Group race winning trainer Ray Webster admits he would have walked away from greyhound racing if Magic Grove, his second venture into the sport in 2002, had been a failure.
Webster and wife Sharron have won three Group races with Lagoon Lowanna and Jedd Lion but Ray’s first purchases were total flops.
“In the 1970s Frank Dickinson, who was then my brother-in-law, owned the Manuka trial track at Narellan in the area where I was a real estate agent,’’ Ray said.
“Frank was the uncle of Stuart Dickinson, who owns many of the Cawbourne dogs trained by Jodie Lord, and when he sparked my interest I bought two greyhounds which were hopeless.
“Thirty years later my friend Ray Brown, manager of Elders Real Estate at Camden, who owned greyhounds and was always singing the sport’s praises, persuaded me to get back into it.
“So in 2002 I went to Bruce and Julie Fletcher and bought a bitch named Magic Grove.
“If she had been a flop like my first two dogs I don’t think I would have continued to pursue greyhound racing as a hobby but Magic Grove won first-up over 720 metres at Wentworth Park and I was hooked."
It was the start of a notable career for Magic Grove.
“Magic Grove made seven Group finals and was placed in three of them, including a third to Jason Mackay’s Big Sam Banner in the 2003 Association Cup," Webster said.
“When Magic Grove retired she produced Jedd Lion, who won the Nowra Puppy Classic and Dapto Puppy Classic and who finished third to Elite Blue Size in the 2010 National Derby.
“From a mating to Token Prince Magic Grove whelped Gondola Serenade who broke in as fast as Bruce and Julie Fletcher’s champion sprinter Bond.
“Gondola Serenade's Cousin Callum won $95,000 prizemoney for my wife Sharron and I and took out the West End Distance Championship at SA’s Angle Park, beating the Victorian star Irma Bale.
“Another of Gondola Serenade’s offspring, Lagoon Smyllie, whelped Lagoon Lowanna, who my wife Sharron trained to win the 2013 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park."
Since then success has continued to flow for Webster - and he is hoping to continue the trend.
“Lagoon Lowanna was also runner-up in the WA Oaks and her first litter, to Dyna Lachlan, are about to be educated," he said.
“Her second litter of nine to Barcia Bale are nine months old, with eight being sold at the recent Richmond Puppy Auction for an average of $9000 each.
“Other good greyhounds Sharron and I have raced include Lagoon Crockett, who was a finalist in Melbourne’s group one Rookie Rebel and Sale Cup, while his dam Angel Doll was a very good stayer.
“She won seven Wentworth Park 720m races and was a finalist in the 2006 National Distance Championship in Launceston."
Webster said the sport had served up plenty of highs but unfortunaetly some low meoments as well.
“Winning the Dapto Puppy Classic with Jedd Lion is the biggest thrill I’ve had in the sport but for Sharron it was Lagoon Lowanna’s victory in the Ladies Bracelet, because she was the trainer.
“Like all trainers we have had our share of disappointments. Lovin Sponful, another of Angel Doll’s offspring, broke his leg in the group one Dapto Megastar but even more disappointing was when a youngster named Tomstone Raxy broke down at Gosford.
“He looked like becoming a champion after winning his first four starts, including 22.42 at Richmond, but severely damaged a stopper bone on Boxing Night 2012 and never raced again.
“Richmond is my favourite track and when it comes to the best I’ve seen, I could not go past Brett Lee among the sprinters and Miata as a stayer.’’
