ZIPPING Zoro’s trainer Tony Callaghan acquired his interest in greyhound racing in that most typical Aussie social environment - his local pub.
And those who introduced him to the sport over four decades ago were none other than Allen and Bruce Wheeler, the father and uncle of Paul, now the world’s most successful owner-breeder.
"I was an electrician and used to drink at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle, which was opposite the cooperage business owned by Bruce and Allen Wheeler," Tony recalled.
"We would have a beer together after work and in late 1972 Allen invited me to look at the greyhound farm he had established at Eastern Creek, in western Sydney.
"I remember seeing a three month old youngster Allen was keen on and that puppy turned out to be Steelflex, who won the National Derby at Wentworth Park in 1974 and again in 1975, the only dog to win the classic twice.
"It wasn’t long before I had bought my first puppy, from my cousin Lance Day, who is still involved in the sport.
"That youngster was Sunshine Zero, and on March 12, 1974, he became my first city winner when he won a Gunnedah Stake, the name given to all 800 yards 5th grade races at Harold Park.
"The first top notcher I owned was Current Design, but she was originally trained for me by the legendary Jimmy Coleman, and during her time with him she was the fastest Wentworth Park winner for two years.
"When Wentworth Park closed for remodelling only Harold Park remained and Jim handed her back to me to train.
"Current Design wasn’t quite as good on the bigger Harold Park track but with Jimmy advising me I was able to win a race with her there in 26.30, an outstanding time.
"Her career ended when she broke a hock at Richmond but there was such a boom on her I sold her pups for $8,000 each, a lot of money in the 70s.
"I always seemed to get good money for pups and when another good race bitch I trained, Dixie Cup, retired, I got $6,000 apiece for her offspring.
"After I won five out of six races on northern coalfields tracks with Shady Chaos I sold him to Melbourne for $40,000.
"But I also picked up a bargain myself when I bought Daytime Friends, who was trained by Alan Chauncy, for just $3,000.
"Daytime Friends defeated one of my dogs in a Taree Cup and later I had a drink at the bar with the dog’s owner and with Alan.
"Despite winning the Cup the owner was grumbling about the dog so I bought him and Daytime Friends proved a good money spinner, winning two races at Wentworth Park.
"Another cheap buy was Vi’s Magic which I bought for Gordon Douglas, who had not owned greyhounds but who was on the board of the NRMA with my wife Maree.
"We paid $3,000 for Vi’s Magic and she was runner-up to Paul Wheeler’s champion bitch Suellen Bale in the 2001 Paws Of Thunder.
"I was in the right place at the right time when northern rivers trainer Neville Robson came down to Maitland to trial a youngster named Highlee.
"Neville was so disappointed with Highlee’s trial he sold him to me on the spot and in 2006 Highlee broke Pororoca’s Maitland record and also got under the 30 second mark at Wentworth Park, at a time when that rarely happened.
"Highlee won $50,000 prizemoney for me before I sold him to Melbourne and the dog ran third in an Australian Cup for Kel Greenough before going to stud in China.
"My good relationship with Neville Robson continued when I bought Courier from him as a pup, and he was a city winner, as was Carla, which I bought as a performed greyhound from Cowra breeder-trainer Paul Braddon.
"Before ZIPPING Zoro came along I trained Mickey Lee for three of thoroughbred trainer Peter Snowden’s employees, one of whom was the strapper of the mighty Octagonal.
"Mickey Lee broke 30 seconds in winning at Wentworth Park and now has some promising pups.
"The biggest thrill I’ve had in the sport was when Current Design, who was only 24 kilograms, won the Lord Mayor’s Cup, run at Harold Park during Wenty’s refurbishment.
"Although she was only tiny Current Design had a tall body and was built like a rat, with so little depth in her chest I always wondered where her power came from."
Tony rates Brett Lee, Worth Doing, and Johnny Heard’s Pororoca as three of the fastest greyhounds he has seen in 40 years.
"People forget about Pororoca but he was a flying machine who broke 30 seconds at Cranbourne," he said.
Tony and Maree Callaghan moved to CESSNOCK 35 years ago and each has a long connection with the town.
Maree served as mayor of CESSNOCK for eight years and was an NRMA board member for 20 years, during which time she became the motoring body’s first female president.
For a long period Tony also drove the mechanical hare at his beloved CESSNOCK track.
"The then secretary Dennis Farrell approached me one day explaining they were in desperate need of a lure driver so I agreed to do the job for six months until he found a suitable employee.
"I finished up driving the lure at CESSNOCK for eight years," he said.
He has respect for all the leading trainers but singled out John Finn and the Gatt brothers, Mark and Daniel, for special consideration.
