David Lewis has been appointed as the new chair of Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA).


He succeeds Grantley Stevens who had been at the helm of the GRSA board since 2018 and a board member for more than 10 years.


Mr Stevens, who will remain on the board for a period to ensure a smooth transitioning of the chair’s responsibilities, said he was a proud advocate for greyhound racing and had enjoyed chairing the organisation.


“I have also enjoyed the interaction with a wonderful group of industry stakeholders.


“And I now look forward to working with David as the organisation continues to confront its challenges and bed down a great future.


“The GRSA board has built a strong financial and asset base and has the strategy in place to build on nation-leading successes such as our rehoming program that enabled more than 500 former racing greyhounds to be placed into the community last year as domestic pets.


“Working with our participants, we are confronting – positively and forthrightly – all challenges with a clear focus on our love of the greyhound and the integrity and


welfare framework that complements that,” he said.


Mr Lewis, who grew up in Mount Gambier, boasts a strong family involvement in greyhound racing.


His father, Eric, was a member of the inaugural SE Greyhound Racing Club committee which had been formed at a public meeting in the Mount Gambier City Hall on September 14, 1972.


The family’s best dog was Kori Arc who performed extremely well in Victoria – the son of Venetian Court and Baranita runner-up to Ibrox in the 1977 Victorian Greyhound of the Year.


Eric Lewis’ involvement with greyhounds went back to the 1940s and to a time when coursing was conducted in open paddocks.


Some 30 years later the family’s first Melbourne winner had been Royal Miko, purchased as a pup from Ken Sims.


And from a Mount Gambier club point of view, Eric Lewis was president from 1973 to 1975 while David’s brother, Dale, secretary between 1981 and 1983.


David Lewis is a business and marketing specialist with a background in the banking sector.


He has been a member of the GRSA board since 2020.


And while looking forward to putting his own stamp on the organisation, he praised the contribution made by Mr Stevens as chair.


“All in greyhound racing are appreciative of the leadership and commitment Grantley has demonstrated,” he said.


“It is a privilege to be tasked with continuing the great work he has driven.


“The greyhound industry makes a $125m annual economic contribution to the state.


“Also, we are a significant employer and make an important social and community contribution.”


Mr Lewis said as to the priorities as he saw them, obviously bedding down the Ashton Review recommendations and securing greyhound racing’s long-term future was number one.


“But I will also be looking to build confidence amongst participants.


And I am sure we can best do this by working as one to make the industry as great as we collectively can.”


Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds has been appointed as deputy chair.


She is a business and governance specialist and has peak body board experience across the three codes of racing.


Ms Rantanen Reynolds was appointed to the GRSA board in 2023.


Maiden wins a fair while coming


Many local greyhound racing followers would still remember Cryer’s Harper – the daughter of Spud Regis and Cryer’s Midget winning 22 races for Tom and Margaret Cryer of Apsley between 2018 and 2020.


Later, Cryer’s Harper found her way to Nicole Stanley and Nifty Lenehan’s Portland West kennels where she subsequently whelped litters by Orson Allen and the US sire Kinda Cruel Red.


The Orson Allen litter was whelped in November 2021 with Mama Chicken opening her winning account at Tara Raceway three years later.


And several months earlier litter brother Mushy had won a maiden over 305 metres.


Then, at Tara Raceway’s time-graded meeting last Thursday, another litter brother in Okay Corral made his debut at three years and three months of age when winning the Metal Worx Maiden Stake over 305 metres.


And another member of the litter still to race is the well-named Senior Citizen.


As far as Kinda Cruel Red’s two years and eight months old litter is concerned, only one has so far been named – Shuffling – who opened his winning account in last Thursday’s Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (400 m).


In last Thursday’s Da’Leni Meats Maiden Stake (305 m), Dunolly trainer Rick Boehm was successful with three years and two months old Miss Majestic who brought up her first win at start number 15.


“She’s a good little trier,” he said, “but I reckon 305 metres is about as far as she’ll go.