Twice Amanda Ginn has tried, but on both occasions her greyhound Soul Breaking would have none of it.
After a reasonably successful career on the track, Amanda decided it was time for Soul Breaking to retire to a life on the farm at their Cudal property in Central Western NSW.
“She just loves racing too much. Twice we have tried to retire her, the first time when she was about four, and then we tried again when she was five,” Amanda explained. “But when we have tried she bounces around in her kennel, never shut ups, and when you’re taking the other dogs to the race she puts on a big turn. Now we have given up on it.
“She’s fit, she’s still running good times, and she’s loving it, and with Masters’ racing there is an avenue for her to keep racing … so why not? With all of our dogs, they let us know when they’re ready to retire. We race this girl very sporadically in those Masters’ event around Dubbo and Bathurst, but now she gets to go to the city thanks to this new series.”
At the age of six years and four months, and having her 75th start, Soul Breaking heads to the city tonight to race at Wentworth Park for the first time, on the second night of the neds Friday Night Lightning series, to contest heats of the Masters’ event over 280m.
“This Lightning series is a great concept and gives country people a chance to bring dogs to town. Last Friday there were people there who wouldn’t usually go, giving their dogs a crack at it.
“I love the concept, and it’s great that we’re trying to get people to the track. Like all sports, we have to do something. When the concept came out, I thought, well we mightn’t win, but we’re going to give it a go with our dogs.”
GRNSW are hoping for another strong crowd tonight with many last experiencing their first taste of greyhound racing last week. Entertainment off the track features a mechanical bull, table tennis and pinball machines, a cocktail bar, the opportunity to watch the action from a hot tub, and a big screen to watch the NRL action. All this plus 10 races over the 280m scamper.
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