The Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial is one of the most prestigious and time-honoured events at Dawson Park and this year’s edition has taken on even more meaning following the passing of Lawrence ‘Les’ Leonard in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
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The race, now in its 28th year, was created to honour the memory of Les’ daughter Lesley Ann, who tragically passed away at just 17 years of age back in 1987, while it also paid tribute to Les, a stalwart of the club.
Les had often been at the track to congratulate the winning trainer but after a battle with illness he passed away in hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning at the age of 82, just short of the 2016 Memorial Final on Thursday.
“It’s a tragedy,” Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff said.
“On behalf of myself and the committee I just want to pay my respects, he was a great club stalwart and he did endless work for the club.
“He did so much maintenance for the club and I’m sure he’ll be looking down and watching the race tomorrow (Thursday).”
Stiff added Leonard’s sons and Lesley Ann’s brothers Alex, Matthew and Robert will attend the meeting on Thursday and take their father’s place presenting the winner’s trophy.
“The Leonards have had a lot to do with the track and it (the Memorial Final) is a time-honoured race and it will always be in the calendar but we might have to have something for old Les now too.”
In terms of the race itself, Stiff is expecting a belter, despite much of the attention being on frontrunners Nangar Rock and Falcon’s Fury.
Those two were easily the fastest qualifiers out of last week’s heats and Dennis Barnes’ Nangar Rock further slipped into favouritism when he drew box one on Tuesday while Falcon’s Fury, out of the Paul and Pamela Braddon kennel at Cowra, will jump from box six.
“That dog in the one box will be hard to beat but it’s a great field,” Stiff said.
“With Falcon’s Fury and Nangar Rock, those two are two of the best young dogs in the state, let alone at Dubbo.
“Box eight (Mousey McCoy) has good speed but does have to go from box eight. It looks hard to beat Nangar Rock but it’s a very good final with some good young dogs.”
The jump out of the boxes is expected to be crucial as a large numbers of finalists possessing blistering early speed.
The Craig Ryan-trained Mr. Blake Us flew out to a dominant lead during his heat win last week while Dana Scar, Express Cash and Zippity Zarr were the other heat winners.
Soapsud Bubbles also qualified for the final after being the fastest second-place dog.
Thursday’s 11-race meeting gets underway at 12.57pm with the Lesley Ann Leonard Memorial feature jumping at 2.39pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
