Simon Ma, who has transformed Make A Fifty from a purely 400m bush sprinter to a Wentworth Park 520m winner, is passionate in the belief that the Glebe track should remain the focus of Sydney greyhound racing.
When it comes to winning strike rates, Simon, who has worked in the IT department of Telstra for 32 years, has been one of Sydney’s most successful hobby trainers.
But he worries that there is now too much emphasis placed on the betting side of the sport and not enough on attracting new participants.
"There are so many young people coming to Wentworth Park on Friday and Saturday nights because it is accessible to the city, and they are the sport’s future," Simon insists.
"If there is no continuity of racing at Wentworth Park through taking dates away from that venue, those young people will not be exposed to this wonderful sport and they are the ones most likely to get into greyhound ownership.
"I’d also like to see more focus on the total prizemoney pool of all tracks and TAB C meeting stake money needs to be lifted."
In 1967, Simon, aged 12, and his parents migrated from Hong Kong, and it was while growing up in Kensington he became fascinated with greyhounds.
"I used to see the late Les Harper and his son Warren walking their greyhounds near where I lived and I often stood in the street and watched other trainers checking their greyhounds in their garages," Simon said.
“In the late 1970s, while I was studying science at Sydney University, another student went to an auction and bought a greyhound and through that I became hooked on the sport.
"I can’t recall my first winner but while all the established trainers were only too happy to hand out free advice to me, I think I missed a lot of wins in those days through not knowing how to train properly.
"The best greyhound I have had was Tadmore Gunshot, who earned $60,000 prizemoney and won the $10,000 Country Challenge pointscore bonus after I travelled all over NSW with him, to tracks as far afield at MUDGEE, Gunnedah and Dubbo.
"But as a hobby trainer, I get a tremendous thrill out of winning a race anywhere.
"Another good dog I had was Tadmore Buckshot, which I still have at home as a pet.
"I used to breed a litter every couple of years but now I prefer buying performed dogs or training for other people.
“Home" for Simon is the leafy northern beaches suburb of Forestville and he believes he is the only trainer in that suburb.
"Nearest trainer I know of is Tony Teofilo at Mona Vale but it is now difficult training in the suburbs because there are too many people out there with nothing better to do than complain.
"One advantage I have at Forestville is being able to swim my greyhounds in Narrabeen Lakes, and that is how I have been able to improve the stamina of Make A Fifty, who ran three placings at Wentworth Park before leading all the way there last Friday night.
"Gosford and Wentworth Park are my favourite tracks and when it comes to the best greyhound I’ve seen I can’t go past Rapid Journey.
"I have yet to see a greyhound race in every state and win group one races through leading or coming from behind the way that dog did."
