Historically there have always been ties between greyhound racing and rugby league but has there ever been an owner-trainer and former footballer to preserve such a link as Manildra panel beater Dave Duncan?
Duncan played for renowned western districts (Group 11) team the Manildra Rhinos from 1974 until retiring in 1988 aged 40.
The late Jock Colley, former chairman of the NSW Country Rugby League, who coached Duncan's 1980 premiership winning team, also owned greyhounds, including champion stayer Lady Arko, who won 16 of 36 starts.
And the enthusiasm Duncan retains for his old footy side is paraded through his greyhounds' names, virtually all carrying the "Rhino'' tag.
"At the moment I only have Rhino Clair and Barney's Rhino, who has a lot of ability, in work,'' Duncan said.
"Barney's Rhino was second reserve at Wentworth Park last Saturday night and I thought he could win if he got a start because he is going so well.
"He is a big 37kg dog and although he turns four in May Barney's Rhino has only had 16 starts for three wins.
"He can really run and has clocked 30.59 at Richmond and 30.10 at Wentworth Park.''
Duncan moved to Manildra, between ORANGE and Parkes, in 1973 and began his rugby league career 12 months later.
"I was a second rower but often played prop because nobody wanted to play there," he said. "The front row was rough and tumble in those days, but I didn't mind.
"My brother Laurie, a shearer, trained greyhounds and it wasn't long before I was into the sport too.
"Ann Barnes, the wife of famous breeder Dennis Barnes, is my cousin, and they gave me my first greyhound, Rhino's Joy, as a present.
"Dennis said she might win a race or two but she won heaps and her first litter, sired by the 1987 Paw Of Thunder winner SEE YAH, produced Casino Rhino, who won eight from 39 starts for me.
"I prepared him carefully for a 414m race at Lithgow, trialling him four weeks in succession at the track before getting good money out of him when he won his first race there in March 1997.
"Then Dennis and Ann Barnes gave me another greyhound, Pleasant Rhino, advising me she would be a good producer if I kept her for breeding and did not race her.
"Of course I didn't listen and won three middle and long distance races with her - but Dennis was right.
"Her daughter Lillydale Rhino remains the best greyhound I have had because she won seven of 36 starts and gave me my biggest success.
"Lillydale Rhino contested the 720m Rising Star Classic series at Wentworth Park in February, 2007. In her heat was run down by Brush Shiraz after leading by 15 lengths at one stage but Lillydale Rhino was improved by the run and won the final at the big odds of $17.
"Pleasant Rhino's litter also included Now Rhino, who won six of 22 races, and Classic Rhino, on whom I had a nice win at Richmond.
"Lillydale Rhino bred on, with her offspring Flash Rhino being placed over 720m at Wentworth Park after trialling 42.50 there.
"Flash Rhino had a bright future as a stayer but dropped a back muscle before she could fulfil her potential."
Duncan has gone on to have some other handy greyhoudns as well over the years.
"Over the past two years I have also had success with Shady Rhino and Rhino Collision, offspring of Ruby Francis, a greyhound my brother Laurie gave me and who was a sister to his great producer Clair Maude.
"Rhino Collision won five from 15 and won in 29.89 at Wenty while Shady Rhino won seven of 39 races.''
These days Duncan trains and breeds on a 10-acre property on the edge of Manildra's town centre, racing mostly at his favourite track, Richmond.
"If I have a dog good enough I don't mind making the nine hours round trip to Wentworth Park,'' he said.
He pays tribute to his cousin's husband Dennis Barnes, whose knowledge he often calls upon and who examines the Duncan-trained greyhounds to ensure they are racing injury free.
