Evergreen sprinter Arlington recently won for trainer Terry Reid (both pictured) at his 150th start.
A Dec ’17 son of My Bro Fabio and brood matron Sass, Arlington posted an impressive near five-length victory over 515m at Sandown Park.
And, with Reid’s long-standing family connection to greyhound racing, a victory at a sesquicentennial start shouldn’t surprise anyone.
RSN race-caller Victoria Shaw had the pleasure of catching up with Reid over the phone, to congratulate him on the extraordinary milestone achievement.
When she suggested that Arlington’s victory would have brought him great joy, he acknowledged: “It was so good for him to win, he doesn’t win too often, so it was really good for him to punch up a win, at such a milestone race.”
“He is a working-class dog and you put him in, and you know that he is going to try his heart out.”
Mentioning to Reid that Arlington (whose kennel name is “Axel”) has now had nine wins, 22 seconds and 29 thirds to his credit, Shaw wondered if Arlington keeps him a little on ‘the edge’, as he’s always thereabouts.
Reid proudly reflected: “Every time you take him to the races, he does his best, and he usually runs in the first four. A lot of people always put him in their exotics.”
To which they both agreed, punters leave Arlington out at their own peril.
Arlington’s first race start took place at Geelong, where he competed with his litter brother – Keefe and the duo ran second and third respectively, over 460m, back in June 2019.
And at his third start, Arlington secured his first victory. “Yes, he went quite well that night; he’s a mad railer but came from the ‘pink’ and got across and won quite well.”
When Shaw brought up that Arlington was also sent out favourite at his first victory, Reid pointed out: “It wouldn’t have been my money, because I never have a bet!” Which they both laughed at.
Early in Arlington’s career, he ran third to Tiggerlong Tonk in a heat of the 2019 G1 Silver Chief series, with Terry recalling that Arlington may have stumbled during that race but still managed to run a gutsy third.
Shaw asked Reid what he thinks is the highlight of Arlington’s lengthy racing career, and the highlight was Arlington himself.
“Every time he goes to the races, he just does his best. He is a working-class dog and you put him in, and you know that he is going to try his heart out. He’s not the fastest dog, but he is always somewhere thereabouts. A dog that gives their all, you just can’t help but admire them.”
When Shaw complimented Reid on Axel’s strong performance, Reid modestly deflected any praise as a trainer: “He’s a credit to himself because he just keeps himself going.”
ARLINGTON brings up a successful ‘magical milestone’ at Sandown Park on August 7.
Reid and his family’s association with greyhound racing is multi-generational, with a history that dates back over 100 years. Reid started to walk greyhounds for his father Peter at age 11 and recorded his first winner in 1975. Now at 71 years of age, Reid has notched up just over six decades in the sport.
Peter Reid trained at Murrumbeena and went on to become a GRV Hall of Fame member. “Dad was a suburban trainer when he started training in the 1930s, and he was one of the top trainers in the ’40s and ’50s. He quinellaed the 1960 Australian Cup and is the only trainer to have achieved this feat.” (NB. Meadow Vale defeated Fair’s Orders.)
Reid’s brother, John, is a Ken Carr medallist. “Yes, my brother Johnny has won the Ken Carr medal and he worked tirelessly for owners and trainers for many years. Johnny is 87 now, so he has naturally retired from racing dogs and administration. Another brother, Mick, has won an Adelaide Cup and a Laurels, brother Mick, and another, Tom, was also in the greyhound industry.”
Little wonder the owning syndicate name behind Arlington is ‘The Family Business’ comprising Terry, wife Gwenda and daughter Kylie. “My daughter does all the administration work, my wife does all the entries, and I do all the walking and looking after them.”
Reid mentioned to me that Arlington was very fond of his tucker and his dinner-time antics cause Reid the need to muzzle Axel in the afternoon, so he doesn’t destroy things. “Well, if you don’t put a muzzle on him in the afternoon, he starts to rip the door open! He has broken the wire on two of the bars on the kennel. You know when you put him out in the afternoon, put his muzzle on because at tea-time he just wants to eat.”
WATCH: ARLINGTON (B7) wins his 150th start for trainer Terry Reid.
