Paul Roach's family background extends almost to the beginning of mechanical lure greyhound racing in Australia.
The Lidsdale owner-trainer-breeder's father Ernest, a coalminer, began racing his greyhounds at Lithgow in 1930, just three years after Australia's first "tin hare'' race meeting was conducted at Harold Park, Glebe (then known as Epping Raceway).
"Dad was one of 12 children and he was training winners at Lithgow within two years of the opening meeting at that track,'' Paul Roach recalled.
"I was born in 1951 and was one of six boys, three of whom became greyhound trainers.
"My brothers Ken, the father of the famous footballer Steve "Blocker'' Roach, and Robert, who was killed in a coalmining accident in December 1983, were also keen greyhound men.
"I got my first greyhound, Skilled Charm, when I was 17, but while she had a lot of ability she would not chase keenly.
"She was a daughter of a top notcher, Speed And Skill, who was also a bit erratic, and while Skilled Charm won seven races she also filled 30 placings.
"That was because she used to jump in front and then wait for her rivals, sometimes letting the entire field go past her before she decided to take off again.
Roach's career began to take off in the late 1970s with the likes of Red Supreme, his first city winner.
"He was a fast dog but had trouble handling tight tracks," Roach said.
"Early in his career I took him to MUDGEE and put plenty on him and he led easily going to the first turn.
"The only trouble was he kept going when he hit the corner and nearly crashed into the outside fence.
"But he was a star up the straight at Appin where he was unbeaten in six starts.
"Red Supreme did not handle Wentworth Park but he did contest the 1979 National Derby series there.
"My most successful greyhound was Our Bette, who won five from 10 starts for me before I transferred her to Sydney's leading trainer Don McMillan.
"Under Don's care Our Bette, who had brilliant early speed, won seven races at Wentworth Park including a Ladies Bracelet heat, defeating Edie Beauchamp, the 2006 Golden Easter Egg winner.''
Lidsdale, 20km west of Lithgow, is incredibly popular with greyhound trainers, as apart from Paul Roach, it is also home to successful trainers Kim Hyde, John Chapman and John Brain.
"Kim and Chappo are just down the road from me and while I grew up in Lithgow, in 1984 I bought 70 acres at Lidsdale where I now rear, breed and train,'' Roach said.
"I have a good set-up for dogs because I have my own 300m straight track on which to condition them.
"Another trainer, Les Dennis, lives on my property too and I bred and reared Father Skeeta, who has won five Wentworth Park races for him."
Mr Make Believe, who is a Wentworth Park winner, and Smart As Them, who won on debut at Lithgow on September 12, are among the best of Roach's current team.
"Smart As Them is a member of a promising litter I bred in February last year by El Grand Senor from Lois Smoky," he said. "She is the dam of None Of Them, who is now racing in Townsville.
"When I began training her I was offered $12,000 for None Of Them but I resisted the bid and she went on to earn over $17,000 in prizemoney.''
While, like everyone else, Roach is rapt in Fernando Bale, he considers 1989 NSW Greyhound of the Year Worth Doing the best he has seen.
"I've never watched a greyhound with a bigger motor,'' he asserts.
