It’s now more than 10 years ago since Millicent primary school teacher Dave Green was involved in a syndicate that raced a greyhound called Hawk Power.

“From memory I think he won a race but that was about it and the syndicate soon folded,” Green recalled this week.

And it was not until a Greyhound Racing SA Marketing television advertising campaign early last year, which focused on racing at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway, that his interest in the sport had been rekindled.

“The TV advertisement made it all look pretty good so my wife Keston and I set aside a Sunday afternoon and headed to Mount Gambier with our two girls, Kaia and Hadlie, for a day at the dogs.

“We really enjoyed the day. So much so that we continued to take in Sunday afternoon meetings whenever time allowed.

“And, of course, the inevitable happened – we ended up with a retired greyhound.

“I also found my own interest in greyhound racing intensifying to the point that I was now looking to become further involved – perhaps through the boxing and catching of greyhounds on trial and race days.

“This involved obtaining a handler’s licence through GRSA and I cannot speak highly enough of trainers Jason Newman and Kerry Hawker.

“They made dogs available for me to ‘practice’ on and were always available to answer any questions I had.

“To be honest, though, Tara Raceway is a really friendly place, whether you’re mixing with trainers, staff or patrons,” he said.

Green, 43, said that despite having handled several winners – including Waffle House for Newman in a recent Sunday Exchange Printers Maiden Stake (400 metres) – he was not quite sure whether he was ready just yet to take out a trainer’s licence.

“I’d certainly like to train my own greyhound at some stage but I think initially my involvement will be confined to handling and perhaps ownership.”

Green said his daughters really enjoyed the greyhounds, 9-year-old Kaia in particular who recently penned a letter to Cadillac Racing’s Hawker thanking her for her generosity and allowing her to interact with her greyhounds.

“Kaia’s pretty keen, to the extent that she even goes to the trouble of keeping a record on the dogs by writing down their times and margins.”

Portland trainer Robert Halliday, returning after the last race with Shady Past, now a winner of 16 races, spotted Kaia.

“Hop in there and get a photo of yourself with Shady Past. And I’ll pay for it,” he said.

“Make sure you handle him with pride,” said the trainer – still on a high, not from winning the race but the Swallow Drive Meats members’ meat tray draw earlier in the day.

And handle him with pride, she did.

Participant starter fee to increase at all GRSA TAB tracks

Greyhound Racing SA announced this week that it would increase participant starter fees at all GRSA TAB tracks from $20 a greyhound to $40.

This would commence from September 1 and represent an additional GRSA yearly investment of $300,000.

“This seemingly small increase will make a significant difference to our participants in the face of rising costs,” said GRSA Chief Executive Officer Bodelle Francis.

“The increase will allow them to continue to engage with the sport through the training and care of their greyhounds.”

GRSA has also expanded its Track Injury Rebate Scheme which absorbs 100% of surgery costs up to the now-capped amount of $3500 as well as set amounts for triage and recovery.

Greyhounds that are supported through the scheme are prioritised through GRSA’s dedicated Greyhounds as Pets (GAP SA) program should they retire and need to be rehomed.

“GRSA is committed to setting and maintaining the highest standards of safety and welfare for our greyhounds throughout their racing careers and onto their life as pets through our dedicated rehoming program,” Ms Francis said.

Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure a more uniform and branded look on Sky Racing, as well as on-course, GRSA is to introduce new navy vests for handlers to wear when boxing and parading greyhounds.

The good quality vests, which will be made available next month, are one size fits all with elastic at the sides.

Each club will be allocated its own set of vests which will be kept on track and distributed in the kennel house before each race.

Vests will also be able to be purchased by participants.

These will be distinguishable from club vests.