The best greyhound Sam Simonetta has owned did not reach the racetrack but such disappointment has not diminished the businessman’s passion for the sport.
On the contrary, Simonetta, proprietor for the past 30 years of Ronnie’s Pizza House in PENRITH, is increasing his greyhound racing activity.
“I have bought five acres at Londonderry and am in the process of constructing a modern greyhound complex with 16 kennels and - at a later date - its own straight track,’’ he said.
“I used to buy two greyhounds each year and in the early 1990s I had an unraced dog by the champion WEST CAPE who broke in sensationally.
“After being spelled to get ready to race I trialled him on the old Rossmore track and he ran 16.70, time that was unheard of.
“Unfortunately he injured himself in the catching pen Afterwards and ultimately never raced. I never even got to name him.
“That is still the biggest and probably only major disappointment I’ve had in the sport.’’
Simonetta has come a long way since the tragic death of a close friend 30 years ago left him stuck with five greyhounds After his first foray into the sport.
“A good mate and I would go to Harold or Wentworth Park dogs every Monday night and it wasn’t long before he persuaded me to share in the purchase of five greyhounds,’’ the 57-year-old said.
“A couple of months After we bought the dogs, my friend died of cancer, aged just 42.
“I sold a half share in the greyhounds and passed the money on to my mate’s widow and then had the late Dick Carley and Gerry Braid train them for us.
“The first to win was Curious Kate, in a 300m race at Dapto in the late 1980s, while brothers Humming Top and Watusi Park, whelped in March, 1987 and trained for me by Gerry Braid, were my first city winners.
“They were from the same litter as the champion Acacia Ablaze.
“When I began training them myself I took a lot of advice from Tony Cauchi and also Chris Cauchi, son of the legendary trainer Paul Cauchi.
“Tony and I were co-owners in True Tears, still the most successful greyhound I have had.
“Tony trained her for her first seven starts but she was forever pulling up lame in a wrist.
“Tony’s way of training was to put her in a yard After a race but True Tears would tear around wildly and we started thinking that may have been causing the wrist problem.
“So he gave her to me to train and I kept her away from yards and restricted her to a walking machine.
“She thrived on that technique and won 10 races at Wentworth Park as well as nearly leading all the way in the 1995 National Futurity final there."
Simonetta has also enjoyed plenty more success over the years too.
“True Tears led everywhere bar the post before being beaten by Queensland’s Tar Dinn, but our bitch went on to become a fine producer," he said. "Her first litter included True Remorse, Tears For All, Star Breaker and True Request, all very good greyhounds.
“At present I have 12 greyhounds in work although most are currently sidelined with minor injuries.
“The best performed are Ish Won and Good Lad, who are quick short course dogs, but the most talented are the stayers Where On Earth and Earth Break.
“They could be top notchers if they were more fair dinkum in the way they raced.’’
Simonetta ranks Richmond as his favourite track.
“And that’s not just because I live around the corner!’’ he quipped. “It has a big range of distances and I love the people who work there.’’
Like most modern trainers, he rates Brett Lee, the 2001 Australian and Adelaide Cups and Maturity winner as the best he has seen, but he was also a huge fan of El Galo, who won the 2008 Brisbane Cup, 2009 Adelaide Cup and 2009 The Temlee.
“And the best win I ever saw was by Worth Doing, the 1988 Vic Peters Classic and 1989 National Derby winner,’’ Simonetta insists.
“That dog produced some amazing performances but a last-to-first effort by him at Bulli one night was the finest I have been privileged to watch.’’
