Robert Arnold is forever associated with his wonderful Wentworth Park sprinter Did I Entertain but the popular Wingello trainer rates Marcus Wonacott as the fastest greyhound he has raced.
Arnold, who has been breeding and training greyhounds for 30 years, once owned a successful ladies’ hairdressing salon in ritzy Double Bay, which he ran for two decades.
But after breeding his first litter of pups while living in a terrace house at Glebe, he decided he wanted more greyhounds so in 1993 sold the salon and bought five acres at Catherine Field.
“There I bred Marcus Wonacott from my bitch Lahtothini, who was a sister to the great Gun Law Osti and was also a handy race bitch.
“She had won the Dave Alexander Memorial final at Wentworth Park in the days when the heats were run at PENRITH,’’ Arnold recalled.
“Lahtothini was named after a Zulu queen while Marcus Wonacott was named in honour of a dear friend who had been killed in a light plane crash in the United States.
“In the 1997 Group 1 Vic Peters Classic semi-finals at Wentworth Park Marcus Wonacott defeated Young Star Classic winner Bobniak but in the final Marcus Wonacott went up with the lids and Bobniak won.
“Marcus Wonacott was still only a baby and had an enormous future but three days after the Vic Peters final he died of a twisted bowel.
“That is the biggest disappointment I’ve had."
Armold became hooked on the sport watching one of the great racing duals.
“In the late 70s I had been a keen punter and in 1980 I read about a forthcoming match race at Wentworth Park between General Jeff and Big Pinch," he said.
“General Jeff was the National Derby winner while Big Pinch was a brilliant front runner and their clash was much anticipated.
“So I headed to Wenty and while Big Pinch set up a big early lead General Jeff stormed home to win easily.
“On the same night Glider’s Son, who became the 1981 NSW Greyhound of the Year, also won a race and after also seeing that speedster in action I left Wentworth Park mesmerised and was hooked on the sport.
“I bought Did I Entertain as a four months old puppy for $3500 because of he was a younger full brother to Bit Chilli.
“Did I Entertain won the 2007 Dapto Leagues Club Maiden Classic, 2009 NSW Sprint Championship, represented NSW in Dashing Corsair’s 2009 National Sprint Championship in Perth, 2010 Bob Payne Winter Stake, The Collerson and 24 races at Wentworth Park.
“Only Stately Bird, who won 25 races has been more successful at Wenty, but while three of his wins were at lower ranked meetings transferred from Gosford.
"I’m not knocking him because he won the 2000 Golden Easter Egg.
“Breeders have ignored Did I Entertain even though he was a great racer and is a brother to a leading sire in Bit Chilli. It appears that if a dog is not domiciled with an established stud master he gets no support."
Armold has also had plenty of other winners over the years.
“My most prolific winner was Marcus Wonacott’s half-brother Coarse Language, who won 44 races between November 2006 and December 2009," Arnold said. "He scored his last win at the age of five years and four months.
“He was forced into retirement because it became virtually impossible to find a race for him and there were no veterans or masters events in those days.
“Coarse Language finished third and fifth in two 520m races at Wentworth Park and won twice over 520m at Nowra but was a short course specialist up to 400m.
“He was unbeaten in five Dapto 297m races and won 28 races over 365m at Nowra.’’
Although Arnold has enjoyed great success at Nowra, his favourite tracks are Wentworth Park and Hobart.
“I have never raced a dog there but love watching the Hobart greyhounds where there seems to be very little interference,’’ he said.
