Category: Dogs

Doris Kelly Jr wanted to emulate what her mother, Doris Sr, and brother, John Kelly, were doing – training greyhounds. This would all change not long after Doris Jr met her husband-to-be, Barry Toner, at the Warragul races. Together, the young couple would taste success on the racetrack not long after their 1969 wedding, with their first city winner – Park Fair (Raleen Chief x Whirlee Scott) – taking out the Oakleigh Stake on May 28, 1970. Although the couple were listed jointly as ‘Owner, Trainers’, the young Mrs Toner…

Umberto – named after Italian pop and rock singer and composer Umberto Tozzi – is proving ‘music to the ears’ of champion trainer Jason Thompson. One of Tozzi’s biggest international hits is “Ti amo” – English translation “I love you”. Ironically, there’s a lot to love about Umberto’s racing development. Umberto (Jul ’21 Bernardo x Triscay) has only started on 12 occasions for five wins, three seconds and three thirds, with $28,995 in prizemoney. He also finished fourth in the G3 GRV VicBred Maiden final on Australian Cup night in…

Construction to build a new, state-of-the-art kennel complex the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club has commenced, with the Victorian Government this week announcing a $1.6m contribution, provided through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF), to the $3.3m project. The upgrade is part of a significant multi-million-dollar infrastructure upgrade project at several race venues across the state, commissioned by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) to enhance the on-track experience for participants, staff, patrons and greyhounds alike. Minister for Racing, Hon. Anthony Carbines visited the club only days after building commenced to make the…

After Big Energy exploded into Sandown Park’s exclusive ‘sub-29’ club when clocking a scintillating 28.93sec on April 6, the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson at the same venue seemed a logical next step. But ever the realist, champion trainer Kel Greenough chose to bypass the Harrison-Dawson heats and will instead head to The Meadows on Saturday night, where Big Energy makes his debut at the track in race 4 at 7.27pm. Big Energy (box 3) dominates Sportsbet’s market at $1.70, however Greenough isn’t yet completely sold on the boom WA import, despite…

1950s Melbourne, at face value, was a little dull. Men had returned from the war, and women had returned to the kitchen, providing the late great comedian and satirist Barry Humphries with marvellous inspiration for his character, housewife, Dame Edna Everage. However, during the 1950s not all Melbourne housewives were created equal.  One such woman was Doris May Kelly. As a housewife, in the respectable Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, Doris was also a highly sought-after dressmaker, with clients including Barry Humphries’ mother. By 1950s standards, such polite acclaim should surely have…

Greyhound racing’s Queen, Wow She’s Fast, won’t be relinquishing her (Sapphire) crown anytime soon. That was the clear message on Thursday night when the sport’s record prizemoney earner ($2,389,495) made a sensational return in the heats of the Group 1 Sportsbet Sapphire Crown (515m) at Sandown Park. Wow She’s Fast’s master co-trainer Kel Greenough expressed some concern in the lead-up to her Sapphire Crown defence – the champion broke the $1 million barrier when winning last year’s final in a near-record 28.82sec. But Greenough needn’t have worried as Wow She’s…

Marty Johnson wasn’t sure where to turn when his “best mate”, adopted greyhound Buster, was severely injured when attacked by a Bull Terrier cross at his first visit to dog friendly Parkdale Beach. When the owner of the other dog did a ‘runner’, Marty was left facing a hefty vet bill, that as a disability pensioner he was simply unable to pay. A former long-term Crown employee, Marty hasn’t been able to work since being involved in a car accident in 2017, suffering significant physical injuries, including two spinal fractures…