Peter Carr, who has won five races apiece with his home-bred litter brothers Cicatriz and Thor's Devil, trained his first winner 44 years ago while a 16-year-old bakery employee.
Carr, who has mixed training greyhounds with go-kart racing (''my other passion'' he says) for most of his life, was living with his parents in the Sydney suburb of Rydalmere and working at nearby Fielders Bakery when a couple of workmates sparked his interest in buying a dog.
"I paid $150 for a puppy by the 1968 Vic Peters Classic winner Sammie Sparrow and, racing as Montego Blaze, she won a Bulli Maiden final for me,'' Carr recalled.
"Because I was only 16 my parents Jimmy and Thora had to be listed as owner-trainers but after winning five races Montego Blaze was retired and when her first pup, Blazing City was ready to race, I was old enough be the official trainer.
"Blazing City hurt his leg as a youngster and walked with a limp, yet managed to give me my first city winner when he won his maiden on the big Singleton track before winning twice at Harold Park, beating top notchers like Manly Lion and Waverly's Desire.
"His leg problem precluded him from racing well on tighter courses like Wentworth Park so he was purely a one turn track dog.
"While waiting for Montego Blaze's next litter to come along I bought a puppy at the first ever greyhound auction, which was held in Sydney.
"The pup, Devil's Fantasy, won 13 races and was among the fastest dogs I've trained, but unfortunately he was also a fighter.
"I got great value from Montego Blaze because when mated a second time, to Wade Park, she whelped Mr Damage, a terrific short course sprinter who won 10 of 38 races for me."
Carr was later to have great success in his other great life passion, go-kart racing.
"When Mr Damage was retired I reverted to go kart racing," he said. "I competed all over Australia and even in overseas events.
"I was away from the greyhounds for two decades but while living in Dubbo and working as a courier I decided to get back into greyhounds.
"Early in 2004 Mick Menken, a good friend who was a successful trainer, advised me to buy a pup from an Elite State-Poodle Springs litter that Sydney breeder Lindsay Niccol had for sale.
"Chamuco, the bitch I bought from the litter, won 16 races including five at Wentworth Park, three over 520m and two over 720m.
When retired Chamuco whelped an outstanding litter including Danny Casey, Barney Casey and Josey Casey.
"Barney Casey won five races at Wenty but Danny Casey was an absolute rocket, who, only for injury, would have been my first Group race greyhound.
"Danny Casey won three races in brilliant style at Wenty but at 27 months of age fractured a wrist while trying to hurdle another dog and was out of action for a year.
"I brought him back to win a couple of 400m races at Dubbo but because of his earlier setback I could only walk him around a paddock so was unable to trial him in order to get him fit enough for 520m events.
"Josey Casey, who is the mother of Cicatriz, a 29.99 Wentworth Park winner and Thor's Devil, who has been placed twice in town, won five races in succession before being injured.
"Returning to racing after more than six months away from the track she won first-up at Wentworth Park.
"Her first litter, to El Grand Senor, gave me El Casey, a winner over both 280m and 520m at Wenty, while her second litter to Bekim Bale comprises Cicatriz, Thor's Devil and Alka Casey, who has just been sold to race in WA."
After living in Dubbo for several years Carr bought 25 acres at St Fillans, between Gulgong and MUDGEE, in December 2009.
"There I have a three acre rearing paddock which has its own dam, along with two sprint lanes," Carr said.
"When I began training and was living in Sydney a big influence on me was Ray Reynolds, who trained for the big betting owner Kevin Jackson.
"Ray was free with his training hints but he taught me to always be prepared to listen to advice from other trainers, saying 'you never know when you might learn something important.'
"Old habits die hard and Dubbo remains my favourite track, followed by Richmond and Wentworth Park.
"Miss High Lo, the 1974 NSW Greyhound of the Year, is the best stayer I have seen and when it comes to sprinters my favourites were the 1974 Peter Mosman Classic winner Early Copy and the former Victorian speedster El Grand Senor, who was an excitement machine.''
