It is doubtful any modern day trainer has had a more accomplished mentor than Wallsend-based Henry Norman, who grew up exercising dogs for the legendary Charlie "Chicka'' Morris.
No trainer in the history of the sport in Australia is believed to have won as many races as Morris, whose dogs snared first prize money on approximately 6,000 occasions, in a career which spanned over 50 years.
Morris would fill a caravan with greyhounds and tour the east coast of Australia, usually having six or more starters at each of three or four meetings every week.
"Chicka's kennels were at Swansea, where my family lived, and for several years, from the age of 11, my job was to exercise his team before and after school,'' Norman recalled.
"My instructions were to walk the dogs up and down the Swansea channel six times morning and night, and among the dogs I handled were famous greyhounds of the time like Tennessee Too, Mount Hall Flash and Mr Mount Hall.
"I learned every thing from Chicka, the most important being to have patience and to get to know each greyhound's character.
"His creed was 'you have to get inside a greyhound's head' to get the best out of the dog."
Norman, who is now aged 56, first started training as a 17-year-old.
"Training has always been a hobby because I worked in the coalmines for 12 years, then was a wardsman at the Mater Hospital for 15 years," he said. "I am now a wardsman at Wallsend Hospital, where I have been employed for the past eight years.
"Some of the best greyhounds I have trained were owned by the late Jack Kozaczynski, who created "The Whistler'' electronic dog teaser 15 years ago.
"Jack died of asbestosis around five years back but when he became very ill he asked me to take over his business.
"The Whistler teasers, which have always been made from synthetic fur, are used privately by trainers but are also a component within the mechanical lures at Wentworth Park, Goulburn, Bathurst, Canberra, Maitland, Gosford and the Gardens.
"Between my hospital employment and constructing the teasers I don't have a lot of spare time so my present day team comprises just three greyhounds.
"Best of them is Diablo's Secret, who has been placed at Wentworth Park and who won the Duncan Dart Memorial at The Gardens.
"My first Wentworth Park winner was Gunnadoo Ace, in June, 2007, but probably the best I have trained were Chevy Belle, another Wentworth Park winner, and Cashbox King, who was raced by Jack Kozacsynski and won 11 races from 2001 to 2004.
"Other dogs I trained for Jack included Cashbox Kadie, who won five races and Deano's Me Dad, who won 10 races between 1997 and 1999.
"I have not trained any world beaters but have been fortunate enough to have usually had a good money-spinner in my kennels.
"I have always loved a bet and still do, and greyhounds who did well for me in that department include Joker Jack, who won a dozen races in 1997 and 1998, Cedar Grove, won also won 12 races in 2005 and 2006, and more recently, Junior Grove and Em Are, who each won six races.''
Not surprisingly, Norman's favourite tracks are his local circuits, The Gardens and Maitland, while he nominates Brett Lee and Brother Fox as the best greyhounds he has seen.
"Brother Fox, who won the 1984 Vic Peters and 1985 Peter Mosman Classics at Harold Park, as well as the 1985 Hobart Thousand, had an almost unique galloping action,'' Norman asserts.
"It was so smooth he looked as if he was not going too fast, but that was only until the timer was semaphored!"
