By David Lewis
A FEMALE greyhound carrying the name of Dick Grayson, the most famous sidekick in comic book history, flew the flag for a Mount Gambier charity at last Sunday’s Tara Raceway meeting.
Lining up from box eight in the Tara Tipsters Free For All over 512 metres, she chased Aston Model until the home turn before railing through and subsequently running out a half-length winner in 29.82 seconds.
The race preceded a presentation to representatives of the Visually Impaired Club of Mount Gambier who received a cheque of $2000 from a group of Thursday and Sunday Tara Raceway regulars known as the Tara Tipsters.
From humble beginnings when Kevin “KD” Douglas and Michael Robinson pitted their skills against each other to see who could select the most winners, more than a dozen tipsters now donate regularly to a charity of choice.
Previous charities have been the Sunset Community Kitchen and Foodbank.
Representing the Visually Impaired Club were Kathy Golder, Allan Mann, Edith Chuck, Margaret Button and Petrine Nicoll who enjoyed their first time at the dogs.
It has to be said, they also enjoyed their interaction with Dick Grayson at the presentation.
Mind you, the white and black daughter of Dyna Double One x West On Jorji lapped up all the attention.
In thanking the Tara Tipsters, Golder, one of the key members, said while club numbers had declined over the years, a committed group still fundraises to support visually impaired residents of all ages across the region.
Dick Grayson and her litter brother Rough Pearl were purchased as pups from Lewiston breeder Rob Harnas by local mother and daughter team, Lee and Elysia Bartholomew.
Reared and trained at Worrolong, Dick Grayson has now won 10 races while Rough Pearl, who represented Mount Gambier in the recent SA Country Championship at Angle Park, is a 14-race winner.
The chase for charity continues at Tara Raceway with the Tara Tipsters now throwing their support behind the Grantville Court Salvation Army Thrift Shop.
