Ken Staines, one of the sport’s most respected trainers over the past four decades, has three words of advice for young participants: “Look, listen and learn.’’
An only child, Staines lived a somewhat nomadic life as a kid, travelling around the NSW bush with his father Fred, a shearer, mother Margaret, a cook in the shearing sheds, and a greyhound or two.
“During shearing, Dad always had a greyhound with him, and while there was good money to be made in the sheds he and mum supplemented their income by racing a greyhound at long forgotten tracks like Cootamundra, Parkes, ORANGE, Harden-Murrumburrah and up the straight at WELLINGTON,’’ , Staines, now 65, recalled.
“My father taught me everything I know about greyhounds but I also collected information through listening to wonderful greyhound identities like Billy Taylor from Trundle, ORANGE’s Joe Kelly, who trained the champions Push Button, Gemdelina and Tell You Why, the 1959 Peter Mosman (then Bi-Annual) Classic winner, and Ron “Dookie’’ Crowe, who also played five rugby league tests for Australia as a front-row forward in the early 1960s.
“One thing my parents instilled in me was respect for my elders and because I was taught to sit quietly and listen, these legends taught me much about life and about greyhounds.
“And, providing they were respectful, young people could always count on my father taking the time to hand out advice on training greyhounds.
“The country meetings I attended as a kid usually attracted half-a-dozen bookmakers and comprised five or six races, with an added event at the conclusion of the meeting called the Beaten Stakes, for dogs which had not won earlier on the card.’’
But it was a race meeting at Harold Park in October, 1962, which sealed Ken Staines’ devotion to greyhound racing.
“I was fortunate enough to be there when the great Black Top won the Vic Peters Classic final," Staines said. "I think he wore the yellow rug.
"From then on I was completely hooked."
Sixteen years later Staines landed his first city winner when Add A Tail, a litter brother to 1978 NSW Greyhound of the Year Kawati Boy, won a long distance race at Harold Park.
The winners have never stopped for Staines, but because he also spent over 40 years as the sport’s official ear branding steward in his district, he has always retained a relatively small team.
After Add A Tail, Ken paid $3000 each for a pair of juveniles named Freddy’s Dynasty and Ready Freddy.
Ready Freddy was handy while Freddy’s Dynasty became one of the top stayers of his time until lack of opportunities for stayers forced his early retirement.
“I also had a good stayer, Gentle Snow, who won a Betterment Cup over 732m at Harold Park," Staines said.
"It was worth $5000 to the winner - good money in those days."
“Chevron Izmir was another top class stayer and more recently I trained three outstanding greyhounds from the same litter - Ronan Izmir, Helena Izmir and Montana Izmir.
“Ronan Izmir was eventually sold and became a group winner in Melbourne, while Helena and Montana were outstanding Wentworth Park sprinters.
“Montana Izmir was the quickest of the trio and I was convinced she would become a champion stayer.
“But Gregg Mills, who bred Montana and Helena Izmir, doesn’t like his future brood bitches to have too much racing so they were retired early in their careers.
“Gregg has bred a litter from Helena Izmir but is still waiting for Montana Izmir to come in season.’’
Helena Izmir was retired after winning nine of just 23 races including four wins and four placings from nine Wentworth Park starts.
Montana Izmir won nine from 31 starts and was retired after scoring four wins and two placings from her final six outings at the Glebe Park track.
“My biggest win was with Mystery Idle, who took out the 1994 National Futurity at Wentworth Park and also the Richmond Oaks final at Richmond,’’ Staines said.
“Winning good races with her was special for me because she was owned by one of my best mates, Gary Lang, who has since passed away.
“But I am now training greyhounds for Gary’s nephew Stephen Lang.
“Big races are great but the biggest thrill I get is just winning ordinary races for owners who are really nice people and receive a huge buzz out of a win.
“One of my owners, Amelia Little, is in her late 80s, and I won a few at Wenty with Go Ubobo for her.
"Last week I won a race at Richmond with a new dog she owns, Air Raid.
“The sound of excitement in Amelia’s voice when she phoned after Air Raid’s win is what makes training greyhounds really satisfying.’’
Staines is a second generation trainer while his daughters Lisa McFarlane and Raelene Staines were both winners of the NSW Young Trainer of the Year awards.
“Lisa trains greyhounds on the property next door to my wife Shirley and I at Jerrawa, near Yass," Staines said.
"Raelene now works in Sydney but still owns a couple of greyhounds."
“Unfortunately none of our grandchildren are interested in greyhounds so it seems the Staines era is winding down.’’
When that day comes greyhound racing will be a big loser.
