A race held every year in July at Sandown is the McKenna Memorial it remembers the contribution of National and Victorian Hall of Fame Administrator Jack McKenna made to our sport. The presentation is made each year by Jack’s Grandson an old footy club mate of mine Mark O’Brien. He brings his whole family including Jack’s great great Grandkids to honour Jack and Jack’s wife Ann’s name and their affiliation to Sandown and the City of Springvale. The race has been won by some of the best stayers of all time. First run in 1971 the race was won by Saki Dasher trained by VFL Superstar Bob Pratt other prominent winners over the years followed with the likes of Lizrene, Bolta’s Gift, Irish Temptress (the dam of Bold Trease) Leaders Jester, Supplier, Quick Pulse, Sheila’s Teresa, High Intensity, Pearl Larricki, Place Galore, Totally Ablaze, Osti’s Joker, Boomeroo, Arvo’s Junior, Malfoy, Flash Of Light, Irma Bale, Xylia Allen, Lady Toy, Out Of Range and Christo Bale in consecutive years 2020 and 2021. Nine of the mentioned winners were Victorian Greyhound of the Year. The distance changed to 595 in 2010 and was won this year by Matt Clark’s Sunnyside Zeus. Kel Greenough has won it three times with Often Imitated, Miss Grub and National Honour. Only a special person has a story written about them in the Herald -Sun as Graham Burke wrote about Jack in 1977.
