Some of the platforms laid so far on my Houndbound life have described researched history and interpretations from myself, but in this piece i would like to share some of my own experiences and memories to show the authenticity of my blog .
Before we go down memory lane ,a few nights back Glastonbury festival 130 miles from London put on a show ,Coldplay for 1st time in about 8 years , 100000 people, Michael J Fox on stage with a guitar in a wheelchair a truly magical emotional occasion.
125 miles in another direction at the same time the Greyhound English 🏴 Derby was occurring at Towcester for us greyhound people another magical night.
After 6 weeks of arduous dedication from man and hound it was Irish trainer Liam Dowling and he’s hound De lahdedah to win the English derby congratulations to Liam on he’s 1st and all the team.
My point is both venues have significant meaning in making certain groups of people in no way connected feel euphoric for different reasons, isn’t that what humanity is looking for ,embrace and encourage that , so let’s not be hypocritical and discriminate against minorities when we preach everyday not to do it .
Shortly after introduction I mentioned that the old timers would say somewhere in a family tree a greyhound enthusiast would reappear if the family had history, this is my excuse.
My mother’s father was Jack Corkery but he’s brother Arthur had a deep passion for greyhounds according to Mum ,he went to war and had them before and after and never married .
They lived in Alexandria Sydney NSW in a time when Redfern and Alexandria had many Greyhound people . I suppose I’m lucky to have this framed photo below , others have gone astray, but I can share this one as an original.
Minda Mantua winning in October 1952 at Wentworth park over 790 yds trainer Arthur Corkery .
I have no idea of racing habits of minda let’s hope a dropout stayer I’m all ears if anyone knows the dog ,I doubt it .
Dropout Stayers is a topic I’d like to talk about some of these distance dogs are the most remembered because of the excitement they bring on race night .
Basically they run the race opposite to other hounds , they are actually going quicker in the latter part of race then when they flop out at box rise heart in mouth style leaving you thinking are they going to stop,but when the invisible spinnaker goes up the wet sail kicks in look out they are unstoppable but these greyhounds are very rare , here are some I’ve been lucky enough to watch live at the race track who leave the public scratching their heads .
Farrarami : Qualifies as a drop out stayer for me although sometimes began ok , positioning equal last let’s say ha ha . She was a white n fawn bitch born May 1987 so just missed out on Harold park wow imagine her around there . How many did she win at Wentworth park , not sure over 15 I’d say to enjoy this memorable dog , I’ll never forget being in big crowd for a race in 1989 blue rug flops out of boxes conspicuous last chasing a good field , you can find it on YouTube enjoy the master Paul Ambrosoli at he’s best “Strike me Rome” she was a wonderful dog !
Texas Gold : He was a dropout stayer who would come from impossible positions to win well traveled he was whelped in 2003 i remember an old mate at our local who enjoyed the dogs he couldn’t wait for me to get to the pub to tell me about a dog he’d seen , Texas was definitely a dog who left an impression, he was a champion who broke the track record in town , won the bold trease , and was very consistent for a dog with them traits.
Bold Trease : This dog is an Australian 🇦🇺 icon of greyhound racing , although he’s not one of the 5 global dogs on my list he will get plenty more accolades along the way because he’s achievements are so amazing, he would be no chance in the run and sprout wings with he’s lion heart and won an incredible 4 Sandown cups in a row yes 4 . To me this is superior to Winx 4 cox plates and The diva’s 3 cups it’s simply mind blowing 🤯 to me .
20th June 1987 15k was put up by De costi seafood for a match race between Bold Trease and NSW barnstorming finisher Shady city a crowd of 5000 were at Harold park , I remember walking to my seat area at top of stand as normal but on this night I never got there it was packed my seats were gone , so I stood at top of stairwell and watched by myself.
Shady led but at winning post 1st time the Warrnambool warrior as he was known shot past her and took off , he’d never been in front and chased he’s motor out , rumours were he wasn’t quite right before the race but no excuses were offered, and on final turn to long straight he missed stride a touch changed action , and Shady city powered underneath him to win ,another Ambrosoli classic, it was an honour to be there that night !
Scurlogue Champ : This dog is a legend who will pop up from time to time on our travels , born in Ireland named after a farm I think he is a true drop out stayer , I’m not sure if the Irish and English had many but they loved this dog for all the excitement he provided.He broke about 20 records , unfairly had to race the great Ballyregan Bob in a 4 dogger and said bugger that I’m not chasing him tonight, but the champ is widely considered the greatest by many who were charmed by he’s traits , raced in mid 80’s died at 14 , I did not see him live but as we end with him you can find him on YouTube great viewing.
Send me a few more dropout stayers that spring to mind let’s put these dogs all in a race , who wins ? I’m sure someone wants to throw modern day dropout Stayer Palawa King in ,as much as I love him he’d be no match for these legends, but I only go back to 84 watching live at track!
After leaving school bumming around the beach for a year I started to work ,my 1st job was in the fine paper industry at Alexandria , there was an old painting in the foyer front office area it consisted of buildings people walking and a cobblestone alley way with a greyhound on it , I cut a small piece of red Beckett felt paper ,liquid papered a 1 on it , the hound now carried the red rug in my 3.5 years there .
Mondays the hounds were on at Harold park for most people it was Bob Geldof’s hit song I don’t like Mondays in everyone’s ears , but I loved them best night of week ,remember there wasn’t wall to wall racing 7 days a week back then.
First memories were the smell of liniment in the kennel block the sound of lure , dogs parading for a trial , the long pristine green grassy straight everything in order the trumpeters call to signal race time it was a mini race track of highest order , I knew at that young age 18 this was my hobby for life , I had binoculars we were a distance from the action at Harold but the magic was still there .
Betting ring was full of characters it had some old school charm you met people with a common interest but only seen them once a week no phones in them days , we would follow some punters sometimes when still learning i remember the colourful Rex Jackson he was pretty spot on there for a few years with he’s plonks , the politician famously ended up selling hot dogs and ice cream at stanwell tops.
Camdens ghost ,Holstein boy 26.09 Kevin Johns memories gate , Yannick my favourite in them days , Roden star (mlb) Snow report and Brother Fox were finished by 86 I think , Shy Sultan won the 87 derby at 50/1 9 rug , yannick got bogged down in my mind anyway 😝, New Tears came down from QLD won in 26.42 nothing flash but became very special to me later.
Them memories are not researched they are entrenched which is the authenticity I’ve mentioned.Harold park closes the sadness dissipates we March to a place called Wentworth park a refurbished edition again.
I’ve no need to research this either it’s September 87 and War wins the 1st race box 1 trained by Jim Ward I’m almost certain I backed the 8 Wild Hunch trained by Stuart Hazlett , who unbelievably had a dog in MDC final last year.
Walking into Wentworth park it was a case of out with the old in with the new to sit 30 metres away from starting boxes the dogs would parade in front of you then race past not once but twice into home straight and winning post .
The grandstand was huge and the city skyline in background, the binoculars were cast aside for me this was a broadway show .Harbour city racing was once a promo that’s exactly what it was , people who rubbish the empty stand today don’t realise the history and the crowds from yesteryear the big nights that still occur now and then.
Rumpus Brandi vs See Yah clashes the faultless little beginner classy spider 🕷️ Greyhound of year NSW 1990 , match racing ,only foxing, pacific seagull.. the 1st Easter egg ultra sense 1990 they’ll never take them 40 years away as the lease is up in 2027 , the future is uncertain but the hounds are faster and still there the track has had many tweaks ,grass to loam and sand, safer and easier to maintain camber changes and much more to do , but the boring cancel culture cardboard cut out types are growing, John Smith is being bred out and will be extinct before the Albatross.
Then something special happened it was Jan Feb 1989 the derby was the big ticket, on the scene was that litter i previously told you about brother fox- promises free 9 all dogs , I think 7 went to stud memory not as good these days ,Walkabout Sid went 30.09 1st look he’s brother West Cape was superior they were blue and white marked stars ,jet cruiser ,Half Nelson ,Bogenfel , Carnival boy , the legendary Amerigo man , they went on to shape some of the breeding scene and were called litter of century in the papers etc .
To think back to that school mate adventure to Wentworth park in 82/83 I told you about when I seen promises free win 14 straight, her son Amerigo man produces the greatest dog I’ve probably seen in 40 yrs Flying Amy , that’s quite eerie!
Back to the derby ,the scene was set but not for long a half brother was the hurdle for everyone another brother fox dog who had taken two lengths off kendo’s benji track record at wenty in the vic peters back in October 29.74 and held the Richmond record as well he’s name was Worth Doing .
Same age as the glamour pack , I was a west cape fan but Worth doing drew 7 in he’s heat , not a good beginner but he’d pick a gap and turn jet like it didn’t bother him that he was tardy early , on this night he came out running, Paul Ambrosoli went crazy , what’s he goin to run the rest is history 29.50 on the grass 14 lengths, one of the 4 greatest runs ever seen he’s record for eternity on the grass like he’s old man at Harold park , The crowd was huge and in awe I was with a bunch of funny fellas from the Bayside area they were my dog mates , big punters but the biggest was Joe , he was all in on the champ that night and ripped hes shirt off he’s muscular frame at race completion screaming with joy !
Semi final he had the 8 , Began slowly two dogs were drifting off in the lead at 1st turn , he hit them like he was made out of cement and didn’t deviate one bit he then set out after breakaway speed dog Bjorn and rounded him up !
The Final he drew 5 it was week 3 different in them days more gruelling, knowing he was average beginner with Bjorn in 4 and some rumours he had sore ribs circulated. John Stollery rolled him out to even money the queue was 100 metres long little old lady’s everyone was on not many bookies followed some got close .
Paul Ambrosoli was ready the huge crowd ready as well , bunny up to the boxes , he began great but Bjorn got underneath him and carried him a touch wide the 6 double Dee Rob got under both and shot away , the champ was bouncing into Bjorn a little to much for punters liking but he finally disposed of him and set out after the 6 dog , he got to him on the corner and thought I’ll go under for a split second but changed he’s mind and went around him they brushed into the home straight and the theatre of that broadway show I spoke of kicked in ,Double Dee Rob did the goose step and the champ roared past it was the greatest derby I’ve ever seen and Joe needed another shirt !
On the Monday I went into office and ordered a VHS 📼 copy of heat semi and final that’s how much it meant to me , where does he rank definitely top 10 for me probably top 6 , he had a Champion 600 metre brother wary suspect and went good at stud Tallest peer and Worthy reward to name a few , he also backed up few weeks later and nearly equaled he’s own record at Richmond , he was a freak !
We might wrap it up there I’m knackered but definitely worth doing 😉 subscribe for nothing or just read however your getting the blogs it’s a joy bringing them to you , next time we meet I’ll bring in dog no.2 who had an influence on the hound sport .
Until next time Hounfrenz 🩵 take care !
My Houndbound life 