Steve Kutnjak, who had been battling kidney disease for the past three years, died in hospital on Saturday, aged 60.
The Minchinbury trainer did not win any group races but always had a greyhound or two in work and simply loved his dogs and enjoyed taking them to the races.
Kutnjak was a highly talented electrician whose biggest thrill as a hobby trainer came when Dirt Trap have him his first and only city winner over 520m at Wentworth Park in April, 2006, clocking 30.77.
I recall interviewing Steve after Dirt Trap's Wenty win and he was as excited as a Golden Easter Egg or Million Dollar Chase winner.
Currently successful trainer Darrin Croser, one of Kutnjak's closest friends, said: "When Radiant Seagull, the first dog Steve owned but did not train, won races at Wentworth Park he became rapt in the sport and took out a trainer's licence.
"He mainly trained giveaways and had a lot of slow dogs but he didn't care, he got a tremendous buzz just taking them to the track and socialising with the other trainers, that was one reason he was so popular.
"If anyone needed assistance on race night with handling or catching their dogs Steve was always the first to put up his hand to help.
"I used to plead with him to buy himself some fast dogs but he was content to do his own thing and play around with giveaways, he reckoned he had just as much fun that way.''
Steve Kutnjak is survived by his wife Vesna and children Rebekka, Stephanie and Nicholas.
The staff of GRNSW wishes to offer their sincere condolences to Steve's family and friends on their loss.
