They may not have had too many champions but when it comes to devotion and care for their greyhounds, Keith Selten and his family will never be beaten
Selten, 40, his wife Alita and children, 15-year-old daughter Paige and son Bailee, 13, are the backbone of greyhound racing through their commitment to the sport and their devotion to their dogs.
The family, from Blayney in western NSW, notched their first city win in 15 years in the industry when Morgan Brothers won at Wentworth Park on October 24 but saw their hopes of a second success dashed on Saturday night when Chadlea, another of their team of 11 racers, broke down when four lengths in front with 250m to go.
"We're not sure if he will race again but if not he will make a wonderful pet,'' Selten said.
"By the time the Wentworth Park veterinary surgeon got Chadlea plastered up we didn't get home until 3.30am Sunday and a few hours later were at Lithgow trialling four of our other greyhounds.
"But at least Morgan Brothers got up to run second on Saturday night at Wenty and anyhow, for us the sport is not about winning or making money.
"Greyhounds are such beautiful animals to be around they make all the hard work involved so easy to handle.
"My wife has worked for Telstra for 15 years and I am employed by a company which supplies linen to motels and hotels, so our kids look after the dogs when they get home from school - and they love it."
Selten has been connected to greyhounds for more than 20 years after being introduced to the sport by family.
"I grew up around greyhounds because my father Peter trained them when we lived at Mumbil, an hour from Blayney, on the way to WELLINGTON," he said.
"Alita and I decided to get our own greyhounds once we had our first child so when Paige was born 15 years ago we obtained a couple of giveaways.
"They were nothing flash but one of them, Let's Be Adults, won a couple of bush races which gave us a huge thrill.
"The best we have had since include Baz, who finished second in the 2005 Bull & Barley Cup final at Wentworth Park and won a dozen races, Foreign Matter, who was runner-up in three successive 720m events at Wenty in 2002 and Rumbling Thunder, which we bred and reared and who won eight races a couple of years back.
"But while he is not the fastest Morgan Brothers, who has had 34 starts for 10 wins and eight seconds, is the best race dog. He gives 100 per cent effort every time he competes.
"There is a lot of sentiment attached to him as his owners Samantha and Steve Morgan named him in honur of Steve's late brothers, Darren and Trent.''
The Selten family are excited about their future in the sport as they have just signed off on the purchase of 15 acres at Mandurama, 15 minutes from their house block at Blayney.
"Having our own property will make things so much easier,'' Keith Selten said.
"At the moment we have to drive to Bathurst four times a week just to give our dogs a gallop and because we can't do that until after we finish work we don't get home until it is dark.
"Among the dogs we trialled at Lithgow on Sunday was Secret Bet, and I expect him to be our next Wentworth Park winner.
"Since returning from a spell he has had three starts for a win, a second and a fourth.
"Although everyone dreams of winning at Wentworth Park my favourite track is Lithgow as the people there are wonderful and they never fail to hold a terrific race meeting.
"And when it comes to the best greyhound I have seen there is no contest. Fernando Bale is absolutely the greatest -what a wonderful dog!''
