Dave Irwin, whose Grafton 480m record holder Fancy Dancer was a luckless second at Wentworth Park last Saturday night, credits his father Jack with playing a big role in his own career.
Irwin, now 66 and training a small team of six at Warragai Creek, 14km from Grafton, has enjoyed plenty of success over the years and says his father's influence had an important role in his achievements.
"People ask me the best greyhound I have had, but my old man was my biggest asset," he said.
"In 1967 he gave me my first dog to train, London Lord, who was a son of Takiri's brother London Lad, which my father had trained.
"Dad said London Lord would good to learn with and the dog won a maiden heat up the straight at Richmond for me at cricket score odds, around $101.
"My first major race winner was Flash Stand, who defeated the champion sprinter Woolley Wilson in a heat of the Christmas Gift at Harold Park in 1972.
"My father taught me that to succeed as a trainer it was imperative to get your dogs fit, sound and healthy, and most of all to ensure they are happy."
Irwin has scored wins in some of the country's biggest victories over the years and enjoyed working with some superb greyhounds.
"Since Flash Stand the fastest dogs I've trained have been Star Tribute, who won the 1997 Perth Cup, Smart Attitude, winner of the 1999 Sandown Cup, Fond Regards, the 2000 National Derby winner and my old favourite Star Title," he said.
"When Fond Regards won the Derby at Wentworth Park I also had O'Shaunnessy in the final but even though he was a $34 chance I rated Fond Regards the better chance because he was a faultless beginner with brilliant early pace.
"Star Title won 30 of 61 starts between 1992 and 1994 and he was typical of great dogs in that he had a fantastic temperament.
"Star Title was almost human - he could do every thing except talk - and while there are exceptions the real champions usually have that wonderful temperament.
"More recently I trained Scissor Queen, who won 20 of 31 starts in less than two years from 2011 to 2013.
"She was a litter sister to Don't Knocka Him, the 2012 Golden Easter Egg winner, and while she was a short course bitch she would have won over 520m if she had been sound.
"Scissor Queen tore her stomach muscles in a maiden race at Albion Park and that injury recurred throughout her career.
"If I poured the work into her she would tear the muscles again so I could never build her up to be fit enough for 520m racing.''
While Dave Irwin is regarded as one of the most successful and astute trainers of the modern era, he rates the night he helped put the money on Forest Dew as the highlight of his career in greyhounds.
Irwin rates Fancy Dancer and maiden puppy Nangar Thunder the pick of his current team.
While he has always been a fan of one turn, roomy tracks, he is practical enough to declare: "My favourite courses are those where my greyhounds are best suited.''
