April'08 - Greyhounds Queensland

Gary Clark
New South Wales
TRAINING a dog from the back of
Bourke sounds a daunting task but not for
Noelene Walsh.
A small town called Coolabah, situated
between Nyngan and Bourke is where
Noelene lives and prepares her dogs.
It can be a dusty and dry town, caught
up in the drought for the past five years
before the rains came and the floods turned
red dirt into mud.
Not exactly the ideal conditions to
prepare a racing animal, especially when
there is no dog track within hundreds of
miles, not even a trial track, the closest
three and a half hours away.
Walsh can’t even walk her pride and joy,
Black Warhorse and his kennelmates, as the
roads are too rough and hot for their pads,
so a walking machine is the only exercise
they get.
“Once we got the rain our small dam
filled up and I was able to swim him. Racing
is really the only time we are able to let him
(Black Warhorse) off the lead but on
occasions we can let him exercise in the
goats yard which has some cushion of
grass,” Noelene explained.
Her husband Bruce buys and sells
goats while Noelene works in
administration at both Nyngan and
Girilambone schools.
She is fortunate she can stay with her
in-laws at Gosford on the central coast
which breaks up the long trip.
Her father-in-law John Miles said he
hardly sees Noelene and Bruce when they
come down. “They go out to long lunches,
love their yum-cha and have a real good
holiday before going home,” he said.
Travelling for Walsh is basically the
only way to race their dogs and Black
Warhorse has now won on seven different
ChuckStud
Buckingham
Fee:
White and Fawn Dog, Sept 2004, 32.6kgs. Token Prince-Stargari Heiress by Just The Best
WON
2007 Group 2 Gold Coast Cup
2007 National Sprint Qld Final
2006 National Sprint Qld Final
2006 Qld Derby Consolation
SECOND
2006 Group 1 National Sprint
THIRD
2006 Group 2 Gold Coast Cup
FINALIST
2006 Flying Amy Puppy Classic
tracks.
The trip to Nowra is 12 hours from
Coolabah but the Group 3 Puppy Classic
was a temptation, one they couldn’t ignore.
Black Warhorse won his heat and semi
before drawing wide in the final.
He showed tremendous drive into the
turn and opened up a five lengths lead into
the back, one which would take him onto
victory.
It was his 11th win from 18 starts and
this was like a Melbourne Cup win for
Noelene. ”I couldn’t speak after the race,
you just don’t believe it has happened.”
Black Warhorse is by Hallucinate-
Tommies Placard (trained by Miles) who
was given to Noelene to breed with on a
pup basis, as her owner had nowhere to
place her.
Two others from the litter are
Hallucinating and Tommie Nate both trained
by Miles. Tommies Placard ran second in a
Tweed Heads Galaxy, her second litter is to
$550
48 starts, 25 wins, 11 2nds, 3 3rds, $100,000 in stakes.
Ipswich 30.40 (fourth fastest to
Surf Lorian), 30.42, 30.43
Albion Park 29.96; Gold Coast 24.11, 25.68; 12 wins at
Albion Park; Unbeaten in four starts at Ipswich; Gold
Coast 11 starts, 8 wins, 3 placings
Ipswich 2nd sectional record 13.04, 13.06, 13.08.
Albion Park 2nd section 11.44, 11.47, 11.48
Noelene Walsh
with Black
Warhorse after his
Nowra Puppy
Classic win.
Elite State.
Noelene’s father Fred, who is a sheerer,
has been a Godsend as he takes care of the
racing dogs and pups while Noelene and
Bruce are away.
Noelene is a real animal lover and has
been training dogs since 2004 when her
husband gave her a greyhound as a
present. Lucy Jet and Coolabah Jet started
Walsh’s racing career.
The tiny town of Coolabah, population
of 25, one pub, no Sky Channel, has a hero.
Gun Law Osti
Brett Lee
Sobbing Sal
Hallucinate
Bobniak
Elusive Rebel
Secret Bride
BLACK WARHORSE
Malawi's Prince
Placard
Gem's Delight
Tommies Placard
Ultimate Wish
Shy But Sly
Misty Marmalade
(Stud fee does not include
progesterone tests or vets fees)
2007 Group 1 Winter Carnival Cup Contact: Paul Felgate 0412 724789
Letter to
the Editor
Dear Sir,
Congratulations to Paul Felgate for
his excellent article in the March
Journal.
* His comment that Greyhounds
QLD only need one two turn Premier
track at Logan City is commonsense, a
commodity so far this GRA appear to
lack. If they must have a one turn
track they should reopen Toowoomba
or as Paul suggests wait until Ipswich
is relocated.
* The merging of the Gold Coast
Club and the asset rich Brisbane Club
is only commonsense; a merger will
save on administration costs and not be
a repeat of the costly situation that
exists at Wentworth Park with the
NCA and GBOTA causing
unnecessary costs for their Industry.
* With Greyhounds QLD becoming
a reality in July 2008 ownership of the
complex will allow Greyhounds QLD to
control their own destiny, and once
Paul studies the constitution of
Greyhounds QLD he will know that
three current directors face an
election within two years and his vision
of himself, Michael Byrne and Phil
Bennett being directors is a possibility
in 2010. It’s a matter of putting your
hand up Paul.
* The 24-hour animal referral
centre (vet clinic) operates within 50
metres of the complex at Logan City,
and may be persuaded to relocate, our
first tenant?
* If licensees are too apathetic or
miserly to join GBOTA ($10 per year
membership) or a club then they will
not have a voice in electing directors,
the first in 2009 and two in 2010.
* The Greyhounds QLD board
should be able to appoint a CEO
capable of overseeing marketing etc
and leave the Brisbane Club
administer the racing requirements as
they so successfully do at present.
* Paul’s article dictates that the
GRA needs a strategic plan and the
whole industry must be consulted on
Greyhounds QLD’s future. An
industry meeting could select a
steering committee and will solve this
problem therefore assisting the GRA
to formulate a strategic plan. This
very last Authority’s legacy must not
be a wasted opportunity to secure
Greyhound’s QLD future and make
Logan City the premier track location.
Climate change aside, Greyhound
welfare is the first consideration when
finalising plans for the Logan City
complex. A perfect example of a
previous GRA’s lack of commonsense
is the kennel block at Albion Park
built at the wrong end of the track and
forcing greyhounds to walk an
unrealistic distance from the catching
pen.
This unnecessary animal cruelty
in summer heatwave conditions must
never be repeated. The kennel block at
the old Gabba was built adjacent to the
catching pen, almost a replica of
Wentworth Park, thus giving
greyhound welfare top priority and
avoiding the hazards of Albion Park.
K.Galloway.
Vice-president QGBOTA
The (April, 2008) Journal Page 24