Coleraine trainer Bob Wombwell’s participation in local greyhound racing goes back to those early days out at Glenburnie. And he’s been involved ever since.


In fact, records would suggest that his first Mount Gambier winner had been in November 1980 out at the racecourse with a greyhound called Dynamic Tarmel who had won a maiden event over 289 metres.


Wombwell’s most recent runners have been from a litter he bred back January 2021 by Sennachie out of Serene Rose – the daughter of Barcia Bale and Rose Of Tuscany having won two races at Mount Gambier in 2019-2020.


All told, seven of the litter have won a total of 45 races for their owner-trainer with Eskimo Roger accumulating $41,000 in prize money and Eskimo Larry $33,000 when collectively winning 22 races.


But this year certainly has not been all plain sailing for Wombwell.


“I broke a leg in March and also required an operation on a foot so the dogs and I were off the scene for some months. Eskimo Larry and Eskimo Roman had both had a couple of lead-in races when they lined up last Thursday so I was hopeful they were both close to winning another race,” he said.


Eskimo Larry was always on the pace in the Metal Worx TG5+W Stake (305 metres) before going down by 1½ lengths to Typhoon Thomas in 17.90 seconds.


Then, in the last race, the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Eskimo Roman led all the way from box four when defeating Compton Bowie by three lengths in 23.37 seconds.


And this was a win no one would have begrudged Bob Wombwell.


For the Hamilton-based mother and son training team of Lorraine and Kyle Goodwin, last Thursday was their third collective treble for this year.


On February 27 Gnome To Burn, Red To Burn and Lie To Me had been successful prior to Starlight Jewel, Jaja Ding Dong and Lie To Me winning at the June 8 meeting.


Then at last week’s time-graded meeting, Lust To Burn kicked off the pair’s good day when storming home and defeating Aston Chief by a half head in the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (305 m) in 18.02 seconds.


Two races later and Lap To Burn quickly found the front from box seven in the Williams Crane Hire TG1-4W Stake (400 m) before running away to a 2¾ length win over Phantom Carat in 23.28 seconds.


And wrapping up the family’s big day was Princess To Burn in the Klaassens Contractors TG5+W Stake (400 m). Chasing her 10th win, the blue bitch led all the way from box two when defeating Freddy Deeds by 1¾ lengths in 23.13 seconds.


By Fernando Bale out of Princess Kiwi, Princess To Burn is a litter sister to smart NSW chaser Ferness, a winner of 15 races and $177,000 in prize money.


And 2025 Mount Gambier Cup finalist, Oregon Caldwell, was back among the winners at Tara Raceway last week when successful in the Todd’s Photographics TG5+W Stake (400 m).


The white and brindle son of Need My Moneynow and La La Oregon led all the way when defeating Cadillac Lloyd by 3¾ lengths in 23.36 seconds.


Oregon Caldwell had run fourth in the cup final behind Aston Gozo in April for owner Declan Williams and local trainer Jason Newman prior to winning a couple of 600 metre events later in the same month.


But monkey muscle and split webbing issues had resulted in him being off the scene for a couple of months prior to two 400 metre trials in 24.12 seconds and 23.50 seconds prior to last week’s winning return.


Meanwhile, it is with deep sadness the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club acknowledges the passing of Doug Hammerstein at 83, who, together with his son Paul, had been a regular at Tara Raceway meetings for a number of years.


Speaking at the track last Sunday, Paul said he could not remember a time when his father – based at Ararat for the past 30 years – had not been involved with greyhounds.


“I cannot recall any champions but there had been plenty of handy greyhounds along the way which kept him involved because he just loved the animal,” Paul said.


Billy Moran’s win in 30.34 seconds in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (512 m) on September 7, 2018 was Doug Hammerstein’s first winner at Tara Raceway.


And it was a tearful Paul Hammerstein who returned with Imposter, winner of Sunday’s Da’Leni Meats Stake (305 m) – the family’s first winner since the death of their father.