A new member Robert Aquilina of our Facebook Group Greyhound Racing Through The Years has posted some extraordinary photos and stories from the early 1935 through to the 70's. Amazing stuff and saw fit to display a number of them here on the History Website. Thank you Robert.
A rare front page of the Herald -Sun 1935.
Warragul a handicap start over the 699.
Bill Salter- And they are handicap boxes there, I remember the handicap hurdle races at Olympic Park and Odearo won off scratch. I think he was 15 yds from the front runner, good times
Russell Savige-Handicap start.
Des Dooley- Looking at the background and being on a bend I would suggest it is the old 545 yard start.
Gerald Lanigan-Des Dooley on the money!
Gary Smith- Handicap boxes as well
Damien Howard-Was it in the same location as the current track ?
Bruce Loft-Handicap race over the old 699m?
Craig Benson-Brilliant photo
Des Dooley - Very strong greyhound influence in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance at that time. Not sure whether Father Shapley trained her or Kevin Baluch.
Gerald Lanigan - Des Dooley Kevin trained her. She was by The Smoother from Benjamin Lass, and bred by Kevin. Was a good litter. Father Shanley trained, for part of her career, a bitch called Sister Maryanne from Benjamin Lass’s second litter to Lively Band. You may remember a dog named Ragtime Jam, he was from the second litter.
Sister Maryanne litter sister, Palanquin, was the dam of a bitch named Remo Gold (by San Remo) who threw Palanquin Belle and Pebbles Beach, two very good stayers trained by Stan Beecroft.
Jeff Collerson -Gerald Lanigan I wrote a story once for the Tele about the girls at a convent whelping and rearing a litter of pups owned by Father Manning, who later became Monsignor, then Bishop Manning. He was a great greyhound man.
Des Dooley- Jeff Collerson Tivoli Chief?
Jeff Collerson -Des Dooley Yes Monsignor Kevin Manning owned Tivoli Chief who was trained by Jim Carr junior, son of the chief steward. When our son was to enter high school, my wife (Catholic) wanted him to go to St Patricks College. I'm a Protestant so the headmaster said we had no hope of getting him enrolled. I told Jim Carr senior about it and he said "don't worry, your son will be going there, I'll get Monsignor Manning to write to the school.'' The headmaster received a letter saying what a wonderful family we were and bingo, our son went there immediately.
Bob Howlett- It was a great story. Father Shanley took the front passenger seat out of his car and put a bench/bed for the dogs and the nuns had to ride in the back seat.🤣
Gerard Lanigan-Some great memories triggered reading this
Half His Luck - Ted Redpath
Plain Winnie. - Bob Smith
The Corcoran - Rod Deakin
Titus - Harry Nugent
Red Wax - Harry Nugent
Brian Kutner- Wow!
My Father owned Lemme Go Patchy race 6 # 8
he went on to win the Victoria sprint championship
mum still has rug and photo on her wall
Trained by legendary SW (Peter) Mcguinness
Lizene Fame.
Fantastic memories!
Always love to find new promotions many of which were put together by my club Sandown. A few of the younger folk were amazed when I was explaining how I loved the days of the Marathons. Here is an early one in 1980, run over the 933 metres in under a minute 58.39. The club invited interstaters from NSW and WA. The race was won by Money Ahead trained by the master a very youthful Graeme Bate.
Mick Fearnley- Thank you. Many memories
James Wilding - Satan's Shroud 💛💛💛
David Ad Cree - GEELONG WITH CLIFF YOUNG ..dog Layola princess won a few marathons
I was shocked and surprised when I got a phone call from Sky Channel producer Jason Pritchard asking if I would do a recorded program on my life in Greyhound Racing. Given the two previous Greyhound subjects had been Paul Ambrosoli and Jan Wheeler both interviewed brilliantly by my long time mate from Sydney Ron Arnold, I certainly didn't put myself in that company. However I agreed as the interview was to be done by former Sandown employee Jason Adams currently a media star whom I had seen develop from a young work experience kid to the man he is today. Here's the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EWefy4VfZY&t=172s
We all have come to know the importance of the dam in Greyhound Breeding here is a fascinating article written back in the 1930's by breeding expert Jack Fitzpatrick.
One of the Great chasers of the late 80's into the early 90's was Eureka Man. Raced and trained by Healesville stalwart Ken Pattison. He was judged the 1990 Victorian Greyhound of the Year. The black chaser by Preety Fearless won the award in controversial circumstances due to the rules set maintaining contenders had to have a set number of starts at both city tracks with Superstar Highly Blessed due to injury late in the year unable to fill that part of the criteria. She had an exceptional 1990 winning the Winter Cup at Cranbourne, The Gold Collar at Olympic Park, the State National Sprint final at Sandown finishing third in the National final. She won the Shepparton Cup and the Melbourne Cup. Went to the Gabba on that ridiculous seven left hand turn track without a trial got lost and dead heated with No It's Not in the Four X Trophy heat came back for the final and beat the same dog by 10 lengths. She had rounded the year off winning also every feature she contested. The rule was correctly scrapped in 1991. Perhaps his best win was the 1991 Cranbourne Cup he beat an outstanding field.
Here are some more pics and stats from Sire Guide 2006.
Here are some more pics and stats from Sire Guide 2006.
Came across the Sire Guide from 2006 sponsored by Blue Paws. It is beautifully presented with some great race dogs that were standing at that time. Given it has most there stats I have included a number of them from a historical point of view.
Brennan Ryan penned this tribute in the Greyhound Recorder. Highlighting Tasmania's only National Sprint Championship winner Busy Vintage and his legendary trainer David Crosswell.
DAVID Crosswell and Busy Vintage remain legendary names in Tasmanian greyhound racing history following their heroics in 1984.
It's been 41 years since Busy Vintage's incredible victory in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship at the now-closed Harold Park circuit in New South Wales, and 81-year-old David still enjoys reminiscing about that unforgettable moment.
He, along with late wife Margaret, were inducted to the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame in 2019.
“Every year when the National Sprint Championship rolls around, it always comes to mind,” David said.
Busy Vintage's victory in the 1984 National Sprint Championship was a proud moment for Tasmania, marking the first ever time that a dog from the Apple Isle claimed victory in one of the country's most prestigious races.
He came from box two defeating a stellar line up over 457-metres, beating Victoria's Eaglehawk Star and Western Australia's Blue Echo.
Bookmakers listed Busy Vintage as the third favourite at 6/1, reflecting their respect for his talent and current form.
“Busy Vintage didn't actually jump well for the first time until the National Sprint Final,” said Crosswell.
“He was a powerful dog, capable of running the 580 metres at Devonport with ease.
“There was nothing much going to run him down once he went to the front.”
David and wife, Margaret, bred Busy Vintage (Highland Summer – Tiny Port), affectionately known as Collis, with Steve Coleman owning him throughout his 46-race career, during which he won 26 times collecting $44,676 in prizemoney.
Although his exceptional career was shortened by injury, he went on to a career at stud.
The pedigree of Busy Vintage was one of David's greatest accomplishments in his six decades in the sport. It all began with his first stud dog, Summerdown Chief, and his first broodbitch, Arkle's Girl, which together produced Highland Summer.
Highland Summer later produced Busy Vintage, which became the sire of David's other champion, True Vintage.
Early on, Busy Vintage's career could have been tragically cut short due to a Parvovirus outbreak in Tasmania in the eighties, which severely affected Crosswells former Sandford property.
“We cared for them tirelessly night and day, in the end they all made a full recovery,” David said.
Winning the National Sprint was a proud moment for David, as he felt honoured to represent his home state.
Busy Vintage remained unbeaten throughout the Tasmanian Sprint Championship, clinching the final victory in Hobart.
David and his champion dog flew to New South Wales not long after, staying with the late, great Les Harper.
“It was an amazing field with an impressive lineup of dogs from all over the country,” he said.
“We put Busy Vintage through several trials on Harold Park's U-turn track, and it really paid off in the end getting familiar with the track. We gave him every opportunity, especially in such a big race, and everything worked out great for us.”
David, Margaret, and Busy Vintage gained plenty of attention from local media upon returning home to Tasmania, bringing with them the prestigious National Sprint trophy, a $27,500 cheque, and immense pride for the small state.
Busy Vintage also competed in the 1985 Hobart Thousand, finishing second to the legendary Brother Fox.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=couCHV_YjEU&t=18s
He also featured in a $60,000 Match Race at Hobart against Victorian star Super Max.
Track records were also set at the Showgrounds in Hobart over 497-metres and in Devonport over 580-metres.
It's no surprise he earned the title of Tasmanian GOTY in 1984-85, later inducted to the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame in 2011.
Stud duties called for Busy Vintage, starting in Sydney, then moving on to Melbourne before returning to the Crosswells.
Collis lived to the remarkable age of 14, passing away peacefully while being cared for like the star he was.
“The National Sprint is a tough race to win, and Busy Vintage was the only dog from Tasmania to do it,” David said.
With the 2025 National Sprint happening in Queensland at The Q later this month, David will stroll to his trophy room near his kennels and admire the iconic National Sprint trophy, a reminder of the race that brought him such cherished memories.