Wendy Brown, a true trailblazer for women in greyhound racing, has passed away during a heart operation.
The wife of former National Coursing Association committeeman John Brown, Wendy held a trainer's licence from 1970.
"It was not until 1972 that, because I was a woman, I was permitted to lead my greyhounds out onto the track,'' Wendy told me in an interview many years ago.
"Rita Izzard, from Scone, trainer of the champion bitch Roman Lou, also began taking out her dogs in 1972 and she beat me by a few months to become the first female handler,'' Wendy said.
Wendy's best greyhound was Opal Eve, who won 36 races including the 1985 Country Championship and took out her final race in a blistering 26.20 over 457m at Harold Park when aged four years and nine months.
Over the past two years Wendy's best greyhound has been brilliant short courser Harmat, who has had 26 wins and 32 placings from 80 races, finishing third at LADBROKES GARDENS at his most recent outing on July 3.
Richard Zammit, former chairman of the now defunct NSW National Coursing Association, paid tribute to Wendy Brown and her husband John.
"Without John Brown's daily input and effort, backed up by Wendy's non-stop support, LADBROKES GARDENS would not exist,'' Zammit said.
"They were instrumental in getting the track built on time and as per budget, and it had been their passionate aim to ensure greyhound participants in the Newcastle area would have a racecourse in their area.''
Greyhound Racing NSW wishes to pass on condolences to Wendy’s family and friends.
