By David Lewis
MOUNT Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) president, Noel Perry, has described 2022 as a successful year as far as the 50-year-old club is concerned.
Speaking after the recent MGGRC’s Annual General Meeting at its Lake Terrace East venue, he said the appointment 12 months ago of Mark Dwyer as club manager saw him quickly adapt to a change of racing codes and work in well with participants and patrons.
Perry also reiterated the club remained committed to further expanding its training facilities at Tara Raceway in order to cater for the education of young greyhounds.
“We now have in place two automatically-watered side-by-side slipping tracks for the galloping of greyhounds,” he said.
“And with an area of land adjacent to those tracks now having been cleared, we are hopeful that a bullring will be erected by mid-year.”
From a racing point of view, the highlight of 2022 had been the running in April of the club’s first Group 3 race – the $36,000 Mount Gambier Cup over 512 metres – first run in 1981 at Glenburnie when won by Tara Topar.
“We were fortunate to have Carlin & Gazzard MG on board as the cup sponsor,” Perry said.
“Winner of the race was Departure Gate, trained locally by Jason Newman at Moorak for the Adelaide-based Yeah Nah Syndicate.
“In July, the Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup (512m) was won by the Tracie Price trained Giant’s Flash who equalled his own track record of 29.19 seconds.
“This was Price’s third successive win in the event – following on from Spring Cuervo and Tandiki.
“Then in September the one-off South East Greyhound Racing Club 50-Year Anniversary Cup (512m) resulted in another win for Departure Gate.
“The Christmas Cup (512m) was won by Aston Ziebell and gave Allendale East trainer David Peckham his fourth success in the race.”
Mount Gambier’s 2022 Ian Badger Leading Trainer award was won by Tracie Price with a record number of winners – 181.
The 2022 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year was Departure Gate, a winner of 15 Category 2 races.
“The late Ian Badger, a six-time president and life member of the MGGRC, was also the club’s inaugural leading trainer in 1978-1979,” Perry said.
“And we’re hopeful Judy Sellen (formerly Badger) will be on track on Sunday, February 19 for the presentation of the awards.”
He also acknowledged the charitable efforts of the Tara Tipsters over the past three years.
Local charities to receive support have included the Sunset Community Kitchen, Foodbank, the Visually Impaired Club of Mount Gambier, the Grantville Court Thrift Shop, Four Reasons Why, Quaran Care and the Mount Gambier Community Christmas Luncheon.
“From humble beginnings, the Tara Tipsters are now coming from far and wide in their quest for bragging rights at the twice-weekly race meetings,” Perry said.
“Currently, Adelaide-based Tim Aloisi and Scott Blacksell of Cape Bridgewater share the lead … Scott Blacksell? Surely not!”
Perry also acknowledged the work of Greyhound Racing SA Director David A. Lewis in putting together a Participation Action Plan.
“David was down here last month with GRSA CEO Bodelle Francis to meet with our committee and discuss actions that could be developed to increase greyhound racing participation in the Mount Gambier region,” he said.
The MGGRC president also expressed sincere thanks to those trainers – both SA and Victorian-based – who continue to travel long distances to race at Tara Raceway.
“Your support is much appreciated,” he said.
Meanwhile, following last week’s MGGRC Annual General Meeting, returning to the committee are Scott Blacksell, David Lewis, Ruth Lewis, Jason Newman, Noel Perry and Michael Robinson.
Also joining the committee is race-day regular Mark Roberts of Terang.
Club manager Mark Dwyer will also be in attendance at committee meetings.
