Prominent Sydney owner Rob Whitton passed away early Friday morning after battling leukemia for 14 months.
Whitton, who was 66, owned Mum's Moussaka, who had led all the way for trainer John Callaughan at Dapto just a few hours earlier, on Thursday night.
Sydney solicitor Michael Taylor, who shared ownership in many greyhounds with Whitton, said: "One of the last things Rob heard was the replay of Mum's Moussaka winning at Dapto, so that was nice.''
Taylor said: "Rob's best greyhound was Bonnie Bouchea, who was regarded as a talented but non-chasing bitch here so she was sent to New Zealand where she won a group one race.
"He also owned Massive Merv, who won four races at Wentworth Park in 2013 and 2014.
"But the most money he won on any of his dogs was on Reggie Hatton, a greyhound he named after the Newtown and Penrith rugby league player.
"Reggie Hatton was trained at Cranbourne by Owen McGovern who declared the dog a good thing one night from box one at his local track and the greyhound won at $17.''
Rob Whitton's father Bobby Whitton was half-back in the 1955, '56 and '59 NSW sides and played 170 games for Newtown, including their grand final apppearances in 1954 and 1955.
Michael Taylor said: "The legendary Western Suburbs half Keith Holman always rated Rob's dad as his toughest ever opponent.''
Rob Whitton is survived by his mother Belva, who is in a nursing home at Leichhardt, sister Ann Marie, her husband John, and their daughters Emily and Catherine.
Funeral details are not yet available.
GRNSW, along with Rob Whitton's many friends in the greyhound racing world, would like to extend sincere condolences to his family.
