This month marks the 50th anniversary of the race calling career of Bob Lane.
Lane, whose Casino and Lismore broadcasts are heard trackside and on Sky Racing, called his first greyhound meeting on a Saturday night at Casino in September, 1967.
Now 72 and living on a 12 acre property between Kyogle and Casino, Lane's part-time career calling races began when regular commentator Johnny Keep moved to Brisbane in the late 1960s.
Lane took over at Casino and Lismore greyhounds, also calling thoroughbred meetings at Ballina, Murwillumbah and Tabulam.
"I found calling the greyhounds a little easier than the horses but that was probably because I started off at the dogs,'' Lane said.
"When I began calling at Casino they had 10 starters in short course races and often included handicap events on their cards.
"It is hard to compare greyhounds from different eras but in the early days the best I called were Silent Ring and PRETTY SHORT.
"Silent Ring was bred and owned by local bachelor brothers ERNIE and Cliff Boyd, and after they sent the dog to Sydney trainer Percy Redcliffe he won the 1969 Peter Mosman (then known as the Bi-Annual) Classic at Harold Park.
"When Silent Ring won the Classic, the Boyds threw the biggest party ever seen in the Northern Rivers.''
PRETTY SHORT won 50 races and set or equalled 14 track records in the mid-1980s but Lane insists more contemporary Casino, Lismore and Grafton stars like Paw Licking, Weekend Binge, CASH In Motion and Tripum compare well with the champions of yesteryear.
"Along with Father Pat, a priest from Townsville, I had a hand in breeding Station Master, the champion far north coast Queensland greyhound,'' Lane said.
"Station Master, who won 21 races in succession around CAIRNS, was a grandson of Mark Andy, another good greyhound my friends the Boyd brothers owned.''
Friday's Casino meeting will acknowledge the half century contribution to the sport, and specifically to that track, with a Bob Lane 50 Years Calling race programmed.
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This is to be a big week for Northern Rivers race callers as Mark Arandale, who broadcasts the Grafton greyhounds, is a member of the syndicate of 11 which owns Monday's outstanding winner Kidatee Dan.
When he won over 610m at Grafton on Monday, the Gary Smith-trained Kidatee Dan took his tally to a remarkable 30 wins from 66 starts.
Smith, who trains at Coutt's Crossing, 20km from Grafton, has enjoyed phenomenal success with the progeny of his bitch Sweet Elite.
"She is the grandmother of Kidatee Dan and was also the dam of Orara Flash, who won 26 races and broke the Grafton 402m record three times,'' Smith said.
"I grew up in Sydney near Warwick Farm racecourse and at 15 was earning $20 a week working before and after school in thoroughbred stables there.
"I took out a greyhound trainer's licence when I was 18 and 42 years later I have seven in work and another three dogs at home which are pets.
"Kidatee Dan got a bit tired when he won on Monday because he had not had a gallop for 10 days.
"That explains why he took 35.40 to win, when he can usually get under the 35.20 mark.
"He has been a wonderful middle distance greyhound but he finished fourth at Wentworth Park on August 5, because he is a tardy beginner and the 520m there is a bit short for him.
"And I have not tried Kidatee Dan over 720m yet.''
