Ron Oldfield, long-time manager of the Appin greyhound track and along with wife Christine, a highly successful trainer, passed away on Tuesday morning, aged 74.
Ron and Christine trained November Sunset to win the 1992 Group One National Futurity at Wentworth Park in race record time, seven years after taking out the famous Tweed Heads Galaxy at Border Park with November Prince, while they also won a Maitland Gold Cup with November Storm and the 2004 Richmond Derby with Spring Secret.
The Oldfields also owned the Greg Board-trained Spring Gun, winner of the 2011 Group One Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park.
But it was with their string of outstanding greyhounds bearing the "November" prefix that Ron and Christine enjoyed their most consistent success.
Christine's uncle, the late Bill Timmins, presented the couple with a bitch called November Lilly, who had won six from only 19 starts, including a scorching 26.26 maiden win over 457m at Harold Park, a record for a maiden at that time.
As a school girl Christine had often assisted Timmins with his team at Lochinvar, near Maitland, and his "thank you" gift of November Lilly proved a bonanza for the Oldfields.
November Lilly's first mating to Tangaloa produced November Prince, Nicoloa and November Lad, while subsequent litters sired by CHIEF DINGAAN, Nation Parade and BILLY BALE each comprised winners, with the outstanding bitch November Pet a stand-out from the BILLY BALE litter.
That dam line continued to provide winners for the Oldfields, as November Pet became the dam of Centrefold Pet, who, in turn, produced November Miss, the dam of another top notcher November Fury, who was always one of Ron's favourites.
The Oldfields endured their share of bad luck too, as their dog November Earl was first past the post in a $100,000 Greens Supercoat Classic at Dapto only to have the event subsequently declared a "no race.''
GRNSW wishes to express its sincere condolences to the Oldfield family and their hundreds of friends in the industry. Ron Oldfield is survived by his wife Christine, daughter NICOLE, and her husband Glen Formosa
