As 27-year-old Allansford greyhound trainer Kurt Howard tells it, the local Warrnambool trainers had good things to say about Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway and its run-on lure.

“In fact, they had suggested I come over and see for myself,” Howard said.

“So I ventured over and trialled a few before returning for a race meeting at the end of last month.

“And I guess it’s fair to say I soon wondered why it had taken me so long to make the 200km trip to Mount Gambier after Send It Blue gave me my first winner at the track with my first runner.”

Send It Blue, a December 2020 son of Cosmic Rumble and Mossy Girl, was only fairly away from box one in the Greg Martlew Autos Maiden Stake (512 metres).

But he finished strongly for a 2¼ length win over Where’s My Cash in 30.51 seconds.

Raced by a syndicate managed by Brady Kew, who also reared the black dog, Send It Blue was purchased through Greyhound Racing Victoria Hall Of Famer Barry Smith who bred Mossy Girl (Kinloch Brae x Mepunga Moss).

Two years ago Howard joined the new breed of young Victorian trainers following the death of his grandfather, Allansford trainer Gerry Taylor who had enjoyed much success with Smith-bred dogs.

“To be honest, I cannot recall a time when I was not with him, either at the track or helping manage his dogs,” Howard said.

As far as the Tara Raceway meeting was concerned, though, Howard was not quite done with as later in the day he had Capra engaged in the Winning Post Supplies Mixed Stake (512 m).

And Capra, a beautifully-bred son of Fernando Bale and Born Ali, gave plenty of cheek when running a close second to Blue Sky Boy in a best of day 29.70 seconds.

Club awards to be presented
The Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club 2022 Leading Trainer and Greyhound of the Year awards will be presented at the Tara Raceway race meeting on Sunday, February 19.

The Ian Badger Leading Trainer award, named in recognition of the club’s 1979 inaugural leading trainer, was first presented in 2018 when won by Compton trainer Tracie Price with 137 local winners.

Price was also Mount Gambier’s leading trainer in 2015 and again in 2016.

And 2022 turned out to be a record-breaking year for him when he trained 181 winners at the Mount Gambier track.

It’s a story that’s been told before but for those unaware the Ian Badger Trainer of the Year award came about only by pure chance after Kevin Jones and Monty Wilson stumbled across a cobweb-covered trophy in a shed at the track.

As it turned out, the trophy – now part of the MGGRC’s memorabilia display – had been awarded to Ian Badger, the 1979-1980 Leading Trainer.

Later, the committee of the day opted to name its annual Leading Trainer award after the inaugural winner – a man who had loved his greyhounds and greyhound racing and had been a dedicated club man.

In 1996 he was awarded posthumous life membership of the MGGRC after having died on March 31, 1995 at the age of 46 – just under two years prior to greyhound racing commencing at Lake Terrace East.

Ian’s wife, Judy, was the secretary/treasurer of the SE Greyhound Racing Club Ladies Committee that had been formed in August 1978.

That committee had been active in fundraising and had catered for the many owners and trainers on trial days with a refreshments stall.

Of the $55,000 spent on the Glenburnie track prior to opening day, $25,000 had been raised by raffles conducted over the previous six years while $10,000 had been raised through donations.

And Judy Sellen (formerly Badger) will renew acquaintances with a proud Tracie Price when presenting him with the 2022 Ian Badger Leading Trainer award later this month.

The 2022 Greyhound of the Year award was won by Departure Gate, raced by the Yeah Nah Syndicate and trained at Moorak by Jason Newman.

Scored for the first time only on Category 2 meetings at Tara Raceway, the son of Fernando Bale and Tarks Nemesis accumulated 70 points when winning 15 races and running five second placings.

The highlight of Departure Gate’s year was his win in the Group 3 Carlin & Gazzard MG Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) which was run in April.

Previous Greyhound of the Year winners since TAB racing commenced at Tara Raceway in 2012 have been Maldini’s Motion (Cass Billington), Just Humphrey (Lee Bartholomew), Rouse Flyer (Barry Shepheard), Cryer’s Fred (Tom Cryer), Old Jock (Nicole Stanley), Fiorelli Rose (Nicole Stanley), Paraphernalia (Jeff Guy), Black Spring (Captain Abbott), Perseverance (Dean Fennell) and Another Pick (Captain

Abbott).