David Murray, whose greyhound Sleek Master is a leading contender for Saturday night's heats of the Group 1 National Derby, did not take out a public trainer's licence until 2010.
Murray is 76 but his greyhound racing background was via his employment at Arnotts, once a major sponsor of the sport, and through his sister Phyllis Wilton, whose late husband Keith was a successful trainer.
"My family and I owned a mixed business at Regents Park for 21 years and when we sold that my wife Gloria and I moved to Catherine Field where Keith and Phyllis were training greyhounds,'' Murray recalled.
"Then I was offered a job with Meggitts Pet Foods and from there moved across to Arnott's, a company which sponsored the National Sprint and Distance Championship series for many years, first under the Arnott-Spillers banner and then as Arnott-Harper.
"I spent 25 years in the petfood industry but in my spare time helped Keith and Phyllis with their greyhounds. To facilitate that I held an owner-trainer's licence from 1970 to 2010 but when Keith took sick I became a licensed public trainer.
"Keith passed away in July 2013, but I learned a lot from him and Phyllis, who, along with my wife Gloria, now assists me with my greyhounds.
"Keith and Phyllis had a wonderful rapport with the famous breeder Paul Wheeler, who gave them Fontaine Bale to train on his behalf.
"Fontaine Bale won nine races in 2001 and 2002 so Paul Wheeler then got Keith and Phyllis to train Evette Bale and Can Go Fast. Evette Bale won five races un 2003 and 2004 while Can Go Fast was a Wentworth Park winner who won five races in 2008.
"Keith and Phyllis also purchased young greyhounds from Paul Wheeler, with two of the best being Skip Flex and Saluki Bale.
"Skip Flex had five wins and two placings from his first eight starts and between 2005 and 2007 he won 10 races.
"Saluki Bale won 13 races between 2006 and 2008 and because they did so well with them Paul Wheeler continued to send them greyhounds to train."
it was not long before Murray himself was playing a part in the greyhounds' success.
"By 2009 I was actively assisting Keith and Phyllis," he said. "That year they raced a wonderful greyhound called Fringe.
"She won three successive races at Dapto and between October, 2009, and January, 2010, Fringe also scored two wins and four seconds at Wentworth Park.
"When she was retired she was mated to Bit Chilli and produced the first really good greyhounds I raced myself. These included Royal Fringe, Stylish Fringe and On The Fringe."
Murray has also enjoyed plenty of further success over the years.
"Although I am having a lot of fun with Sleek Master the biggest thrills I have had in the sport came through that litter," he said.
"Royal Fringe won six from 35 starts and won a double at Wenty in June, 2013, while Stylish Fringe, who won a dozen races, won three times at Wentworth Park in February, April and May the same year.
"While he didn't win in town, because he was a 300 to 400 metre dog, On The Fringe was a good money-spinner who won 11 races.
"At present I have only Sleek Master and his litter sister Holly Express in work.They are part-owned by my son Mark and their breeder Adam Wade.
"Mark is in the aluminium and steel industry and Adam is one of his clients so when Adam's greyhound Lagoon Holly whelped a litter to Swift Fancy in December, 2013, he offered him a half share in these pups.
"I reared them on their behalf and Sleek Master has been a wonderfully consistent greyhound, with three wins, three seconds and a third from seven Wentworth Park races.
"Holly Express has won twice at Bulli but has been out of action with injury and is due back on the track in a month's time.
"While she is not as fast as Sleek Master, who is undoubtedly the best greyhound I have trained, I believe she has a bright future as a middle and long distance greyhound.''
