The greyhound community has thrown its support behind a Coonamble couple who lost a number of their dogs in a kennel fire earlier this week.
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Up to eight dogs are believed to have been lost in the fire - which took hold of the air-conditioned and insulated kennels about lunchtime on Monday - in spite of efforts to save them.
The “heartbreaking” incident has sparked the Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club to include the Support Graham and Vicki Pickering Stakes (318 metres) as race two in Sunday’s evening program.
“I have personally spoken to Boppa [Graham] and he’s very upset,” Dubbo club president Shayne Stiff said of his Coonamble club counterpart.
“They love their dogs like they love their kids but the greyhound community will do what they can for them.”
Onlookers did manage to save some of the dogs, and Stiff said it was lucky no human lives were lost.
“It certainly is a tragedy and heartbreaking,” he said.
“He’s lost eight dogs and the majority of his team but hopefully with time and a little bit of comfort they’ll be able to rebuild and start again.”
Racing won’t commence until 7.28pm on Sunday in a bid to avoid the heat.
... hopefully with time and a little bit of comfort they’ll be able to rebuild and start again.
- Shayne Stiff
The highlight of the night will be the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Final 4/5th (318m), with a strong field predicted despite Friday’s scratching of the Robert Hobson-trained black bitch Rosa’s Revenge.
Melanie Mabbott’s Tralee Jaz will start at $2.50 favourite in box two right beside kennel mate Tralee Anna ($7.50), with Richard Hawker’s Little Munchie ($3.30) also highly favoured.
“[Mabbott’s dogs] both won impressively last Friday night on the eleventh, so whichever one of them jumps in front should win,” Stiff said.
“The race four, the Wayne Mallison Painting Stakes (516m), Peter Carr from St Fillians near Mudgee has Eddy Casey in.
“Eddy Casey is a brother to impressive Wentworth Park winner Charlie Casey out of Peter’s nice young litter from Kinloch Brae out of El Casey.
“Boxone will certainly suit him and he should be very, very hard to beat. I don’t think he’s as good as Charlie, but he’s certainly not far behind him.”
In race two – Support Graham and Vicki Pickering – Stiff predicted a tight contest between trainers Paul Braddon and Merle Clark.
“Paul probably holds the key with Winning Edge having a couple of good placings in Dubbo in recent weeks,” he said.
“And then Merle Clarke from Gilgandra, she’s got two and new dog Zambora Spur which she’s been racing around Newcastle.
“All in all, it’s a good race.”
