Former Victorian Lesley Green from Copmanhurst near Grafton in Northern New South Wales was kind enough to send me a host of documents, Newspaper stories and Stud Cards. All of which belonged to Lesley's famous Father the one and only, the late Les Foran. An iconic Greyhound man from way back Les was President of the GOTBA, former Director and Chairman of the MGRA, an Owner and long time trainer, plus Editor for the OTBA Greyhound Gazette. Les was a stanch supporter of the rank and file and stood up for them on all occasions. Perhaps not giving the recognition he dissevered I enjoyed a number of chats I had with him. One night at Sandown it was not quite harmonious for Les. Sandown Chairman Henry Harrison famous for his quote “My way or the Highway” got into a heated argument with the popular MGRA Chairman. To say the two gentlemen had different backgrounds would be an understatement. Henry took offence and was not going tolerate any more talk from his counterpart and ordered Security to remove him form the course. Now Les a resourceful character at the best of times scoured the packed Lightwood Road Carpark until he found an Electrical sub-contractors van with a long ladder. He removed it from the roof racks and placed the Ladder up against the outside fence. Scaling to the top he hurled abuse at Henry. He would not come down until removed after the local Springvale Police were summoned to put a stop to the incident.. Quite a character was Les. Here are some amazing stories he kept.
Greyhound Racing has a great tradition and among the many interesting stories that emphasise its heritage we have found this article on the first 64 All Aged stake event every run on the plumpton in Australia and the unique story of the trophy that was presented for it.
Milton Hammon recently dropping in to Sandown with trophies and a host of artefacts pertaining to his mighty little chaser Labyrinth. She was a Fawn bitch bred in the purple by Head Honcho from Goddess Of Fire whelped August 1997. She raced 52 times for 17 wins 9 seconds and 4 thirds for $115,285. She won the 1999 Laurels, was nominated for Greyhound of the Year 1999 & 2000 (2nd Aust Cup, Won Warragul Cup, 2nd SA Oaks and 2nd Ball Cup). Labyrinth loved Sandown she also won at the Meadows and Angle Park. She will have a display feature in the Sandown Museum and here are some extra pics of "Yoko". I particularly like her visit to the Oakleigh South Primary School as usual she was a big hit with the Grade 2 pupils.
An amazing find by Sandown CEO Adrian Scott buried deep in an old safe in the clubs office. It's the orginal Napier Park Racebook of the very first running of the Melbourne Cup 1933. The Cup was won by Footlight Flashes as the page is marked Owned by T.E.Denison and trained by T.Healy. 2nd was Romping Andy and 3rd Macaladin. The field of six were handicapped and the margins were 1 and 1/2 by 1/2 in the time of 21 seconds even for the 400 yards. I have included the back page pic of the hurdles they jumped in those days. Plus some interesting notes on a couple of other pages from the 92 year old document.
Former Victorian and Bookmaking Guru Gerard Daffy now a Queenslander kindly sent his copy of the Race book form opening night at Cranbourne. A Warrnambool boy back in those days he made the long trip with some mates for the big night. I remember the night well Saturday August 31st 1974 over 50 years ago. It was so packed we parked over a kilometre away. As you can see from the inside cover the great names associated with the club in those days. My uncle the late Gordon McPherson was a judge and of course The Hawk was in the Broadcast Box. I loved the way Daff recorded the results for each race. Speedy Goldie won the first for Arnold Porter he put the polish on the best Hurdle dog of the modern era Odearo. A Free For All the Presidents Trophy was won by Kim Karoo who beat two stars Top Runner & Zulu Moss in the fastest time of the night 30.37. Amazingly the 1974 Melbourne Cup winner Kwik Metal for Cap Abbott was a reserve in race six. Thank you Gerard your book will forever be on display in the Sandown Museum.
Brian Paxton - Great reference. Note prize money. Had a dog bred by Roman Earl 1970 ,won maiden at Young 18 pound for winning. . No photo on course ,paid 30 pound to Bickleys race photographer ,put a 3 rug on. Callan Park as background. Still holds pride of place at home . Great memories .
James Wilding - Zulu Moss '
Sharee Wyatt - I remember seeing these books at home . My dad was on the committee and trained Purple and Gold .
David Plumridge - Plus 1 bag of Skippa 😲👍
Lindsay Joyce - Wow great history
One of the great names of Greyhound Racing in the Warrnambool area is the late Stan Lake. No individual contributed more to the sport in the Western District of Victoria than Stan. Here is all about a great man.
Years involved in industry: 60
Category: Committee / Official
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:
Warrnambool GRC President 13 years
Warrnambool GRC Committee Member 52 years
Trained Indian Fighter to win Warrnambool Cup
Greyhound Racing Achiever Award in 1996
Legendary Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club administrator Stan Lake was the proverbial court jester – full of laughter and witticism.
However, Lake was thoughtful and earnest on matters involving the club in which he gave more than half a century of loyal and dedicated service.
Born on December 24, 1923, Lake attended Warrnambool GRC’s first meeting at The White Way (Botanic Park) in 1936.
But it was as an eight year old that he began ‘learning the greyhound trade’ from his brother Bill and “Skeeta” Whitten who were both local trainers.
In the early 1940s, Lake saw active duty for a couple of years with the transport division of the nation’s armed forces in Darwin. But his return from the war precipitated an amazing chapter in greyhound administration – 52 years on the Warrnambool GRC committee (1946-98), including 13 years as president.
“He was everybody’s friend, and treated people as equals. He didn’t hold any grudges,” said his daughter, Maureen Drennan, who was Warrnambool GRC manager from 1987 until 2005.” He was always happy, and had funny little sayings.” Maureen remembers as a kid playing ‘British Bulldog’ between races at the club.
“We all loved the greyhounds, including my mum (Connie) and two younger brothers (Ian and Ronald). We basically ‘grew up’ at Botanic Park.”
A life member of the Warrnambool GRC, Lake led deputations for club grants, with construction of the Wannon Room in 1990 a testament to his negotiation skills. He also assisted with office duties on race nights, conducted trials, ran the club bingo and organised working bees. “Effectively, he was the Warrnambool GRC. He turned his hand to everything in times when the club was struggling,” Maureen said.
“And while I was club manager, he was a tremendous help in the office – particularly with the organisation of the Warrnambool Classic.” It has been said Lake had performed every role at the club except lure driver. He worked such long hours for the club his wife was quoted as saying “you might as well take the bed with you”.
He and his wife also owned and operated Lakes Jewellers in Warrnambool for 35 years, retiring in 1993. The 1996 Victorian Greyhound Racing Control Board (GRCB) Achiever of the Year, Lake was also a dab hand as a trainer. He won three Warrnambool Cups with Indian Fighter, who was also a coursing champion in the early 1960s. “Dad owned Indian Fighter’s dam, and he bred the litter in the backyard at home,” Maureen said. “Indian Fighter was reared in open paddocks on a farm and was as fit as a fiddle when returned to dad. He won his first race at 13 months of age at Botanic Park.”
The jovial Lake was also a staunch family man and the life of any party. “He always supported his family, and was generally a fun person that everybody liked being around,” Maureen said. Maureen added her father’s induction into the Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame was “a tremendous honour and the icing on the cake”. “He’d be just so proud; I’m sure he’s up there watching.” Stan Lake – who posthumously received a 2000 Australian Sports Medal – passed away on July 1, 2000, aged 76.
The surname Britton is one extremely well known Australia wide the man who started the dynasty is Allan. A Victorian Hall of Famer and a leading trainer for more years than cares to remember. His children have carried on in the same manner with Robert, Jeff and Linda staying at the top for many years. Here is a story I did with Allan more than 20 years ago it's an insight from one of the best. Plus his induction to Victorian Greyhound Hall of Fame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52Gy5kCy8ik
Years involved in industry: 50
Category: Trainer
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Winning Trainer 1991 Laurels
- Winning Trainer 1996 MGRA Sprint Championship
- Winning Trainer 1998 National Derby
- Winning Trainer 1997 Sandown Cup
- Winning Trainer 2000 WA Interstate Challenge
Allan Britton is involved in greyhound racing on a minor scale these days, however it was a different story in the 1950s-1990s when he was a powerhouse trainer despite only ever breeding and training a small team of greyhounds.
Even today, the Britton name continues to play a prominent role in the sport with sons Robert [from Lara] and Jeff [Anakie] plus daughter Linda [Western Australia] all champion trainers in their own right.
Asked who the best greyhound was that he ever trained, Britton said.
“I’ve never had a champion but I’ve had a lot of good dogs. The first good dog I ever had was Pinetion, who won the Geelong Cup in the late 1960s.”
Some of Britton’s other top class greyhounds over the years include The Apprentice, McGuane, Barb’s Tune, Shannen’s Storm, Applaud, Mepunga Spark, Limburg Lass and Bear Creek.
Britton and wife Margaret spent two years in Macau in the 1980s assisting fellow Hall of Fame inductee, veterinarian Dr. Jim Gannon in educating Asian greyhound trainers on the art of training greyhounds.
Robert reflected on his dad’s Hall of Fame induction.
“When he was at the peak of his training career dad was one of a handful of trainers that left no stone unturned when it came to preparing a greyhound to win. If it meant travelling with just one greyhound all the way to somewhere like Wangaratta two separate times to trial before returning there to race he would do it.”
Any dog dad had entered in a race got respect from everyone, because he only ever raced his dogs when he knew they were primed to win”, Robert said.
When asked what some of the most important things Robert learnt from his dad in relation to greyhound racing, he said…
“Dad’s integrity and the way he has always put the welfare of his greyhounds at the top of his priority list have been the two things I have always admired most about him.”
“Right from the early 1960s we always had a litter in the backyard and it was dad’s ability to win races with virtually every dog he bred that made him so well respected in the greyhound industry.”
After starting his training career in Portland, Britton has made a name for himself in the Geelong suburb of Lara, where he continues to assist Robert, Jeff and even Linda with the training of their dogs.
John Brasch posted this story and detail in regard to the great Queensland race caller Vince Curry. Story by Paul Dolan.
Found some very interest paperwork in Max Johnson's Document's Case. With the Launceston Cup coming up next week. I found a race book from one of the heats nights in 1953. In those days it appears they had heats, semi-finals and the final. The winner that year was Rusty's Hope a brindle dog by Jean's Dream from Tiny Pam whelped July 1949. The Victorian beat Giften's Wonder in 23 and 8/16ths over the 435 yards at White City. I am pretty sure Max must have owned him as a change of ownership was in the case. Also he was trained by J Brown I think the same Jack Brown who we found out trained Rookie Rebel the first Melbourne Cup winner. One puzzle I will put to Brennan Ryan our man in Launceston is the distance. GCA Honour Role records show the Cup being run over 430 yards from 1940 to 1955 after being conducted over 325 yards from 1936 to 1939. Is a correction necessary.
