I found these photos when looking for others and it brought back wonderful memories of one of my favourite dogs that I trained. “Lee” was her kennel name and as you can tell my young kids adored her. She raced as Tivoli Model and was bred by my long-time friend and mentor Bob Douglas. By Chariot Supreme from Harper Valley her dam line went back through Waroo Lass which Bob had a very high opinion of, my syndicate including my brother and some mates brought her unraced. After pre-training her I protested to Bob we had not paid enough for her and insisted he join us as an equal share part owner, he reluctantly agreed. We had a lot of fun with her, she had 50 starts for nine wins and 18 placings. Winning at Sandown, Cranbourne, Shepparton, Warragul, Geelong and Traralgon. I talked Bob into taking her back home to breed with, he was full up at the time but agreed at my insistence she could be a success. What a super brood bitch she turned out to be from her six litters from March 1990 until June 1995 every pup she whelped that raced won races. The star was Dashing Eagle a Sapphire winner and successful stud dog, Tivoli Man a Ballarat Cup winner, and many other city and country performers that were successful race dogs and a number of bitches that also produced winners. Tivoli Model whelp pups to Eaglehawk Star, Amerigo Man, New Tears, West Cape, Casino Tom and Barney’s Alarm. Her winning framed photo of the Shell Shepparton Maiden final a three-week series hangs proudly on my office wall. 21st of April 1988.
A mystery is solved for more years than I can remember there has been a question mark over who in fact trained Rocketeer the first Melbourne Cup winner in 1956. For some reason club records listed E. Patterson as the trainer. Was is it Eddie or Ernie nobody seemed to know. Owner was never in dispute iconic Greyhound man of the ages the late great Max Johnson raced the black dog by Rocket Jet. Thanks to Max's Granddaughter Robyn Todd has donated some of Max's trophies and also sent me a quaint square case of memorabilia of all sorts of paperwork. Among the treasure trove I found this articual by Sun racing scribe Brian Meldrum. It clearly states the trainer was the late Jack Brown. Was E Patterson the handler who knows I have changed the club records.
Following on from unusually name dogs one of my all time favourite Melbourne Cup winners had an interesting name "Gerard The Gent". What a star he was he burst on the scene in blaze of glory carving out a brilliant career. He won the 1971 Melbourne Cup defeating brilliant NSW sprinter Shapley Escort and one of my all time favourites Lizrene. It was her 8th race start, she went on to be a HOF superstar stayer. Here is a piece I wrote about the Gent with some pics from Cup night. (Note in the story I stated he won from box 1 that was in fact the heat he had the 8 in the final.)
Here the detail results of the Victorian Waterloo Cup. The most interesting story referred to at the bottom of the page below can be found on a special post on Sam Bladon.
Naming your race dog never an easy task. Having spent four years in the ANZGA / GA office we certainly had different rules to the ones that exist today. One of the best names ever was Brett Lee. Probably because he turned out to be one the best race dogs and sires of all time. However what a fantastic promotion for the Australian Cup it turned out to be. He was named before I got to the office by the delightful Paula Gray. Paula admitted to knowing very little about Cricket at the time and the name was passed. There was a rule banning well known names after celebrity French Chef Gabriel Gate complained about a dog in his name fair enough if you didn't like it. However Brett Lee embraced in the best possible way. He had only played one Test at the time but went on to play 76 take 310 wickets and make 1451 runs at 20.15. The Wollongong boy was a Star from 1999 until 2012. He took 100 wickets and made 1000 runs in One Day Internationals as well for his country winning the Alan Border Medal in 2008. I have never had the pleasure of meeting Brett but my daughter Kellie and her mate Casey had drinks with Brett and his Cousin in Sydney one night 20 years ago and they told me he was a charming and delightful bloke. I certainly admired him as a Cricketer and enjoy his commentary. My funniest naming story was the late Terry Hill called me at the office wanting to name one of his dogs Marion Jones. I said you can't Terry she is to famous he replied why not. I said well for a start your pup is a "Black Bitch" 
. You couldn't help but love Terry.
Darren Leeson- The rules are far too strict in the greys. When it’s a free for all in the other two codes!
Shane Hookey - Geez he still holds the record at Angle Park doesn't he !!!!
Ed Dickson - Always wanted to name one tihs tae never got through though
Bob Watkins - I remember years ago a dog got named PHALLIC SYMBOL and raced a few times before it came to the attention of authorities and it got changed.
Owen Edmonds an old greyhound trainer and poetic author of some fame was very adept at getting names through that definately had double meanings.
HOTTER THAN POTTER was one that got knocked on the head Because of infrence to a certain chief steward who resigned after being accused of swab tampering.
Helen Lamberton - Bob Watkins do you remember"Coominya Dreams" and " Cunning Lingus"?🤣
Ricky Hassall - I’m disappointed with the ridiculous naming rules.
They have so much more freedom & fun with naming in the Trots & Gallops.
I got knocked back for the name Burrum Flo Jo. (Flo Jo is famous).
Yet there’s plenty of names out there that are contradictory to the dumb rules.
Surely it’s time to have some fun with names again…..
Ricky Hassall - I should add what a great article and it highlights the fact that under the current restrictions……that type of positive publicity has been lost.
Thanks for sharing Neil Brown.
Michelle J Warren - I remember Brett Lee the dog I was with my uncle and I said to him I am going to get his autograph he said to me what you going to get his paw print 🤦♀️🤦♀️ I thought the human Brett Lee was there at the track 🤣😂 Brett Lee the run well that night in a trail run
Dale Peardon - What a great dog
Marg Long - Brett Lee was an absolute gem to work with. He was chuffed that someone would name a greyhound after him.
Many celebrities are not so happy about it and that is their right.
I wonder if our member Leigh Smith remembers this big plunge at Sandown 41 years ago on a fast dog he trained Alpine Raider. Here is a piece I wrote in 93. With the original stuff from 1983. I might be wrong but I think on one other Sandown start the "Raider" got his muzzle caught in the lids and was dragged in the air at the start. I am sure he was odds on.
I found a whole heap of stuff I wrote for the Greyhound Weekly and other publications from the 90's. Here is short piece on Racecaller Peter Donegan. I rated Peter as good any caller in my time a brilliant racecaller. Of course after retiring from Greyhound calling he has carved out an outstanding career in Television. He has been heard at Olympic Games, Stawell Gifts, Tennis, Aussie Rules, Golf, Horse Race hosting you name it he has covered it. We may not remember as is referred to in this article of his connection to racing and breeding Greyhounds. I great media talent Peter Donegan.
Had a chat today with 92-year-old Alf Richardson from Bendigo. Alf had some memorabilia dropped off at Sandown he thought I might be interesting in. What a charming man to have a yarn with. That's Alf in the photo with a couple of his first Greyhounds he's 14 there in 1946. He loved Coursing and there is a ripper shot from the Newspaper of the start of the 1947 Victorian Waterloo Cup at Maryborough the winner Devon Alert has the red collar, and he beat Tinkerman that year. The Slipper is Chas Tonkin who slipped every Waterloo Cup from 1931 until 1950. Judge was the great Eric Herbert. There was also a book on how to train dogs with some Stud ads and a Ballarat Race Book from 1948. I couldn't help putting the ad in from the Ballarat Picture Theatre and what was on twice a day at that time. In the Stud Ads how are the Stats on the dog Peter Menang extraordinary. Everything can go into the Sandown Museum thanks Alf.
Ron Lance Rogers - Great stuff..thanks for posting..Peter Menang stood at Stud for the Seymour family..Fred Seymour was a great trainer in his own right..people may remember Flash Benny and Flash Maggie..both quality chasers..the family remain in greyhounds with Bernard Seymour, son of Fred, still training, having a lot of success with talented chaser Sir Prize a few years ago..
Frank Harney - Very interesting, great history, Thanks Neil.
Arvo's Express was one of the real smart Victorian chasers in 1999-2000. Raced by George, Cala and Stephen Arvanitis and trained by Tina Womann & Dennis Trewan. He won the 2000 Australian Cup and the 1999 Cranbourne Cup. I found this story I wrote for Behind The Boxes 25 years ago.
