Andrew Rowe is greyhound racing’s jack-of-all trades - an accomplished trainer, qualified mechanical lure driver and race night kennel staff member.
No wonder the 45-year-old from Goulburn chalks up 80,000km a year fulfilling his greyhound racing tasks.
As a trainer his team of six includes the speedster Overstocked while wife Debbie also trains Arika Man.
“I was born and bred on the Dapto track because my late father ERNIE was on the local show society committee and was the original trainer of Fast Sapphire, who beat General Jeff in the 1980 National Derby and was 1980 NSW Greyhound of the Year,’’ Rowe said.
“As a second job my father cleaned the Dapto and Dandaloo Hotels for their owner Jack Duggan, and he suggested ERNIE select a puppy for them to race in partnership.
“Dad chose a three-month-old dog which had only three toes on one of his back feet and we reared him in our backyard.
“The pup was Fast Sapphire, who was later trained by Kenny Howe, a trainer dad used to assist around the kennels.
“But when I was 10 years old my mum Maureen and Dad would drive Fast Sapphire to the races in a blue Holden Commodore and I would sit in the back seat with the dog resting his head on the console in the centre."
The family soon started enjoying success with other chasers.
“Apart from Fast Sapphire, dad trained Jindalee Fire and Jindalee Miss, a wide runner who at one stage won 15 races in quick succession at Dapto," Rowe said.
“When I turned 18 my father got me a dog named Rowie’s Bay and he won at his second start for me over 297m at Dapto.
“My first city winner was River Liz at Wentworth Park in 1989 and then I won twice at Wenty with River Ridge before River Prince gave me my first long distance winner at the same track.
“I learned a lot as a teenager working in the kennels of Ruth and Ray King, whose were meticulous about everything they did, especially in regards to cleanliness with their dogs.
“In those days I spent a lot of time in the lure driving tower at Dapto, watching Jimmy Gilroy and Cec Billett operate the hare, also learning from Tom Cook when he drove the lure up his straight track.
“At the end of 2001 I was proficient enough to give Ken Staines a hand driving the lure at Goulburn and now I also drive at Dapto on race night, for trials and races at Wentworth Park, and have filled in at Bathurst and Nowra.
“Of course when I have a runner I have to stand down from that role."
Rowe has enjoyed plenty of memorable moments on the track.
“I’ve trained several handy dogs but no real top liners, though I won 13 races each with Irish Sapphire, Toxic Dream and Miro Bolt and won 10 with Neat Irish, who had hit a gate post as a pup and always had restricted use of a kneecap," he said.
“Biggest thrills I have had were taking out the first young trainer’s trophy at PENRITH with River Ridge and winning at Wentworth Park with Miro Bolt at $26.
"He he was owned by my parents who were trackside cheering him home.
“Along with my wife and kids, Adam, 21, and Karly, 18, greyhounds were a saviour for me after I had a serious accident in 2005 while driving a tractor for the local council.
“My spinal cord was injured and the discs in the neck compressed together and during the long period of recovery the dogs helped me physically and mentally.
“While Debbie and I are on a house block at Goulburn, we have good training facilities because the property backs onto the Wollondilly River so we swim the dogs behind a canoe there.
“And I have a great relationship with a local cattle farmer who allows me to exercise the greyhounds through the bush on his 3000 acre property.’’
In earlier days National Lass, Bold Trease, Farrarami and Brett Lee were Andrew Rowe’s favourite greyhounds but he says the fastest he has driven the lure for have been Miata, Zipping Willow, Double Twist, Chica Destacada and Xylia Allen.
“To be driving the hare when Xylia Allen smashed the long standing 280m record on her way to breaking the 720m record at Wentworth Park was a highlight, as was driving the lure on the final night of Paul Ambrosoli broadcasting at that track.
“I had known Paul for 35 years so it was privilege to be the hare driver at his last meeting.’’
