Northern Rivers businessman Des Winters has been a major sponsor of the annual Grafton winter carnival since 2009 so the impressive win by his greyhound Slippery Valley at that track on Monday was popular with local racegoers.
Slippery Valley, which was bred by Winters, won in 23.08, easily fastest time of the night for the 407m journey.
Winters also produced a promising unraced maiden with Valley Knockin' recording a slick 23.24 in a performance trial at the same meeting.
"Clarence Valley Sheds, the company I own, has long been a sponsor at the Grafton July carnival but my wife Debbie and I also train 18 greyhounds,'' Winters said.
"Because I work full time Debbie does all the chores concerning the greyhounds which means I can't travel with the dogs.
"That's why I have only been to Wentworth Park once in my life.
"I had no family background in the sport but became involved through friends and my first dog, Tiny Flash, which I bought with a mate in 1992, became the Grafton Greyhound of the Year.
"Naturally I was hooked after a great start like that.
"Debbie and I have not had any world beaters but plenty of handy greyhounds, with the best being Rusty Valley, winner of 20 races in the late 1990s.
"John Corrigan finished up training Rusty Valley for us and while Slippery Valley is pretty smart, the best I have at present is his litter brother Winksey Valley.
"Dave Irwin trains him for us and Winksey Valley has won nine of 12 races, winning his past six in succession.''
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National Derby winner Big Daddy Bee demonstrated his remarkable versatility by taking out the annual Stan Cassidy Memorial at Bathurst on Monday.
During the first three months of 2017 the Ray Smith-trained Big Daddy Bee won three Wentworth Park 520m races, including the Group One National Derby final on February 4.
Switched to middle and long-distance racing, Big Daddy Bee won over 720m at Wentworth Park on June 17 and took out a 700m feature race at Bathurst.
Few dogs can revert to sprinting so easily as Big Daddy Bee did on Monday, winning one of the Kennerson Park circuit's feature 520m races of the year, by coming from third early to win in a fast 29.87.
"I have nominated Big Daddy Bee for a 600m race at The Meadows, Melbourne, on Saturday night,'' Ray Smith said.
"He is not a dour stayer so I don't intend putting him in the 720m Chairman's Cup heats at Wentrworth Park on September 2.
"Big Daddy Bee will be restricted to sprint and middle distance races now because I believe his career will have greater longevity that way.
"I hope to have him racing for a couple more years rather than just months.''
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Tijuana Icon, NSW's most prolific winning short-course speedster, did it again at Nowra on Monday.
The Marien Sullivan-trained, owned and bred Tijuana Icon won over 365m, taking her record to an astonishing 23 wins from 40 starts and over $27,000 prizemoney.
And when Tijuana Icon is beaten she is rarely out of the money, as those 40 appearances include 10 second and just a single third placing.
Her wins have been over distances ranging from 297m at Dapto to 400m at Richmond, yet her dam, Classy Icon, was a WP 520m winner and was even successful over 600m at Dapto.
Marien Sullivan's husband Robert trained Classy Icon, who won seven races.
