some points that are worth pinching from a new guy on the block. Fairfax reported the thoughts of new ARL CEO David (“Benji”) Smith (SMH Mar 01), a former finance guru who is a newcomer to the sport.

“Smith repeatedly mentions the need for the game’s administration to be more “professional” … (he) targets to double just about everything over the next five years, including the game’s non-broadcast revenue, from $50 million to $100 million per year”

According to Smith, “that is a punchy target but nonetheless it is a target we should be able to meet by being more professional, driving the game the right way, widening the appeal of the game to corporate and different sponsor types and being more inclusive in terms of fans”.

Well that sounds pretty good, but time will tell. More to the point, would it not be a good idea for Greyhound Racing to go down that road, too? Doubling wagering and other turnover in five years is tall order but not an impossible one, given the way wagering and gambling is going these days. At least it would be an objective.

The hardest question for any racing code is where to start. The national body would be the obvious place to go to, but the prospect of action there is pretty doubtful. Greyhounds Australasia is the only national body we have and it says it does not deal with commercial matters.

That takes us back to the eight Australian states and territories which, with NZ, make up GA, but how on earth could eight different bodies mount a sensible campaign given that they don’t agree on a great deal anyway? And what they do accept usually takes forever and a day to bring about. Racing rules would be one example of those problems, a couple of years to change to the green rug another.

Those same state bodies have been in place now for sixty years or more, perhaps eighty or so if you count the formation of club organisations in NSW in the 1930s (following the 1931 Royal Commission). Essentially, they have never changed their structures, although Victoria’s clubs were privatised up until the 1950s.

Raceclubs are groups of locals who form a committee and like to do their own thing. They are dedicated volunteers but not necessarily professional about some matters. State committees are appointed by the Minister and they then hire some bureaucrats to fix dates, do the paperwork and police errant trainers. The names change occasionally, along with the colour of government, but the message is always more of the same. Battleships can take a long while to turn around, especially when they have to take a vote first.

Technical progress is not unusual – in feeds, medicines and drugs, for example – but there the major influences are companies and other folk outside the usual “participant” group. Betting has developed recently, although over a few dead bodies, only because NT bookies and Betfair blasted their way through hardened establishment attitudes, including those of some greyhound authorities – notably in NSW, Queensland and WA. Tasmania switched sides only after James Packer did a deal personally with the Premier of the day.

Otherwise it’s hard to see other major changes or initiatives in the way racing is organised and conducted. Since we are still using 1950s systems, that is not surprising. And the effect is clear – during all that time, the three racing codes have steadily lost their market share to other forms of gambling – down from over half to around 10% today.

So, can we be “more professional” and “widen the appeal of the game” as the ARL is planning to do, and as the AFL has done? Should we invent our versions of one-day cricket or T20 matches?

It’s possible, but not before a complete reform of club and authority structures. It’s tempting to look at all sorts of possibilities but a commercially responsible organisation at the top might be easier to bring about. I say that because it does not need approval from any Minister. We can do it ourselves. Right away. So what about it?

Incidentally, GA has just had one of its occasional meetings but I have yet to see anything released about the agenda or decisions taken. Not even the scores in the golf game. Not very transparent there either.

We have spoken of the AFL being quite progressive yet it still sees a need to keep on the move. Here are some thoughts from its number two, Gillon McLachlan, as seen by Patrick Smith in The Australian (Mar 4) during a discussion of law changes.

“McLachlan’s view is that the direction and future of the game is an issue not solely for the coaches or, for that matter, the laws of the game committee. He wants input from all stakeholders into what AFL is and how it should be played. He is keen to hear from the supporters as well as coaches, players, umpires and administrators. While the laws committee members have always had the latest survey of supporters thoughts about the game for reference when deliberating possible rule changes, McLachlan has guaranteed more refined and broader research.

From all of this information and with final input from the laws committee, McLachlan will oversee the development of the charter enshrining a vision for how football should be and will be played into the future”.

There are some more ideas to pinch.

Incidentally, McLachlan was the guy who pulled out of the race for Smith’s ARL job, preferring instead to keep working for Andrew Demetriou in Melbourne.

Introducing The New Breed

Maiden races are always met with a sense of anticipation and excitement from all types of greyhound enthusiasts as a new wave of potential superstars is unveiled. The Centrebet Magic Maiden series provides a rare opportunity for the young and eager to step up onto the biggest stage at Wentworth Park and launch their career.

The Group Three listed event with a $25,000 winner’s purse is not for the faint hearted, as the testing 520m two turn circuit can prove an obstacle for even the most experienced race dog.

Every race goer will be keen to inspect new breeding prospects with a particular interest in Lochinvar Marlow’s offspring who have begun to filter onto the race track with prominent early success.

Mike Marlow (x Fascinate Marina) is the 2010 Paws of Thunder winners best hope after recording two sizzling performance trials at Maitland (25.56) and Gosford (29.78). Trained on the Central Coast by Lorraine Atchison, his dam Fascinate Marina, who was trained by Lorraine’s sister Noelene Holloway, had a successful racing career including 12 wins with 7 of those at Wentworth Park. Queen Esther also trained by Noelene, is engaged in heat 10 also with two positive performance trials at Gosford with a personal best of 30.12. With both greyhounds possessing natural early speed, Magic Maiden final night may just turn into a family affair for these two talented female trainers.

It wouldn’t be a feature series without dominant trainer Jason Mackay unleashing new, majestically bred superstars onto the scene. This year is no exception with Mackay’s best hope Tricky Jade. By Bit Chili out of Navigator Miss who was a National Futurity finalist, recorded two blistering performance trials at Unitbet Gardens (29.45) and Wentworth Park (29.92) in recent weeks and will be a heavy favourite when she steps out in heat eight from box six.

The famous Or Catra offspring are looking to continue the dynasty of success for renowned breeders Martin and Fiona Hallinan. Or Catra was responsible for the likes of; 2011 NSW Greyhound of the Year Zipping Lad, 2011 Group One Bold Trease winner Zipping Malfoy and Zipping Man who took out the 2011 Group Three Magic Maiden series. Zipping Simba is by Mantra Lad with fellow sibling Zipping Milo already showing promising early signs after running a brilliant second in this month’s Group Two Richmond Derby final taken out by Jagger Swagger. Coming up with box three in heat four, a respectable performance trial at Wentworth Park leaves plenty of room for improvement.

Mackay’s own charge Zipping April (Goodesy x Sirocco Lass) was just as exciting in a performance trial last week clocking 30.09 and is draw ideally out wide in heat seven to get the fly.

The name Frosty Fruits is synonymous to any greyhound enthusiast as one of the most successful bloodlines of all time. Flavours (2011 Group Three Laurie Healion Maiden), Pulp (Group Three Big Dog Cup), Goodesy (Group Two Bulli Gold Plate and Bulli track record holder) and Little Sparkle (2010 Richmond Oaks) are just a few of the prosperous offspring to come from this incredible broodbitch. This year trainer Craig Chappelow will unleash Frosty Vintage who is by Bombastic Shiraz and clocked the fastest performance trial at Wentworth Park last week, a sensational 29.90. Drawing box seven in heat eight will prove testing for the youngster but with plenty of room for improvement, no eyebrows will be raised if a lower time standard is set.

Castlereagh trainer Jane Carruthers has made an affluent return to racing with her best charge Clockwise. By Magic Sprite out of Elizabeth Royal, the speedy youngster has recorded three brilliant performance trials at Canberra (25.75), Gosford (29.88) and Wentworth Park (30.09). Coming up with box seven in heat four, this won’t be the last week see of this talented performer on the big stage.

Making the long trip down from Casino will all be worth it for trainer Brad Northfield if his talented prodigy Bralyn Morgan carries over his recent trial form onto the racetrack in heat three from box two. Beautifully bred by Collision out of Bralyn Mel who made the 2007 Group One Perth Galaxy and Group Three Easter Chase finals, was a very consistent stayer over the 700m plus journey. Its evident this stamina has transpired to her offspring with Bralyn Mel’s two performance trials at Lismore showing promising early signs clocking a personal best of 30.28 over the 520m journey.

Sunday nights racing will be a spectacular way to end the first week of the Golden Easter Egg series with those successful moving through to next week and one step closer to claiming the desired Group three event. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone to see these gifted youngsters return to headquarters next year and potentially claim the big one.

Are You Ready For A New Sensation?

The most exiting time of the year is upon us as the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg carnival kicks off this Friday night with eight outstanding heats of the inaugural New Sensation series. The Group Three, $25,000 to the winner event, has stipulated conditions where a greyhound must be 27 months or younger and have won no more than 10 races from 20 starts.

A terrific new initiative by the GBOTA, the Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg carnival covers both age and experience to give Greyhound Racing enthusiasts the ultimate preview of our future superstars.

Some notable performers include:
John’s Son (Bit Chilli x Jamad) for in form Hunter Valley trainer Ron Bell, clocked a sizzling 29.59 personal best back in January after a sensational 29.48 maiden victory at Unibet Gardens and will exit from box five in heat one. In spite of the poor draw, he is a certain series favourite and will no doubt be back next year to have a crack at the big one.

Mystic Fancy (Mantra Lad x Fancy Trace) for multiple group winning trainer Anthony Azzopardi was impressive on debut at Wentworth Park last week recording a respectable 30.04. Coming up with the coveted red rug in heat two, the youngster is in pole position to lower his personal best. Also stepping out in heat two from box three is the impeccably bred Midnight Rush (Bombastic Shiraz x Smashing Amy) for trainer Michael Pes. Despite having mixed form as of late, a blistering 29.66 maiden victory at Dapto will surely make him one to watch.

Sydenham Pearl (Just the Best x Sydenham Rocks) trained by Kristy Sultana has started off his with a boom having racked up 4 wins and 1 minor placing from just six starts including a speedy 30.67 personal best at Richmond. Expectations will be high with a favourable box two draw in heat three.

The dark horse of the recent Group One National Derby series at Unibet Gardens, Rigs (Pure Octane x Really Satisfies) for Ryan Tredway has superior feature race experience under his belt after winning his heat and semi-final of the series and in doing so clocked a scorching 29.57. Although drawn in the middle box of heat four, Rigs early speed has the capacity to overcome this flaw and significantly lower his personal best time at the track of 30.30.

Two equally gifted greyhounds will exit side by side in heat five as red hot trainer Jason Mackay’s rising star One Inch Punch (Knocka Norris x Little Egyptian) from box five takes on Lesley Hannaford’s Haven (Big Daddy Cool x Whip It Up) from box four. After recording some dominate times at Maitland including 25.27, One Inch Punch produced a solid Wentworth Park win of 30.35 after beginning moderately and darting his way through the field to score by four lengths. Haven has been in sensational form of late generating some flying personal bests at Richmond (30.57) and Dapto (29.79). He is yet to be unplaced at Wentworth Park with a decent personal best of 30.37 which definitely can be improved.

Young gun trainer Clay Mullen’s prosperous run is surely set to continue with Fast Archer (Collision x Clay Model) as consistent as they come winning 2 of his 3 starts at Wentworth Park with a 30.04 personal best. A winner in four of his last five outings including a stunning 29.82 at Dapto, his early pace should overcome a tricky box four draw in heat 6. Group winner Dark Assassin (Collision x Daydream) for Anthony Azzopardi returned to his classy best last week with an encouraging hit out on Friday night at headquarters clocking 30.02 and will exit from a wide draw once again. Beautifully bred Culoz (Hondo Black x Joop Muse) for Victorian trainer Rosalyn Hume was extremely exciting on debut at Sale last week clocking a blazing 29.61 and at just his second career start this week is certain to turn heads if a repeat performance transpires.

Tricky Business (Collision x Daydream) trained by Kristy Sultana is another promising prodigy from the highly successful Daydream litter having clocked a flying 29.99 personal best at Wentworth Park on debut at the track in February. Exiting from box one in heat seven, all eyes will be on the clock for another notable performance. Ichi Tooshi (Bombastic Shiraz x Infinity) for recent greyhound the year winning trainer Mark Gatt is yet to be unplaced in his 9 career starts with 3 wins and 6 minor placings including a red-hot 29.74 effort at Gosford. A box five draw will prove an obstacle for the risky beginner but a clear run will no doubt exude the talent this greyhound possesses.

Johnny Fire (Knocka Norris x Gunna Oz) trained by Trevor Hagney will certainly step out with anticipation on debut at Wentworth Park in the eighth and final heat from box eight. His recorded 9 wins from just 15 starts with some astonishing personal bests at; Maitland (22.19) and Gosford (29.81) and will surely add to this imposing list on Friday night.

The running of restricted races is an important part of a young greyhound’s development and allows their connections to experience the thrill and satisfaction a group victory bestows. The New Sensation series is bound to introduce future champions to our sport and will undoubtedly become a time honoured classic, yearned by trainers Australia wide.

Miata Wins WA Greyhound Of The Year Award

The Paul Stuart and Nichole Wheeler-Whye owned Miata was crowned the WA Greyhound of the Year for 2012 at a function in Perth yesterday.

Miata which is trained by Paul Stuart raced 25 times during 2012 for 21 wins and 2 placings for a total of $515,393 in stakes.

Miata started off the year having her first run over the 715m trip at Cannington where she produced a dominant all the way effort to break the track record. This was the start of a run of 10 consecutive wins over the half-mile trip, during which she took out the Group 1 Galaxy, Group 2 Zoom Top and the Group 1 Association Cup. The run came to an end in the final of the Group 1 Sandown Cup, when she found all sorts of trouble but still got up off the canvas to place third, only 1.75 lengths from the winner.

Miata was successful in a further 2 Group 1 races during the year, the National Distance Championship and the Bold Trease Carnival Cup. Miata’s feats during 2012 were truly of once in a lifetime nature.

Miata was also crowned the 2012 Australian Greyhound of the Year at a gala function in Victoria last month. This is the first time that a Western Australian greyhound has been awarded this top honour.

Other award winners during the evening included long serving Greyhounds WA stalwart Graeme Collins who served the Greyhound Racing industry for more than 4 decades commencing at the time of the sport’s inception in WA in 1974. Graeme was originally an employee of Automatic Totalisators Limited (ATL), the company which won the initial totalisator contract for Greyhound Racing at Cannington and Mandurah. He oversaw the totalisator operations including the installation of the giant semaphore board at Cannington, which whilst ‘old’ technology, still provides an odds, results and dividends service to on-course patrons after so many years. He joined Greyhounds WA as a permanent employee of the then Authority in 1987, resigning from his permanent position as Technical Services Manager overseeing the totes and racebook printing in July 1997. He has however, to this day, still continued to offer his services in a casual role to assist the club and Greyhound Racing industry.

The Gerry O’Keefe Award for Achievement recognises one of the great WA pioneers and trainers associated with Greyhound Racing in Western Australia, primarily from the feats of 2007 WA Racing Hall of Fame inductee and only dual National Sprint title holder, Sandi’s Me Mum.

Linda Britton again collected the Leading Trainer Award after winning the Cannington Trainers’ Title for a record 14th time. She also topped the Trainers’ Title at Mandurah in 2012 after finishing second in 2011. Britton trained 385 winners for the calendar year, her highest ever total.

Talented young trainer Eric Campana was successful in the Youth Achievement Award. Campana trained 74 winners and 106 placegetters from only 363 starters during 2012, at only his second full year as a trainer.

Over 170 people attended last night’s gala function held at the Pan Pacific Hotel, hosted by Tod Johnston.

Greyhound Adoption Program Big Winners From Racing Queensland Awards Night

What a great pleasure it was attending Saturday nights Greyhounds Queensland awards ceremony with Kevin Pitstock and his lovely partner.

Queensland’s night of nights was well patronised by many owners, trainers and industry participants. It was great too see so much support during this challenging time we are experiencing.

This years event saw a change in venue from previous years gone by. Kedron Wavell services club provide the setting for the 2013 awards night, and it didn’t disappoint with a two course meal and free beverages on offer for ticket holders.

Steve Hawkins and Paul “Doggsy” Dolan were the nights hosts, and did a great job bouncing back and forth, and introducing the award winners to the ever eager crowd.

The pinnacle of the night was the top gong of Queensland Greyhound of the year. This year saw 4 finalists: He Know’s Uno for Iluka trainer Mick Patterson, Don’t Knocka Him for Reg Kay, Got a Moment for owner Di Buxton, and the ever consistent Glen Gallon for trainer Tony Brett and the Velocity lodge partners.

We saw many awards, and a couple of new members added to the illustrious Hall of Fame. The awards were as follows:
Club Greyhounds Of The Year
Cairns – Briajohn Gold.
Capalaba – Magic Five.
Bundaberg – Passionate Eyes.
Rockhampton – Faith and Hope
Townsville – Curly Mac and Top Knock
Ipswich – Charmed Speed.
Brisbane- Aladdin’s Queen and Cakes and Pie’s.

Brisbane Leading Trainer – Ron Ball
Brisbane Leading Owner – Hazelgrove Partnership.
Brisbane Trainers Strike Rate – Kevin Bryant
Brisbane Sire of the Year – Collision
Brisbane Broodbitch of the Year – Ultra Swift.
Women in Racing – Sandra Hunt
Young Achiever of the Year – Mitchel Cox.
Top Simbi Award – Di Buxton.

The Hall of Fame Inductees were:

Credibility – The champion sire of such dogs as Just the Best and Faithful Hawk.

Kirsty’s First – The 1986 National Distance Champion.

Bunny Hewton – Punter and former Trainer.

And long time greyhound mentors Bevan and Elaine Williamson

We also witnessed the ever popular Personality Award, which was awarded too the legendary “Lemonade” Tom Feehan,of punting fame.
“Lemonade” Tom should of also received the “Blooper” award for destruction of his trophy, which fell apart soon after he and his lovely wife, posed for there award photo with the trophy. The Look on “Lemonade’s face was priceless as it fell too the floor and split in two.

The Top award was keenly contested, with each nominee, all having achieved great success throughout the previous year. Mick Patterson, spoke highly of his dog He Knows Uno, but also acknowledged the fantastic efforts of the other nominees. He also said all the finalists deserved to win and pointed out they were all winners in making the final four. How true that is.

In the end their can only be one winner, and that winner was Got a Moment. The Daughter, of Collision and Splitting Hairs, was awarded the accolade after Di Buxton, made the decision too send her to Jason Thompson in Victoria to be trained on Reg Kay’s advice. It would prove to be a $425,000 move with the tiny 24kg chaser winning the Melbourne Cup and then completing the Group 1 double; winning the Brisbane Cup 2 weeks later. Di was in high praise of Jason Thompson, his partner Seona Hood and their family; and was thrilled to have won the award “stating her grandfather wouldn’t believe it” had he of been alive today. Her grandfather was responsible for Di’s love of the greyhound.

All the finalist deserved high praise, and all are no doubt going to leave their mark on the industry in some way or another.

Australian Racing Greyhound, is also the new proud owners of a signed Gold Coast Titans Football and Jersey.

“Lemonade” Tom, donated the items to be won by one Lucky ticket holder. Luke Gatehouse, raffled off the ball with a game of heads and tailsW, which has each contestant place a hand on either their head or tail. As Luke flipped the coin, the players were eliminated until we were left with just one lucky lady from Racing Queensland. I’m unsure who she was but she kindly donated the ball to be auctioned off to support the wonderful GAP program.

Steve Hawkins, shifted straight into gear, and a bidding war erupted, between two punters at either sides of the room. From $100 right up till $420 were it seemed to stall, until a seemingly uninterested mystery man chimed in with a bid of $430. But the mystery man was quickly outbid by the determined party across the room. Not discouraged by this, the mystery man uped the ante with a bid crushing $500 offer. “Once, Twice, Sold” Steve Hawkins bellowed.

That mystery man, turned out to be our very own Kevin Pitstock, who was only too delighted to offer up the money to support the ongoing work of the GAP(Greyhounds As Pets) program, which takes in retired chasers and re-educates them to be rehomed with loving families. We all should get behind this program and we here at ARG are all too happy to support such a fantastic program.

Maybe here at ARG we might purchase and race a dog with a proportion of the winnings going to this fantastic cause? I know we all feel strongly about providing a great life after racing to our beloved hounds.

The GAP program representatives were delighted with our contribution, and we are now in discussion on how to raffle off these items to one of our lucky readers. So stay tuned Titan’s fans.

Of course none of this would of been possible, without firstly Lemonade Tom donating the items, the lovely lady who won the ball and then kindly donated it, and the big fella, Kevin Pitstock. Well done guys.

It was my first awards night and one I thoroughly enjoyed with my partner and many others. A Big thanks to Kev for taking us and I look forward to attending many more in the future. A Fantastic Night.

Got A Moment Named Queensland Greyhound Of The Year

Queensland’s greyhound industry tonight celebrated the 2012 racing season with the announcement of the Greyhound of the Year, Got A Moment at the Queensland Greyhound Industry Awards.

Got A Moment had a fantastic season, starting in 28 races to win 14 and place in seven, including taking out the prestigious Group 1 Melbourne Cup and the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

Owner and trainer Dianna Buxton was present on the night to accept the award.

She beat other 2012 Greyhound of the Year nominees Don’t Knocka Him, Glen Gallon and He Knows Uno.

Each Queensland Greyhound Racing club awarded their 2012 Greyhound of the Year and a number of Brisbane premiership awards were also presented including Brisbane’s leading owner, trainer, sire and brood bitch.

2012 Queensland Greyhound Of The Year Award Winners

• 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Got A Moment
• Brisbane – 2012 Greyhounds of the Year – Aladdin’s Queen and Cakes And Pies
• Bundaberg – 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Passionate Eyes
• Cairns – 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Briajohn Gold
• Capalaba – 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Magic Five
• Ipswich – 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Charmed Speed
• Rockhampton – 2012 Greyhound of the Year – Faith And Hope
• Townsville – 2012 Greyhounds of the Year – Top Knock and Curly Mac
• Brisbane Leading Owner Award – Hazelgrove Partnership
• Brisbane Leading Trainer Award – Ron Ball
• Brisbane Trainers Strike Rate Award – Kevin Bryant
• Brisbane Sire of the Year – Collision
• Brisbane Brood Bitch of the Year – Ultra Swift
• Women in Racing Award – Sandra Hunt
• Personality Award – “Lemonade” Tom Feehan
• Young Achiever of the Year – Mitchell Cox
• Top Simbi Award – Dianna Buxton

Racing Queensland Hall Of Fame Inductees

Four worthy industry contributors were inducted into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame, Credibility, Kirsty’s First, Albert “Bunny” Hewton and Bevan and Elaine Williamson.

Credibility
Credibility was a wonder on the track, winning 21 races and placing in nine from 40 starts. He won the Winfield Challenge, the Toowoomba Cup after running a track record 25.66 in his heat, the Lawnton Cup, the Gold Coast Derby, was runner-up in the National Derby at Wentworth Park beaten narrowly, and won heats of the Richmond Derby and Tweed Galaxy.

He went on to become one of the greatest sires in Australia, with his progeny including legend race dogs Faithful Hawk, Questions, Just The Best, Nobody’s Fool, Bearability, Reliability, Yo Yo’s Boy, History Lesson and Fine Devil.

His son Just The Best has already been installed into the Hall of Fame having sired such greats as Bogie Leigh, Surf Lorian and Big Daddy Cool.

Kirsty’s First
Kirsty’s First was the first ever Queenslander to win the National Distance Championship title and she did it in monumental fashion. The daughter of champions Ungwilla Lad and Katies Disco was raced by the late Jim Grundon and trained by Gary Cameron on the Darling Downs in the 1980’s.

Kirsty’s First was one of the greatest stayers of her time, winning 19 from 22 races, with 10 from her first 13 at the Gabba. Furthermore, she obliterated the Gabba 704m track record running 41.19, a time unheard of in those days.

She was also successful at stud, and is best known as the granddam of the champion galloper Worthy Reward.

Albert “Bunny” Hewton
Albert “Bunny” Hewton has almost done everything there is to do in the Greyhound Racing industry and was rightfully inducted in the Australian Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.

He has served on several committees over a period of 45 years including the Gabba, Brisbane, Beenleigh, Capalaba and Loganholme. He also served as an industry representative on the greyhound control board for three years from 1974. Mr Hewton is a life member of both the Brisbane and Capalaba Greyhound Racing Clubs.

Mr Hewton saw his service on all of the committees as an honour and did so because of a “Love for the Game” and to give back to the industry that gave him so much. He was a pioneer in Queensland Greyhound Racing introducing such initiatives as the sliding catching pen at Capalaba and the installation of starting boxes at the Loganholme track.

Bevan and Elaine Williamson
Bevan and Elaine Williamson have been a part of the greyhound industry for over 40 years. They have played a large part in the breaking in and educating of young pups prior to their racing career commencing. They have also had a great career in the training of greyhounds, with Elaine taking the major role in the training and preparation of countless winners. Bevan will be always regarded as one of the greats in the art of greyhound track preparation and maintenance, as well as being known as one of the best lure drivers in the business. Bevan has been throughout the state maintaining greyhound racetracks and has even travelled to Korea and Vietnam working on projects.

Greyhounds who has passed through the Williamson’s ranks include Yo Yo Flyer, Watusi Rose, Famous Leader, Texas President, Elle Mac Honcho, Sam Mac Honcho, Cantori and Lucy’s Light. Over the years they have broken in many great greyhounds including Flying Amy, Just The Best and Texas Gold.

Bevan, who won the 2005 Personality Award, and Elaine Williamson, are deserved inductees into the Queensland Hall of Fame, as are Credibility, Kirsty’s First and Albert “Bunny” Hewton.

Weed On The Tweed

Hello! What are these guys smoking?

Border Park at Tweed Heads to come under the control of Queensland, so the story goes. Quotes from GRNSW, Racing Queensland and the local state MP.

It will not happen, and for a large number of reasons.

• 1. Racing in NSW can be controlled only by GRNSW under an Act of Parliament.
• 2. Queensland cannot control any racing in NSW, also under an Act of Parliament. Even if it wanted to, Queensland cannot rule on or supervise racing in NSW.
• 3. Two weekly TAB meetings are mooted – but run by whom? Tatts could offer away-betting facilities but is legally qualified to control Queensland racing sites only, not those in NSW. Tabcorp, which already controls betting at Border Park, has long said Saturday afternoon racing (Border Park’s prime slot) cannot accommodate more races, especially not dog races. That policy is why Greyhound Racing at Newcastle’s Beaumont Park met its fate in the 1990s.
• 4. Border Park already has TAB facilities under an “auditorium” license (as at Randwick and Broadmeadows in Newcastle) which allows them to take bets even when local races are not being run.
• 5. NSW encouragement for this change is the height of hypocrisy – it was GRNSW which chopped back Border Park meeting numbers a couple of years ago, even though the region needed a boost following the closure of the Gold Coast track.
• 6. The broader region of SEQ and NSW Northern Rivers already sees a plentiful exchange of dogs amongst the five available tracks (including Casino and Lismore) so the only impact of this proposal would occur if Border Park prize money were to increase substantially.
• 7. Any extra prize money would require full TAB coverage which would have to come in an already overcrowded weekly program. Only two possibilities are available – first, to run races at breakfast time when most TAB shops are closed or, second, to jam then into a more popular slot and thereby split the available betting funds more thinly. The latter has already created a major problem for intending punters at other tracks. In the interests of the industry, neither option is practicable or desirable.
• 8. The Queensland state is already short of money and so is Racing Queensland – hence the longstanding dithering about building a new track.
• 9. Racing Queensland has shown no competence in running racing and is currently presiding over a decline in finance and standards across all three codes. It has already done back-flips over track expenditure and racing dates at Toowoomba, Caloundra and other provincial galloping locations. The imminent appointment of industry insiders to local boards is likely to make those problems worse.
• 10. The plan’s support from the GRNSW CEO, who has no executive authority, must have emerged before checking with his board. His chairman is a lawyer and would certainly have seen the above blockages.

The tragedy of all this kerfuffle is that the national racing package would be enhanced if a well-built, one-turn track were to emerge at Border Park. But there are two provisos. The region does not have enough good dogs to justify that plan at the moment. The cart has been put before the horse.

Secondly, full TAB coverage of the new meetings would have to occur as a replacement of existing meetings. Otherwise, finances will suffer somewhere else. Who will accept that?

The greyhound code’s major need is not to add more tracks or more meetings to the calendar but to make a better job of those that already exist. The starting point would be the development of a bigger pool of customers with fresh money.

Blazing Chaos – Still Blazing In Retirement

With a kennel name of Dude the March 2008 son of Surf Lorian and She’s Adams was always going to be special. Queensland bred he would grace the track as Blazing Chaos and go on to win over $60,000 in prizemoney for the Sensationals syndicate. With a race career that would traverse across 5 states the striking black greyhound finished his race career with the great record of 52 starts for 14-17-8.

Dude started his race career in Victoria in the rich Gold Rush Maiden series at Bendigo. His first start in the heats resulted in a good 2nd. The following week he would win his semi and qualify for the final. Drawn box 8 he would have no luck and finish 7th. The result – Dude was on a plane and headed north to Queensland – his first flight of many more to come. He quickly won at Albion Park in best of night and connections knew he had ability. He went to Lismore for 2 starts but returned without a win. By start number 6 he had raced in three different states and his education was fast developing.

The team of Adam Hines and syndicate head Broc Wright wanted to test his ability and the fast approaching national sprint would be the target. His heat resulted in a strong second behind Mr Prizz in BON and that result was enough to qualify him for the final. The following week and against older and more experienced opposition he would win the final in BON with a great win from box 7. Dude had done what connections hoped he would. He would now be set the task to represent Queensland at the G1 national sprint final at Angle Park. Amazingly he had beaten Queensland’s best as a fifth grader.

His record now stood at 16 starts for 6 wins – and at Albion Park he was ultra consistent with 11 starts resulting in 5 wins and 6 seconds.

A few weeks later and after another flight to South Australia Dude was set for the G1 national sprint final at Angle Park. After drawing the yellow box no luck would see him finish 6th in the final behind Smooth Fancy. Dude was straight back to Queensland. After a short spell he was back to Albion Park where first up he won in BON. The ability was there and a racing decision was needed to be made.

Broc Wright and trainer Adam Hines discussed their options and a decision was made to send Dude back south to Victoria where he would campaign with Darren MacDonald and try his luck in the rich Melbourne Cup. His heat would result in a great second behind Aston Galilee but the following week luck eluded him and he finished 4th in his semi final. He would miss the final and start the following week over the 595m instead finishing 3rd. A Victorian win had eluded him but he showed he had class and that he could compete with the best in the country.

The G1 Brisbane Cup heats were approaching and the decision was made to bring him home. After only 3 Victorian starts he was on another plan. His record at Albion Park was outstanding with 12 starts for 6 wins and 6 seconds so it was a formality that he would compete and be one of the fancies.

Dude was on another flight back to Brisbane and back with Adam Hines. Dude would draw box 1 for his heat and finish second behind Red Rocket. More importantly – he again showed his ability by qualifying for his second group 1 final. The G1 final would see the son of Surf Lorian draw box three and finish fourth behind the champ He Knows Uno. Immediately afterwards he was on another flight to Victoria and back to Darren MacDonald. From here he would head to Tasmania. 2 starts in Tasmania resulted in a third behind Dee Winter and an unplaced run. The decision was made to target the Victorian racing scene.

Over the next few months he raced at Ballarat, Warnambool, Horsham, Warragul, Sandown as well as The Meadows where he was 2 from 2 in fast time. He was competing against quality dogs winning his fair share and giving the 11 members of the Sensationals syndicate the ride of their lives. He would be set for the Golden Easter Egg. A public trial first look at Wentworth Park and a 29.79 run had connections very excited for what might be. It quickly turned to frustration as he was overlooked as being only a Victorian 5th grader. He wouldn’t be drawn in a heat and immediately returned to Victoria, but the bad luck of missing the egg would follow.

On the 5th of May 2011 a race fall at Sandown would change his career. Written off by many and with most suggesting that he would never race again, the syndicate opted for surgery. A fractured right humorous would result in a plate and 7 screws. A long stint on the sidelines would ensue and his recovery wouldn’t be known for sometime. Dude boarded a plane and returned to Queensland.

After 9 months Dude returned to racing in a FFA at Albion park on the 9th of February 2012 where he would finish 5th and show connections that although the body was bruised he still wanted to compete. He won the following week – a proud moment for connections and trainer Hines who proved the doubters wrong. Although he would never reach the same heights, he campaigned weekly over the following 6 weeks before another injury meant a further 2 months on the sidelines. He returned, but not for long. Injury had taken is toll and it was time to retire. A journey of racing in 5 different states had finally come to a end. Dude had changed the lives of the those around him.

The syndicate looked around to find him a home. Dude would continue to influence the lives of those around him. He found a home in Rochedale South with the Osmond family, Shane, Rachael and their two young boys. Shane’s father was a jockey, steward and trainer and he knew how great a pet greyhound would be. “Dude is the biggest sook – he loves attention and the side of anyone’s hip” he said. At the park the striking black dog still draws attention and influences those he meets – “everyone wants to pat him and people can’t believe how friendly greyhounds are. He is well known in the area and people love him and more than that they like seeing him around.” Just like they did when he was racing on the track.

Oaks Road Named NSW Greyhound Of The Year

Oaks Road has won the 2012 Betfair NSW Greyhound of the Year award at a gala event at the Sydney Town Hall last night.

The Mark Gatt-trained Group 1 winner defeated the two other nominees Bye Bye Bucks and He Knows Uno for the major honour. An elated Gatt was on hand to accept the award along with Oaks Road’s owner and breeder Edwin Kingswell.

Oaks Road, trained in Thirlmere, had a brilliant 2012, winning the Group 1 Perth Cup, the Group 2 Bob Payne Sprint and the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup. He also represented NSW at the National Sprint Championships at Hobart before he succumbed to injury and was retired to stud.

Despite Oaks Road being named Betfair NSW Greyhound of the Year, both Bye Bye Bucks and He Knows Uno did not leave empty handed.

Bye Bye Bucks, trained by Ken Lewis at Raby, was rewarded for a terrific 2012 by winning the Sprinter of the Year award. Bye Bye Bucks won 16 races in 2012, including the Group 2 Dapto Megastar and the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens.

He Knows Uno, trained by Michael Patterson in the NSW North Coast town of Iluka, took home the Stayer of the Year award. He Knows Uno competed in nine group races in 2012, with his highlight coming when he defeated a stellar field that included the champion Miata to win the Group 1 Brisbane Gold Cup.

In other major awards to be announced on the night, former long serving Coonamble Greyhound Racing Club secretary Tony Finlay was awarded the Allen Wheeler Medal for lifetime achievement.

Finlay, who sadly passed away last year, held the secretary role at the Coonamble club for 30 years and was the driving force behind the iconic Coonamble Carnival.

For the second year in a row, Andy Lord won the Greyhound Recorder Trainer of the Year title.

Despite relocating to Gunning midway through 2012, Lord still enjoyed another successful year with his talented team right across the state.

It would not be an awards night without Miata taking home some silverware and the champion greyhound was not left out, winning the Run of the Year award for her brilliant Wentworth Park debut where she broke the 720m record set by Chinatown Lad in 2008.

The full list of award winners were:

• Betfair 2012 NSW Greyhound of the Year – Oaks Road
• Allen Wheeler Medal – Tony Finlay (Coonamble)
• 2012 Greyhound Recorder Trainer of the Year – Andy Lord (Gunning)
• 2012 Club of the Year – Bathurst GBOTA
• 2012 Volunteer of the Year – John Corrigan (Grafton)
• 2012 Virbac Animal Health Young Person of the Year – Dimity Maher (Singleton)
• 2012 Betfair Media Coverage of the Year – The Daily Examiner (Grafton)
• 2012 Run of the Year – Miata (Association Cup heat, Wentworth Park)
• 2012 Sprinter of the Year – Bye Bye Bucks
• 2012 Stayer of the Year – He Knows Uno
• 2012 Sire of the Year – Bit Chili
• 2012 Brood Bitch of the Year – Meredith Grey

Richmond Derby: The Perfect Appetiser

Greyhound Racing fans will be treated to a mouth-watering display tonight as three sensational heats of the Group Two Richmond Derby will be conducted. The time honoured classic has been won by some of the best talent Australia has ever seen including; Cyrus the Virus, Stately Bird and Mandagery Man.

With a $40,000 first prize on offer, the gruelling 535m circuit tests even the best sprinters with exceptional stamina required.

Heat one will kick off in grand style with recent Group One National Derby hero Jagger Swagger for Mark Azzopardi drawn ideally out wide in box seven. After recording a near record 30.35 back in November, no eyebrows will be raised if the son of Premier Fantasy repeats this personal best effort. Zipping Milo for in form trainer Jason Mackay is unbeaten at his last five starts with some impressive efforts over the middle distance. His recent Richmond form speaks for itself with three starts for three wins including a sizzling 30.57 personal best but will need to be at his best from the tricky box five. The valued runner of the field is recent Richmond 618m track record holder Where’s Keroma. Blowing his rivals away in a superb exhibition of speed, a favourable box three could see trainer Anthony Azzopardi continue his amazing start to 2013 with another group final contender.

Outstanding youngster Carlos Pedro for Mark Gatt will step out in heat two from the coveted box one. All eyes are surely to be on the semaphore board after the beautifully bred son of Where’s Pedro and Physical clocked a sensational 30.36 after just his third career start. Having been unplaced in just one of his nine starts, this surely spells exciting times ahead for owner Edwin Kingswell who could have potentially found a replacement for recently retired star Oaks Road. Lucky I’m Black for Anthony Azzopardi is drawn ideally in box two with a fast 30.50 personal best. Having solid form as of late at Wentworth Park and Sandown, could steal this heat at healthy odds. Sticking with a box order trifecta, Ferly Reign for Jason Magri is having his first try over the Richmond distance after some handy form at Bulli over the 472m and should have the stamina to run this out and potentially book a final spot.

Magnum Blast has the bloodlines and the talent to be a potential star and as of late has blossomed into a handy race dog. After running a gallant second in the Group One National Derby just two weeks ago followed by a strong Wentworth Park win last week, an ideal box two should see the Anthony Azzopardi trained youngster get the fly in the early stages. Mythical Eagle recently took out the Bathurst Gold Cup in impressive fashion leading all the way in a blistering 30.01. Despite drawing the unfavourable box five, his excellent early speed should see him cross his slower inside rivals early. Recent Group Two Bulli Gold Cup winner Hoover Boy has made a triumphant return to form in recent weeks for trainer Luke Azzopardi with the ability to snatch this heat. A 30.65 personal best over the 535m distance should see him figure late in the race despite an unfavourable box four.

Richmond greyhounds is the place to be this Saturday night as it provides a perfect appetizer to the Group One Golden Easter Egg series beginning in two weeks. Heat one kicks off at 8.14pm.

Greyhound Tips For 1st March 2013

For those of you who follow our selections, or are thinking about following them, here are our results from yesterday.

We gave you guys 6 selections, and and also selected the quadrellla, here are the results.

Quadrella(Queensland dividends):

• 1st leg – Ruby Jones, Winner $ 5.10
• 2nd leg – Mist Opportunity, Ran last and stewards order a swab.
• 3rd leg -Trotting and Kay Cee Spirit, both dogs failed.
• 4th leg -Hawko’s Mistake, Winner $ 3.60

Individual Selections

• Velocity High, Winner $2.10
• Restless Teddy, Winner, a whooping $7.10 the place.
• Cambrian Rock, failed to perform.
• Dodging, placed 3rd
• Pipstar, placed 3rd
• Steve Allen, Winner $ 2.20

Overall a very successful, night with two legs of the quaddide also saluting, at great odds.

Ipswich Greyhounds, Race 8 Box 1 Rylee’s Ebony. 5.23 pm QLD time

This bloke was our on top selection on Tuesday, from a bad box, box 5 he finished second. Today he has come up with the rails and looks unbeatable. He’s going to be short, but he’s going to be better than bank interest. He is absolutely flying this dog and its going to take a might effort to hold him out in this best 8 field today. He has a PB of 25.01 and i wont be surprised to see him run right up to that PB, given the right track condition. Rylee’s Ebony has been a model of consistency, in his last 3 starts since a spell and bad luck shouldn’t beat this bloke today. Best Bet.

Casino Greyhounds, Race 12 Box 2, Gitcha Money On 3.43 pm Nsw time

Sometimes it pays to have a remarkable memory, when trying to find that elusive winner. At times you often hear or see something and file it away for a later date. Well Gitcha Money On is that memory. A run of bad boxes and little luck, have seen this bloke fail quite often of late. I remember seeing him one day at Casino, when he put in a fantastic run coming from a long way back to fill a place, and his owner/trainer was also in praise of the Mogambo youngster. Today he has drawn near perfect in box 2 and if he performs at his best he will give this a mighty shake. He has a motor, and I’m sure this bloke is going to win many a race, once he kick starts the ball rolling. He should be in the leading division today, or with his best jump lead this race. He’s quite capable of running near to 23.00 dead, and he certainly gets his chance today in this week field. Each Way Bet.

Wentworth Park Greyhounds, Race 1 Box 2 Zippy Hand, 7.19 pm Nsw time

Well we are all aware of the thrashing National Futurity Winner, Sometimes Speddy will give these, but Zippy Hand is box extremely well to follow the 2 Jason Mckay runners and fill that 3rd position. She’s a mad railer and will get the perfect sit in behind the the favourite pair. She only needs to hold her position, and the outside division off early and i have no doubt she can fill the whole for 3rd. I guess I’ve unintentionally given you the Trifecta here, but Zippy Hand is strictly a place bet, and with the right run she should do her job. Place Bet only.

The Gardens, Race 2 Box 3 Kristen Robbo, 4.18 pm Nsw time

This girl owes me quite a lot, it may be foolish of me to select a maiden dog that seems to always find a way too get beat, but a win can’t be far off for the daughter of Bit Chilli. Poor decisions and slow beginnings have been the reason she is yet to win her maiden. She has the ability, and threatened many times, only to come up short. She has joined a new kennel and im hoping this may be the recipe she needs to finally win her maiden. She’s only an average beginner but winds up mid race, and from box 3 she will get her chance to stay out of early trouble and make her run rounding the home turn. When she puts it all together, there’s no doubt she will win. Lets hope todays the day. Each Way Bet

Geelong Greyhounds, Race 7 Box 8 Allen Benji. 9.08 pm Vic time

4 starts ago Allen Benji, gave the group 1 Hobart thousand winner, Blackall’s Boss a galloping lesson at Bendigo. In a small field he began brilliantly and was never ever in doubt racing away winning in a flying 23.63. This dog has a huge motor and has been unlucky not to have one more feature races. He probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves and he looks might hard to beat in this race tonight. He has a great record from box 8 and only needs a safe beginning to show his burn. His own PB is slightly below most of the field, but if this blokes comes out running, he will no doubt run the fastest PB of these. He has to contend with a quality line up but has had to do that his whole career. If he jumps the others will have a huge job to pick him up.

Well hopefully we have found a few winners for you, and we all look forward to tomorrow nights racing, at the Meadows, with the running of the Super Stayers. and the Group 1 Australian Cup.

Miata faces her toughest test, and no doubt it will be a race that the greyhound public wont want to miss. Can the Mighty Bitch from W.A do it? Only time will tell.

Best Of Luck

$$ Another day Another Dollar $$

NCA Granted A One Month “Stay Of Execution”

As the February 25th deadline came and passed for GRNSW to effectively deregister the ailing NSW National Coursing Association (NCA) many wondered how the NCA would manage to hold their tenuous grip on NSW Greyhound Racing as operator of the The Gardens Greyhound Racing track.

And it would seem the financially and morally embattled club has pulled yet another “rabbit from the hat”.

According to Greyhound Racing New South Wales (GRNSW), its board has “now received representations from the NSW National Coursing Association (NCA) in response to the show cause notice issued to the club over concerns about the club’s financial viability”.

“The Board has requested further financial information from the NCA to assist in its consideration of the matter and will also receive a report from Deloitte, who have been retained by GRNSW, on the material provided by the NCA” said a GRNSW spokesperson.

Of course the NCA is not without its own “man on the inside” with former NCA president Murray Nicol holding a seat on the board of GRNSW, and having done so since 2008.

During Nicol’s tenure on the GRNSW board, the board has approved several bailout plans for the flailing Gardens Greyhound Racing Complex when the NCA was struggling to meet its repayment obligations on loans secured to purchase and development the complex. Those bailouts have resulted in GRNSW securing a 70% ownership of the complex.

The NCA’s other commercial interests are the production of the printed greyhound weekly, The Greyhound Recorder; which remarkably still provides content to GRNSW despite the fact the NCA have refused a GRNSW request to remove its General Manager Adam Dobbin after it became public knowledge he had been responsible for misappropriating $155,000 of NCA money to fund a gambling problem.

In fact according to the NCA’s own balance sheets it would appear Dobbin’s “misappropriating” had been known of for some time as the 2011 profit loss statement includes a “Misappropriation” expense of $53,550. That figure rose dramatically to $101,758 for the year ending 30 June 2012.

The NCA balance sheets show the NCA suffered a $3.12Million loss in 2012, largely due to “impairment” through the loss of its controlling 70% interest in The Gardens complex as an asset.

The NCA has been granted registration as a Greyhound Racing club until 31 March 2013 when a further decision will be made.

Trainer Profile: Jamie McHugh

Jamie Mchugh, of Logan village in Queensland, is one of the lucky few trainers who enjoyed instant success when he first decided to try his hand a training a dog or two.

Around ten years ago Jamie, went in search of a couple of dogs, with his good friend and very astute dog man Greg Brennan.
They decided on two performed dogs from country New South Wales, and a deal was struck to purchase them. Be For Bonnie, and Kakkadu Cowboy, were the result of that purchase.

Bee For Bonnie, would turn out the best of them and take Jamie on a phenomenal ride that included 5 wins in a row, a semi final berth in the Golden Easter Egg, a second in the Ipswich cup and a Tweed Heads Galaxy Finalist. Something the majority of us can only dream of when entering this fine sport for the first time.

Be For Bonnie was never a ready made 520m dog, and fellow trainers expressed their doubts about the daughter of Super Mint running out the 520 meter distance. However Jamie was having none of that, and after wining at Ipswich with her over the 431 in her second start he embarked on a campaign to build her up to the 520. That decision to step her up, despite others not believing she was capable would prove a master stroke for the first time greyhound trainer.

Be For Bonnie not only handled the step up, she went on to win 5 in a row, and just fell short in the Ipswich Cup where she was beaten a nose. Be for Bonnie would win 15 races for Jamie, and forever cement a love of Greyhound Racing in him.

Jamie bred with Be For Bonnie and wanted nothing but the best for her and decided to mate her to Brett Lee, unfortunately none of the litter would emulate their mother, although they won many races. Tragically Be For Bonnie was bitten by a snake and Jamie would never get another chance to breed with her.

The luck though never stopped there, and when Jamie and his brother Leith were given a bitch to breed with by Steve Kavanagh, more quality chasers followed. Steve was a friend of Jamie’s father and the two played rugby league together growing up. Jamie looked up to Steve and considered him to be his mentor.

Jamie and Leith were loaned Lady Derry on a pup deal and the pair agreed to mate her to Elite State. Lady Derry, was imported by Steve from Ireland, and whelped 10 pups to the National Sprint champion. Jamie and Leith, would get 4 pups each and Steve 2 – Majority Rules, Cold Shivers, Miss Gro Go and Glad to name the best of them.

As luck would have it, Jamie once again hit the jackpot, and prepared Majority Rules to be the quickest qualifier of the time honoured VInce Curry. Majority Rules would have no luck in the Heats and Jamie decided with his syndicate, they would send the son of Elite State to Hall of Fame trainer Ron Ball.

Jamie was of the opinion a good dog deserved a good trainer, obviously forgetting the success he had with Be For Bonnie. Jamie had many dogs throughout this time and led in plenty of winners. Majority Rules would go on to make top grade at Albion Park and win many races, with the highlight of his career, coming with a victory in the Darwin Cup.

Cold Shivers would also prove to be a very handy performer, and the start of Jamie’s budding breeding career. Jamie put his bitch to Where’s Pedro and once again Jamie would be blessed with another top line chaser.

Seldom Said, was Jamie’s least favourite, and a dog he had offered up for sale before breaking in. Lucky for Jamie, Seldom Said would remain in his care until being sent to be broken in along wit his littermates. Jamie’s pick of the litter would turn out to be, one of the slowest, and Seldom Said by far the quickest.

Jamie carefully steered his charge around, and great success would follow. It is history now that Seldom said would go on to beat Don’t Knocka Him in the final of a big maiden at Grafton. Seldom Said, to date has won the Molly Campbell Silver Dollar, The Publicans Cup, and run a very close second in the Group 2 QLD Derby. He is currently on the comeback trail after spending a few months campaigning in NSW.

Jamie now trains from a small property in Logan Village, and has set himself up very well. He currently has pups by Velocette, Bekim Bale And Bombastic Shiraz. And these pups have the run of the property, often spending their days tearing around the yards or cooling off in the dam.

I have recently labelled Jamie, some what of a “Boutique” trainer, with the great success he is having with his small team of dogs. Jamie gets the basics right, and spends a lot of time preparing his dogs before he enters them into a race. He places them well and plays the grades to his advantage.

One thing Jamie does really well, is he is always willing to go that extra mile to get 100% out of his dogs. Whether it be traveling to a track they can win at,or getting the one extra run into them that they need to be 110%.

You always know when Jamie Mchugh has a dog in a race, that its in there with some sort of a winning chance. He only produces his dogs where they can win, and in tip top condition.

Recently Jamie took over the training of Bralyn Casey for good friend George Clegg, after George was forced to have a operation on his knee. The pair devised a plan to tackle a staying race with Bralyn Casey. Jamie had never trained a stayer and once again had instant success with Bralyn Casey winning first up with her over the 732m journey at Ipswich in city class.
George laid up at home, described the moment ‘as one of the most exciting moments he had, had in Greyhound Racing‘. Between the pair they had pulled of the result they set out to achieve weeks earlier.

Jamie Mchugh has two young son’s who both share there father’s love of greyhounds, “Harry Mchugh” (Big H) and Tom Mchugh who has just completed his catchers licence. Both boys show great interest in the dogs, and young Harry is forever researching them on the internet, trying to convince his father to put one of there brood bitches to Big H’s favourite dog, Radley Bale.

Jamie has stated the success of the Mchugh kennel could not be possible with out the constant help he receives from the two boys, “They are a fantastic help” says Jamie. “I couldn’t do it without them”. I’ll have to start giving them a share in the prize money he jokes.

One things for sure Jamie has had fantastic success, but that success has not come easy. He has had to work hard, and has never stop learning always willing to try something new or listen to one of his peers, something he credits to his ongoing success.

The Mchugh Kennel is one to keep a close eye on.

Amy Bennett Is Flying High

Wilberforce trainer Amy Bennett is not your typical 19 year old girl. She is fast becoming one of the most talented female trainers in New South Wales after a stunning debut year in 2012. Amy’s statistics resulted in 25 winners and 50 minor placings with half of her runners finishing in the money every start.

Amy’s father and mentor Vince Bennett was a highly successful trainer for many years with two of his star chasers; Sky Fly High (2009 National Futurity Runner Up) and I Love Lucy (3rd 2007 NSW Distance Championship Final) now providing Amy with an array of talented performers. Billy Fly High (Premier Fantasy x Sky Fly High) is a brilliant short course sprinter winning 2 of his 5 starts including 2 minor placings. Stepping out in December at Gosford on debut, he blew his rivals away from box five clocking a flying 22.88 over the 400m. Fellow sibling Jimmy Fly High isn’t two far behind with a natural ability to master the two turn circuit, already a Wentworth Park winner in 29.99 and a sizzling PB effort at Richmond of 30.57.

Amy’s 2013 campaign picked up right where she left off racking up five winners in just four days during the month of January which spanned across; Gosford, Wentworth Park and Richmond. It began on Tuesday at Gosford with Intimidator Jake and Billy Fly High giving her a winning double over the 400m. At Richmond on Wednesday Lilly Fly High saluted over the 330m before a triumphant double at Wentworth Park on Friday with British Bomber and Clinga providing Amy with plenty of reasons to celebrate behind the boxes.

‘It was amazing. I couldn’t believe the success I had that week and the prizemoney was very very good’ Amy said with a sense of pride and excitement at her efforts.

Despite making her name for herself as an owner/trainer Amy insists her success is not a solo effort.

‘Dad (Vince) has taught me everything. I look up to him and have learnt what it takes to prepare a greyhound. It’s all about looking after them and their welfare. It’s certainly a team effort’ said Amy on a routine trip home from Gosford, her favourite track.

‘I love the people, the staff and the track. I’ve had a lot of success there and although it takes an hour and a half to get there it’s worth it’.

There’s more to this gifted and delightful young lady than just a vast knowledge of Greyhound Racing, as she tackles the task of completing a degree in primary teaching.

‘It’s really hard and I’ll be at trials or the races doing assignments but it will be worth it in the end’ said a giggling Amy. Time management is crucial as a trainer and the skills she is obtaining from studying and greyhounds will certainly make her wiser beyond her 19 years of age.

The only feat really left to achieve for Amy is that of a group win. Coming tantalisingly close in 2010 with Frisky Melody who was runner up in the group two Dapto puppy auction final it’s only inevitable that a final win is just around the corner. The preparation and care Amy puts into her greyhounds is a credit to her and her family as she will no doubt continue to rise in the ranks as a female trainer we can all aspire to be.

“The handlers can do more” – A Look Behind The Voice Of Cannington.

While he appears to have a fascination with gumtrees and white roses, regular W.A racecaller Peter O’Neill has become one of the most recognisable voices in our sport. His passion, dedication and enthusiasm to the longtails cannot be questioned, especially during the hugely popular Perth Cup and Galaxy carnivals, of which the 2013 version concluded last week.

The West Aussie native has been the regular voice of Cannington for over 5 years, replacing then frontline caller, Craig Evans. While he backed up Craig for almost a decade beforehand, the series of events leading up to that point can only be described as fascinating, and shows how life can make good out of a traumatic event.

Growing up on a wheat and sheep farm in Narrogin, the equine industry looked to be Peter’s first love after it was introduced to him through is father, who rode, trained and eventually even called in the local area. Once the prospects of becoming a jockey himself dissipated, he left Narrogin and the racing industry behind and joined the Commonwealth Bank at age 17.

Not completely forgetting his roots, Peter would entertain bank staff with phantom Melbourne Cup calls, before a colleagues’ Uncle decided there was a gift going to waste and organised an opportunity calling trotting trials.

Things took a turn for the worse however, when at the age of 20, Pete was involved in a hold-up while working at the bank. A horrific thing to have happen to anyone, let alone someone so young, this led him away from the city and out to Kalgoorlie where joined a local radio station while still doing bank work.

In what may be a blessing in disguise, the transferral meant that Peter’s racing love returned, and soon was calling gallops at three local tracks. Over the next 14 years, the Peter would become a well-used back-up caller across W.A before he was approached by Craig Evans to try his hand (or voice) at the dog caper. Finding the going far too tough, it took over three months for Peter to make the change to something that now seems so natural to those that have the pleasure of listening.

Once getting a foot into the greyhound door, his expertise and popularity have grown exponentially. Thanks to the former radio show, Greyhound Gossip, Pete entered the national arena when he convinced Paul Bartolo to come to Perth with his 2006 Melbourne Cup winner, Betty’s Angel. In an ironic twist, Betty’s Angel would become the winner of his first Perth Cup call in 2007 and the first chaser to take the Melbourne/Perth Cup double.

Having seen everything there is to see at Cannington over the past decade, Peter recalls one of the more unusual nights at the office involving and Irishman celebrating his bucks show;

“He jumped onto the track as the runners went down the back straight. Waving to the crowd with his shirt off getting closer to the rail I had flashes going through my head that this bloke was going to get hit by the lure and die.”

“Right on the finish line, the lure hit him, knocking his shoes off with the force. With the field going by into the catching pen, he lay motionless for 5 minutes before his mate put a can of Bundy under his nose and he got up. It was a miracle he walked away.”

With first-hand knowledge of Australia’s best chasers, Peter states he had a “special love” of Reggemite and recalls predicting Elektra’s 2008 Galaxy win three months in advance. However, one gets the feeling that Miata has taken a special place with Peter all of her own;

“Miata has rescued WA Greyhound Racing with people from outside of our industry. Last week all three free-to-air TV channels ran news stories of her historical win at Cannington, which is unheard of in Perth.”

“She is a freak in the kindest manner and was unwanted as a $7000 pup. Now people have just grown to love her.”

His opinion of Miata’s trainer, Paul Stuart is just as high;

“He is a great ambassador for Greyhound Racing. He is professional and handles himself really well and is always free for media interviews, which is great for the local sport.”

On a personal note, Peter has owned one dog called Reggie’s On Fire that himself and two mates won through a raffle to raise money for children with Cerebral Palsy.

“He won a Maiden in around 31.60 after running around the outside of the track.”

Peter lives with his wife of 21 years in his coastal home at Coogee. Interestingly, the racing bloodlines may have skipped a generation, as his two children, 19 year-old Samuel and 17-year old Jessica will be off to study at Notre Dame University. Whether they will be doing phantom calls to impress classmates like their Dad, is yet to be seen.

Peter can be found at the Racing Radio studios six days a week and look for him trackside at Mandurah each Tuesday and at Cannington on Wednesday and Saturday nights – a testament to his incredible work ethic and dedication to our great sport in particular. However he somehow finds the time for his other passion – AFL football. Peter currently sits as chairman of South Fremantle Warriors development squad for 14 to 16 years footballers, and the SFFC have won the last two premierships with seven of their boys in the past two years being drafted onto AFL lists.

When asked about any future ambitions or plans, Peter is content and almost philosophical;

“I love Greyhound Racing and would love to see more promotion of the sport in local papers and on local TV channels. I have been a major promoter of Greyhound Racing in Perth as it struggles to get any recognition and sometimes people on the East coast think I’m a bit biased, however I’m just trying to promote the local code.”

“I’m happy doing what I’m doing and that is my motto on life – enjoy what you do or move on -life is too short.”

SA Bred & Owned Chaser Wins The Gardens Group 1 National Futurity

It’s been a big month for owner Jason Caddy who resides in Surrey Downs, a suburb north of Adelaide.

His star chaser Sometimes Speedy was nominated as one of the five finalists for the 2012 SA Greyhound of the Year earlier this month after she had an outstanding season for local trainer Troy Murray highlighted by her front running display in the Strathalbyn Cup Final back in November.

She missed out on the top prize, however, richly deserved her nomination in a star studded line up which included winner, Hope’s Up and Group 1 performer Kalden Mayhem.

Last month she was sent to NSW trainer Jason Mackay for a tilt at some of the bigger races Interstate and after three successive wins she started one of the favorites for the Group 1 National Futurity Final at the Gardens on Saturday night.

After beginning nicely from box 5 she speared to the front and from there the SA bred chaser was never headed recording a brilliant 29.40 victory over the 515m in winning by 2¾ lengths from kennel mate Punch One Out.

With the $75,000 first place prizemoney she took her career earnings past $114,000 with a fabulous record of 18 wins and 13 placings from 39 starts.

It is also terrific news for the SA Breeding Industry with Sometimes Speedy being locally bred by Troy Murray by Collision out of quality sprinter Gemstone Supreme. By winning Saturday nights Group 1 Sometimes Speedy also earned her breeder $7,500 thanks to the GRSA Super Bonus Scheme which rewards SA breeders if their greyhounds can win specific Feature Group races.

Is Queensland Typical Of The Nation?

A while back, Queensland had a clear option for a greyhound new track – Logan to the south-west of Brisbane. Everybody agreed. Then it had none. Then it had a new one – in Deagon, a northern Brisbane suburb. Then it had none. But suddenly, none has turned into five. Mind boggling, isn’t it?

In an interview with Qld Magazine last week, Racing Queensland Chairman Kevin Dixon listed those five as Logan, a combined thoroughbred-greyhound complex at Bundamba (Ipswich), a “new Parklands facility” – whatever that means, Toowoomba, and a reconfigured Albion Park – what does reconfigured mean?.

So far, and leaving aside the cost of repairs to a battered Albion Park, the Logan and Deagon options each have racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in investigation and design costs, and driven city fathers and MPs to distraction, so far for no gain at all. The Ipswich re-arrangement is destined to soak up another million dollars for designs alone, the majority for the gallops part – always assuming it happens, of course.

Toowoomba was a great loss to the greyhound industry as it was one of the finest tracks in the country. Still, like its thoroughbred neighbour, it could not pay its way in the end and was scrapped. Why it is now on a list of possibles in unknown. Even if it became a goer, it would make little difference to the need for a track near the coast and the bigger population centres.

The harness people are desperate to retain Albion Park, despite its flooding problems and the code’s sagging finances. But they and the dogs own half each, so it’s still a stalemate. However, the inner city land is a dormant gold mine.

All will be sorted out, Dixon says, as soon as the separate boards for each code are in place in a few weeks’ time. Those boards, you will remember, will be chosen from nominations from industry groups, who are much the same folk who originally voted for Logan. Either way, they will be insiders and therefore another version of the same old groups that have led Queensland into its current mire (in all codes, not just greyhounds). No fresh blood will be needed, thanks.

This entire process continues Queensland’s bumbling, politicised approach to running racing. The band is playing (albeit badly) as the ship goes down. It makes a mockery of Racing Ministers’ oft-repeated claims that they are keen to see racing run by racing people while they – the politicians – remain at arm’s length. It has never happened before and never will unless and until governments turn racing codes into fully independent corporations subject to all the disciplines of the market and their shareholders.

Shareholders? Well, so far state administrations have demonstrated by their actions that the only people they are concerned about are “participants”, who are always defined as owners and trainers. The public, especially the punters, seldom get a look in, even though they fund the whole show. Queensland’s upcoming board structures, for example, will be totally staffed by those so-called participants, or their mates. To date, the new regime has given no indication they will be seriously addressing the challenge of increasing patronage and therefore income streams. Certainly the incoming greyhound board has no brief to do that under the Racing Minister’s list of “things to do”.

Remember here that Queensland starts off behind the eight ball because its TAB – Tatts – has only small and uncompetitive pools which therefore do little to attract keen punters. A national TAB pool would fix that but, again, those same Ministers have failed to address that challenge (and it is something only Ministers could do).

Which leaves us with future track funding in Queensland largely dependent on government handouts. Unfortunately, it has a poor record there (viz the still-unsighted $10 million promised after it shut down the Gold Coast club to make way for a hospital expansion). The state is desperately short of cash anyway – already, important programs have been sidelined and public servants made redundant. The upcoming Commonwealth Games have to be financed, too.

The Queensland saga is a lesson for all in how not to run a business, or even to consider racing as a business, which few do. More and more, the evidence shows it is quite impossible in this day and age for a group of mates with comparable but sometimes differing allegiances to sit around a table and manage a complex, fast-moving industry. Yet that is what we have at club level and more or less at state level. The disastrous NCA Gardens case in NSW is further evidence of systemic failure (it booked a $3 million loss last year and suffered some hefty ”misappropriations”).

The current subservience to four-legged poker machines is not even doing the TABs much good. The big profits are now going to overseas-owned betting corporations. The jam-packed TAB programs have destroyed much of the magic that once prevailed. Any old dog will do. Multiple SKY (and TVN) channels often confuse. Gamblers now have little idea what they are betting on, or where it is happening. National leadership is non-existent. It adds up to an industry badly in need of major reform.

Black Caviar and Miata will stretch only so far and no more. And, for greyhounds in particular, it’s a cultural problem that has to be fixed. Too many people don’t know greyhounds and don’t understand Greyhound Racing. That’s something that good businessmen would recognise very quickly. But where are they?

Greyhound Betting Tips For Friday 15th February 2013

Over $200,000 on offer at the Gardens today with the Group 1 National Derby and Group 1 National Futurity to be run and won today.

The Gardens Greyhounds. Race 5 Box 6. Punch One Out 8.38 pm. Nsw time

National Futurity final here and I’ve stuck with Punch One Out the hole way through the series, so I won’t be jumping off here. Super hard race and to many variables to go through nearly all the runners will get their chance. Punch One Out is boxed well and might get a nice cart across behind Little Miss Sparkle, who has fantastic burn but lacks the strength. Punch One Out to run over the top here. Super hard race and best of luck to all the Finalists.

Wentworth Park Greyhounds. Race 1 Box 1. Sickness 3.47 pm nsw time

Tough race here today and I’m going with the rails draw. Sickness has loads of early speed and is boxed to jump and run. Gets very tired but should open up a good break and keep rolling to the line. All the runners have very similar PB’s and I think the dog who leads will win – hopefully Sickness does that. Ones things for sure if he doesn’t win I’ll be the one coming down with Sickness. Good chance from a good box.

Geelong Greyhounds. Race 10 Box 1 Gate Crash. 10.08 pm Vic time

The very talented Gate Crash has drawn the rails here. And looks set too notch up win number 2. He has a really big motor and was only a length of breaking 30.00 for the 520 at Albion one night. And if he reproduces anything like that he will give this lot win burn. Should punch up from the start and with clear running should be way too good for these.

Casino Greyhounds. Race 11 Box 2 Bralyn Bop Bop. 3.07pm Nsw time

Surely this has to be the day that Bop Bop finally salutes. He has to contend with Bogan Miss drawn on his inside. Who went terrific last start jumping and looking brilliant when kicking away mid field for a great win. Bop Boo either jumps to the lead and wins or jumps second and finishes to hard for Bogan Miss. Either way today’s the best chance for him to salute.

Ipswich Greyhounds, Race 8 Box 5 Alleez Brigette. 5.14pm Qld time

We round out today’s Tips here with the last semi final of the Vince Curry, Australia’s Richest Maiden race with the winner of next weeks final to receive $40,000. Aleez Brigette, looks panels better then these; has a big motor and should jump lead and win. Really showed what she was made of when charging from the rear to run second in her quali and with a clear run from the get go, she looks impossible to beat. Has good early toe, and is strong in the run home; so she can do it from both ends.
Just wins this and looks a huge chance in winning next weeks final.

Best of luck.

$$ Another Day Another Dollar $$

Why Racing Needs National Leadership

What an opportunity!

With the media awash with hundreds of pages in print and unlimited TV coverage about drugs in sport, what a great time it is to pound out what is probably one of Greyhound Racing’s biggest assets – its tight controls over drug use and its heavy penalties for offenders, both dog and man.

A few figures about swabs, negative and positive results, banned substances and how it is all done could make a big impression on an unknowing public. At any other time editors would just yawn, but today it is topical and interesting.

Of course there are crooks, as there are in any walk of life. But more important is what you do about them.

The football saga has got to the silly stage now as it is clear that the major impetus is coming from politicians and organisations keen to get their name in the paper. Whether or not some guilty folk emerge in the end is almost irrelevant. It is verging on a disgrace, but unfortunately one that has been spread around the world.

Indeed, it seems the most vital point is being missed: a sporting culture which throws more and more drugs into players’ diets is very sad. It is sending a huge message to the kids, never mind whether the substances are legal or not. In my view, the most unfortunate one of all is the constant advertising of vitamin pills, always featuring elite athletes. These are people who are supervised, diet and all, within an inch of their lives so the last thing they would need is extra vitamins. In fact, many experts have been critical of the very concept of healthy people with balanced diets taking vitamin supplements at all.

For example, in a story in Fairfax (Feb 13), Dr Andrew Duff, who advises the AFL Players Association, said “one would think that if we’ve got players who are being regulated really well with regards (sic) to their training loads and their nutrition, that it would be very rare to have someone with a deficiency that would need supplementing”.

One of the problems with getting out the greyhound story is that our national body, Greyhounds Australasia, meets infrequently and deals with drugs only on a few, specifically delegated issues. It meets infrequently and has no power other than that an individual member might accept. In practice, each state, as in this case, will do its own thing under whatever its local laws and regulations allow.

Here is a classic case where half a dozen different approaches will not cut the mustard anyway. It is clearly a national issue. Even were GA to crank into action, it would take weeks or months before anything emerged, if then. That’s no way to run an industry in a world that thrives on instant technology and fast moving news.

MR EVERYWHERE

A colleague previously highlighted the extraordinary success of Wheeler-bred dogs at the two Melbourne tracks. Quite so, but it’s not confined to that city.

Two group wins within three days in Perth and Launceston flag the breed’s abilities. Dyna Nalin in the Perth Cup and Xylia Allen in the Group 2 Cup in Tassie illustrate the point. Interestingly, both these come from small litters – three and two, respectively.

Xylia Allen has a pretty good motor so its good getaway resulted in a record 29.09 run over Launceston’s 515m trip. She has a touch of the Irish in her recent background (with a little help from Top Honcho).

Note also that Paul Wheeler and trainer Grahame Bate were responsible for three of the First Four in Launceston. Bate himself trained all four, which may be some sort of record as well.

Dyna Nalin has been a prolific winner in local races in WA but was a touch fortunate to pick up this one. It had an ordinary jump but got the benefit of some bumping on the first turn and sailed up along the rail into a handy spot. Its time was only average for this class of race.

Favourite Glen Gallon was a victim of the cutaway shape of the Cannington turn. It moved to the right at the wrong time, as many do, suffered the consequences and did well to finish on into 4th spot. The upcoming move to a new track in Perth must avoid this disruptive feature. (Mandurah is good – and it had its first turn fixed – so use that as a guide).

Incidentally, since the Wheeler dynasty has proved so successful, you would think one or two others might try to set up some genuine competition at a comparable level. It’s more or less present in the ownership area but not really in breeding. That would be a tall order, but why not?

Fabregas Kicking Goals At Stud

It’s the perfect combination that we all desire to breed that champion we all need. Recently retired star Fabregas ticks all the right boxes when its comes to being an alluring stud dog with a group one win, near flawless career statistics and proven bloodlines.

Having just 13 career starts he saluted the judge on 12 occasions, clocking some outstanding personal bests at Sandown (29.33), Hobart (25.85) and Shepparton (25.41). Fabregas young Victorian trainer David Hirst knew he was bound for greatness once he hit the trial track.

‘I knew he had something, he was flying at every trial track we took him too, he wasn’t real good with the boxes at the start but once he got used to it we could really see how good he was’ said Hirst who at just 23 years of age already has a group one national sprint title too his name.

‘I was very confident going into the big race, I knew he could win and yeah it all hit me once he crossed the line first’.
Despite this being a highlight reel moment for himself and owner Paul Westerveld, Hirst credits his most exciting and emotional victory to a memorial final at Horsham which was dedicated to the memory of his cousins who tragically passed away in a horror accident.

‘It was only a grade 5 final but to win that race was very special, very emotional. Considering it was dedicated to them it just has a lot of sentimental value to me’ Hirst said emotionally.

Fabregas is not the only champion Hirst has a connection to with good friend and mentor Paul Stuart, a regular visitor to the Westerveld household.

‘Paul’s been great in helping me with training greyhounds and is a great friend too. Having to pick Paul and Miata up from the airport is not a bad chore’, said Hirst.

Since stepping off the race track and into the breeding barn, Fabregas has attracted some of the best broodbitches our country has to offer. During the month of December proven producer Glamorous , dam of Magic Sprite whelped a litter of 7, Dana Beatrice, 2009 group one golden easter egg winner was served, Gosford goldmine winner Nat’s The One whelped a litter of 9 and 2009 NSW distance champion Smashing Amy whelped a litter of 5. It’s no surprise Hirst is rapt with the attention Fabregas has gained since his retirement.

‘He’s getting some real good litters on the ground and to attract the likes of those bitches, is very exciting. He was retired early in his career so hopefully it pays off and he throws a champion. Its looking positive with 100 straws already sold, said Hirst.

By newly inducted Hall of Fame sire Bombastic Shiraz out of Wicked Witch who has two previous litters to both Hallucinate and Meticulous produced the likes of; Wicked Trip (25.38 at Shepparton and 29.53 at Sandown), December Prince (2010 NCA Derby Consolation Winner at Longwood) and Tina Sparkle (2010 NCA Victorian Oaks at Ballarat, 24.53 at Bendigo and 23.49 at Horsham).

Wicked Witch also has two exciting litters in the process of rearing with 9 pups to Dyna Lachlan now at 13 months of age and a recently whelped 7 pups to boom sire Batrim Bale. Definitely keep an eye on both litters for another potential superstar.

Although some might ponder why Fabregas was retired when he was seemingly at the peak of his career needs to have a look at the breeding efforts of Token Prince and Magic Sprite. Both dogs had less than 20 starts and are two of the most popular and in demand stud dogs of all time. Its seems inevitable that stud master Paul Westerveld has just added another champion sire to his already successful Meticulous lodge with undoubtedly exciting times ahead.

Friday 15th February 2013

Friday 8th February 2013

Greyhound Racing Tips For Tuesday 12th February 2013

Xylia Allen smashes her own track record!!!

I thought the threat of a track record run may come from Nosey Rozy at Bulli last night, but Xylia Allen was simply breathtaking in the Launceston Cup last night.

After trailing the early lead she burst away in the straight to lower her own record she set the previuos week by more than 4 lengths, running a stunning 29.09 !!!

I’ve always had a huge opinion of this bitch and now she’s putting it all together. Xylia Allen will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Ipswich Greyhounds, Race 5 Box 6 Simmerly 4.17pm Qld time

Plenty of winners on today’s cards at Ipswich, but a tough day to find a little value. So we’re going to have to back a good dog off a bad box to increase the odds a little. And Simmerly looks that dog in race 5. Really honest bitch who is back from a go at the national Futurity where she finished unplaced in here heat. Should have no problems defeating this field here today. Has great early toe and is a reliable beginner. The 4 dogs drawn inside her are all slow beginners and this will allow her to jump and run. She should be a couple in front rounding the first turn. The best parts of her race are the first and second sectionals. And if she jumps and runs this race should be over passing the 600 boxes. Should easily break 31.00 and from the front that will win this. Great bet.

Gawler Greyhounds. Race 9 Box. 4 Tartuffe 3.12pm Vic Time

Very fast little bitch, who was one of the favorites in the S.A sprint Championship heats. But seems to race best when her confidence is up. Has poor form of late but this looks a race for her to regain her confidence. Am I’m guessing Her trainer Karen Bearpark has brought her he for exactly that. A confidence boost. She’s quite capable of running very slick time having allready won at Angle Park in 29.84. Has only a slow 31.27 here after 8 attempts, but theirs no doubt she can go alot quicker.
Is drawn in the middle here and theirs very little speed around her. The straighter start here at Gawler will suit and allow her to muster. If she can jump and muster from the get go she looks mighty hard to beat in this. Big Chance.

Devonport Greyhounds. Race 2 Box 8 Silent Giggle. 1.04pm Nsw time.

A 580m heat of the distance Championship here and Silent Giggle looks a great chance having drawn well here. Very versatile bitch who has no problems mixing here distances week in week out. Is the winner of 18 races and looks set to rack up win number 19 here. Should jump and sit out wide here on the track and as long as they dont skip too far away early she should be finishing off her race very hard. She needs to head a couple of her rivals early but if she does she looks a great chance in this.

Lismore Greyhounds. Race 4 Box 6. Bralyn Sharkie, 7.41pm Nsw time

Local trainer Bop Bop, (Brad Northfield) rugs up his first starter here, and the son of Collision is coming of a great performance trial of 30.35 for the 520m distance. And theirs no doubt a repeat of that performance will easily win this. Has come up with box 6, which makes it very hard. But Brads young dogs are going really well at Lismore and I’m hoping this bloke can continue that trend. His main danger looks to be the well drawn Last Mail. Who looks as if the extra distance will suit. Last Mail and Bralyn Sharkie look set to fight this one out.

Gosford Greyhounds, Race 6 Box 1 El Grover 8.39pm Nsw time

Tough 600m race here tonight with 3 genuine winning chances. I like to select dogs from good boxes however a couple of runners are perfectly boxed in this. I’m going to go with El Grover he’s the class runner of the field and is coming of a great Second 3 starts back from a wide box over 600 at Dapto. Where he chased gamely all the way.Has no trouble running out the 600 and from the inside looks as if he will boot up early and take running down. Only needs Bit Elite or Star Sapphire to make a little mistake, or cop a little check in running to run away with this. Great chance from the inside and looks a super winning chance. Boots up hits the lead and wins. Great chance.

Warragul Greyhounds. Race 11 Box 2 Frame. 10.09pm Vic time

Another shorty here tonight to end the night at Warragul, but it’s the one I like the most here tonight. Frame has been a bit hit and miss lately. And if that run continues it suggest she wins this. Has good early toe and should be able to hold a forward spot early on. If she can do this and balance up she will be mighty hard to beat. Penny Allen loos the main danger here but I’m hoping Frame is able to lead Penny early on and if she can she should be too strong in the run home for Penny Allen. Has a great winning record and generally wins or runs nowhere. If they head her early she may turn it up, so win bet only for this girl, although there’s very little in the race.

Best of luck

$$ Another Day Another Dollar $$

2012 SA Greyhound of the Year Award Winners

2012 Greyhound of the Year – HOPE’S UP

Hope’s Up trained by Cameron Butcher from Meningie in the State’s South East was a popular winner of the 2012 Greyhound of the Year Title on Saturday night. She won more races than any other greyhound in South Australia for the 2012 season and became the first SA greyhound to win the Group 3 Coffex Coffee Oaks in 10 years with the last winner being Braakensiek back in 2002.

Her 2012 details are listed below –
2012 Starts 43-1sts 23, 2nds 9, 3rds 4
(SA Bred) Tr. Cameron Butcher
2012 Prizemoney $56,630
Greyhound of the Month – September – (scored votes in 3 months)
Won –Heat Breeders 2012 Prelude (1) (second in Final)
Heat Breeders 2012 Prelude (2) (second in Final)
Heat & Final Gawler Future Stars
Heat & second in Semi Final Gawler Produce (sixth in Final)
Heat & Final Coffex Coffee SA Oaks (Group 3)
Heat Sister Cities Cup (seventh in Final)
Also third in Triple M Adelaide Cup Consolation
Best Times: 29.80 (515m Angle Park)
30.95 (531m Gawler)
22.95 (400m Gawler)
31.21 (536m Strathalbyn)
24.09 (416m Strathalbyn)

2012 SA Sprinting Greyhound of the Year – KOOMBOOYANA GIRL

2012 Starts 20-1sts 13, 2nds 4, 3rds -
Tr. Bozidar Stamenkovic
2012 Prizemoney $31,280

2012 SA Distance Greyhound of the Year – ABDON BALE

2012 Starts 25-1sts 15, 2nds 6, 3rds 1
Tr. Lisa Rasmussen
2012 Prizemoney $30,990

2012 SA Bred Greyhound of the Year – HOPE’S UP

2012 Starts 43-1sts 23, 2nds 9, 3rds 4
(SA Bred) Tr. Cameron Butcher
2012 Prizemoney $56,630

2012 Nominations Greyhound of the Year

ABDON BALE
HOPE’S UP
KALDEN MAYHEM
KOOMBOOYANA GIRL
SOMETIMES SPEEDY

2012 Greyhound of the Month winners

January – Joken Kihael – trainer Petar Jovanovic
February – Johnny Will – trainer Petar Jovanovic
March & December – Koombooyana Girl – trainer Bozidar Stamenkovic
April & November – Sometimes Speedy – trainer Troy Murray
May – My Little Star – trainer Bozidar Stamenkovic
June – Kalden Mayhem – trainer Troy Murray
July – Aston Thomas – trainer Ray Murray
August – Abdon Bale – trainer Lisa Rasmussen
September – Hope’s Up – trainer Cameron Butcher
October – Prank Call – trainer Paul Barry

2012 SA Young Person’s Achievement Award – Jayde Edwards & Jasmyn Edwards

Jayde & Jasmyn were joint winners nominated by Judi Hurley. They were nominated for their willingness to assist owners & trainers with boxing and catching greyhounds at both TAB tracks as well as at Virginia during the coursing season. A great number of trainers are dependent on the help of these two individuals. At such young ages they conduct themselves in a manner beyond their years.

2012 SA Volunteers of the Year – Bob May

Nominated by Mike Wittholz, Bob was put forward for his tireless work effort, dedication and enthusiasm to the Gawler Greyhound Racing Club and Greyhound Racing in South Australia over the past two decades. Bob served as secretary of the United Greyhound Association Committee, later merging into the South Australian Greyhound Federation for 13 years, was a member of the Inaugural Industry Consultative group and in 2004 he become the secretary of the Gawler Greyhound Racing Club where he has held that position ever since.

Throughout his time as secretary of the Gawler Greyhound Racing Club Bob has worked tirelessly to provide weekly articles for the Bunyip Newspaper and has produced and distributed a club flyer for the past 15 years. Bob’s commitment to the Gawler committee and to Greyhound Racing in this state cannot be questioned.

2012 SA Run of the Year – Abdon Bale – August

Abdon Bale trained by Lisa Rasmussen won the Run of the Year award after recieveing the most number of votes through the GRSA website for his outstanding win in the National Distance SA series Final over 731m run at Angle Park on Thursday 9th August. He was slow out and midfield early before steadily making ground around the field. He had star chaser Kalden Mayhem out in front who looked the winner however Abdon Bale kept coming and grabbed the quality stayer by a nose in the shadows of the post for a brilliant win in a slick 43.30

2012 SA Stud Dog of the Year – Emerley Carlos – 74

Owner – Peter Hurley/Stud Master – Judi Hurley
Emerley Carlos was a high quality chaser blessed with and abundance of early speed which is a distinct trait of his progeny. He won 30 races from 80 starts with over $60,000 in prizemoney. In 2012 greyhounds sired by Emerley Carlos won 74 races. His best performers included Fire Tyson (10 wins), Avid Tyson (8 wins), Carlos Tyson (6 wins) and Emerley Wizard (6 wins).

2012 SA Brood Bitch of the Year – Teelah – 50

Owner – Ron & Joan Schadow/Breeder – Joan Schadow
Teelah had a great year, through the exploits of her litters by Where’s Pedro and Surf Lorian. The result was a total of 50 winners from Teelah during 2012. Winners out of Teelah during the year included most of the “Victa” dogs like, Victa Pedro(10 wins), Victa Tina(8 wins), Victa Victoria(8 wins) and Victa Brooke(6 wins) where most of her progeny made it to the race track and won races.

2012 SA Breeder of the Year – Karen Bearpark – 150

This was the third time this award has been presented and it is to recognize the outstanding Breeder in the State for 2012. This award is decided on a point’s basis for SA Bred greyhounds that have won races at Sky Racing meetings during 2012. Karen won this award with a record 150 points. Karen dominated the breeding ranks with Tercel (14 wins – Dam Liza Brown), Screen Kiss (8 wins – Dam Jungle Beauty) and Contrarian (8 wins – Dam Contrary Mary) all having terrific seasons. Her SA Bred greyhounds dominated the Juvenile races in particular gaining plenty of experience and form before moving through the grades.

2012 SA Country Trainer of the Year – Don Turner – 19

This award was presented to the leading trainer at Country meetings during 2012. Don Turner won this award for the second year in a row taking out the title with 19 country winners in 2012. Port Augusta remains the only Country venue in the State where Don has been a great supporter over many years.
He had good success with his greyhounds Just Chases, Sneaky Spirit and Naveed Bale.

2012 SA Owner/Trainer of the Year – Tony Lagana – 56

Tony Lagana was the leading Owner/Trainer of the Year with a total of 57 TAB winners in 2012. His success has been brought about mainly through the exploits of his “Tyson” dogs out of his good brood bitch Avid Willow. His winners included Fire Tyson, Avid Tyson, Carlos Tyson and Tyson Willow.

2012 SA TAB Leading Trainer of the Year – Shaun Matcott – 305

Shaun Matcott was the leading Trainer of the Year, with a total of 305 winners at TAB meetings in SA during 2012. This was another fantastic training effort by Shaun who gets great support from his wife Wendy, their children and many other helpers making it a real team effort. This is the sixth time Shaun has won this title and the fourth time he has trained more than 300 winners in a season.

2012 SA syndicate of the Year – “Don’t Tell The Boss” syndicate

Manager – Stephen Cieslak
This is the sixth time that this Award has been presented to acknowledge an important part of the industry in Syndication. “Don’t Tell The Boss” syndicate, managed by Stephen Cieslak won this award for the first time. The syndicate won with a number of greyhounds during the year with Koubek (13 wins), First Call (2 wins) and It’s The Flame (1 win) winning a total of 16 races between them.

2012 SA City Strike Rate – Cameron Butcher – 39.47%

This award is based on performances for Angle Park metropolitan grade meetings. The trainer also must have a minimum of 20 starters for the year. Cameron qualified through the performances of Hope’s Up, Right Time and Big Time. During 2012 Cameron trained 15 winners from 38 starters at city meetings (APM/APK), giving him a 39.47% strike rate.

2012 Gawler Trackstar Award – Where’s Pancho – 27 starts (16/6/4)

Trainer – Richard Pearce
Where’s Pancho was a winner of 15 races with 10 placing’s from 27 starts at Gawler in 2012. He raced over 400m on 23 occasions, winning 12 of those with a best winning time of 22.52. He raced over 531m four times, winning 3 and recording a best winning time of 31.04.

Blackballed By The NCA…And Proud Of It

The National Coursing Association (NCA) seems to have become something of a pariah within the Greyhound Community in recent times, with the so-called Adam Dobbin affair doing nothing to improve its standing.

This private members club has a long history and for much of it the NCA and its chief local rival the GBOTA were often at each other’s throats, much to the overall detriment of Greyhound Racing in general.

Back in 1988 an NCA committeeman suggested I should apply to join this elitist organisation. While I did as requested, the end result saw me become one of very few applicants, so I am led to believe, to be blackballed by the NCA committee.

You might think I was upset by this rejection. I wasn’t at the time, and never have been. In fact I wear the rejection with some pride. I am a great believer in Marx’s famous and much quoted: ‘I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one if its members.’ Of course that was Groucho, not Karl, Marx.

The circumstances surrounding my application and ultimate rejection revolve around my position at the time as editor of the new Australian Greyhound Review monthly magazine which had kicked into life, with the support of the GBOTA, in September 1987.

I had become friends with William Bracht, the author of Greyhounds and Mechanical Lure Racing, a successful book published in 1972. Bill was also an NCA committeeman and suggested that as editor of the magazine I should join both the NCA and GBOTA. He would put my name forward for the NCA. Although initially reluctant, I agreed and, depending on the outcome, I would then possibly join the GBOTA.

Not long after the NCA application went in, Bill suffered an almost fatal heart attack and, as far as I recall, never again took his place on the committee.

When time came for me to be interviewed I attended the committee room at Wentworth Park and was introduced by the-then secretary Rory Glass to the NCA President Neville Bailey. Seated around a quite large table were the committee members, minus Bill Bracht.

Bailey said words to the effect the members of his committee would ask me the same series of questions they asked of every applicant. This proved to be a lie.

The first few question were indeed innocuous enough. Then they started to focus on the magazine and certain stories which had appeared in previous issues which they were less than impressed with.

Joe Dess, later described to me as Neville Bailey’s ‘hatchet man’, looked at me and intoned, “Could you tell me, if you came into possession of information which was detrimental to the NCA would you publish it in your magazine?”

The die was cast. I knew my answer would decide my ‘fate’. I also knew I no longer cared, so simply said, “First I would ask someone from the NCA what the truth or otherwise was of this information and, depending on the answer, yes, I would publish it.”

The silence around the table was almost deafening.

To his ever-lasting credit Bruce Fletcher suddenly chimed in with a question, more an observation, saying something like, “So, you wouldn’t intentionally try and discredit the NCA? You would act responsibly…”

Considering it was obvious to me within a few minutes of being in the room there was no way I was getting admitted into this private club, I have always admired Bruce Fletcher for this effort to pour oil on troubled waters.

The interview was soon terminated when Neville Bailey thanked me for coming and said, “The secretary will send you a letter in due course to let you know the result of our deliberations.”

End of game: get out the blackballs I could almost hear them thinking.

I did indeed receive a letter a couple of weeks later informing me my application ‘had failed’ but if I would like to be considered again I should contact the NCA in writing and my name would again be placed on the list.

No, I didn’t bother replying to the letter and nor did I bother applying to the GBOTA and in the quarter of a century since then I have happily been standing on the outside looking in.

Miata Takes Her Place In The Record Books…..Again

Almost two years to the day since High Earner broke Rapid Journey’s 12-year-old record for the most prize money earned by a racing greyhound in Australia, champion bitch Miata easily eclipsed that astounding mark with her second consecutive victory in the West Australian Galaxy at Cannington, scoring by a massive 14 lengths in 41.48.

Miata’s victory took her earnings figure to $671,508, well past High Earner’s mark of $610,070. For trainer Paul Stuart this will be a night he will never forget as his sprint charge Dyna Nalin annexed the Perth Cup.

In achieving this feat Miata becomes only the second West Australian to hold the Australian prize money record since the brilliant bitch Sandi’s Me Mum surpassed Queenslander Dancing Gamble in May 1990 with what was then an amazing $136,400.

Miata’s win takes her record over the 715 metres trip at Cannington to an unbeaten 13. This is the second-best record achieved at the course, only bettered by 1998 National Distance Championship victor Paradise Street. He won his first 14 over the stayer’s course at Cannington before tasting defeat, by a very narrow margin. He was also the winner of the 1998 Galaxy.

The sensational greyhound has won her last 11 on end to take her overall record to 40 wins, two seconds, and two thirds from just 47 starts. Miata already has a previous win sequence of 15 and so this set of 11 means she is the first stayer in history to record two win sequences of 10 or more in a career, and the third overall. The other two are Tasmanian True Vintage (15 and 13) and South Australian Wild Country (13 and an undefeated 12).

The previous best set by a stayer was that of National Lass wo had sequences of 14 and nine consecutive wins in her career.
More significantly in terms of achievement for Miata is she becomes the first stayer since Victorian champion Bold Trease to set the prize money mark. And Bold Trease set the record, with about $106,100, on 19 October 1988 only to lose it the very next night to Dancing Gamble.

Just 18 days before Bold Trease briefly annexed the record, the smart New South Wales stayer Whip Tip had taken the mark from Queensland sprinter Pretty Fearless with $105,995. Whip Tip was promptly retired to the breeding barn. It is the first and only time the prize money record has fallen three times in three weeks.

Prior to Whip Tip, the last stayer to hold the prize money mark was the great Victorian Lizrene who went past Zoom Top’s earnings on 14 February 1974, taking her earnings to $59,170.

So Miata joins a very elite and quite restricted list of stayers who have managed to gain the mantle of Australia’s foremost prize money winners.

Prize money figures are pretty accurate since 1966, and in the nearly 47 years since Miata is the 17th greyhound to hold the record.

It’s almost certain Miata will be named 2012 Australian Greyhound of the Year -unless the judging panel had a collective brain embolism- and she will become the first West Australian to gain this coveted title and just the second stayer, since the inaugural winner Boomeroo in 2002.

What a fitting situation that would be for Miata: the crowned national champion and prize money record holder as well.

« Previous Page — Next Page »