When Terry Adamson set the lure running for the first at Sandown last week most greyhound punters would not have noticed anything different.
As Aston Wise crossed the line ahead of Mazikeen Smith and Nike Apache on Sunday 16 October, it was the start of a new era in Victorian greyhound racing.
But for Terry, GRV’s on-staff lure driver, he had just driven Victoria’s first remote controlled electronic lure in a race.
After months of trialling and tuning, the electronic lure has made its way into Victorian greyhound racing. The lures have been used at other tracks interstate.
As a lure driver for more than 40 years, with 21 of them spent at Sandown before joining GRV full time, it was just another day at the office for Terry.
He says that there is little difference in driving the new remote electronic lure compared with the traditional cable driven lure.
“There is no difference whatsoever,” Terry said.
“They both drive just about the same. With the one we have been using at Sandown I find it responds a little bit quicker than the cable. When you’re giving the dog a ‘bite on the arm’ (the dog catching the lure at trial end) you’ve got to let them run onto it and then slow it down.
“It handles the bite on the arm as good as gold.”
The Australian designed and manufactured Safechase Lure System is a self-contained machine that has no other infrastructure except for the rail that it runs along and is a remotely controlled and powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Unlike conventional lures it does not require cable or live electric contact systems, improving safety for both animals and people and reducing operating and maintenance costs.
Following its successful launch at Sandown the system will be used at the new Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club’s J-Curve track which is due to open later this year.
*This article was written by Tony Homfray
