Ike McCorkindale disliked greyhounds when he was a teenager but at 27 he has a dozen race dogs in work and has just celebrated training his first Wentworth Park winner.
That came on Saturday when Wincey Bale, who was second on the back straight, hit the front approaching the home turn and held off the Minnie Finn-trained Zipping Kerr to score by a half head in a 520m fifth grade.
Champion trainer Jack Smith, whose bitch Amanda Holyfield was the unplaced favourite in the race, remarked: "Young Ike was so excited behind the boxes, exclaiming it was his first city winner.
"I got a real buzz out of seeing someone enjoying a win so much, that's what this sport is really all about.''
McCorkindale is based in the NSW cherry-growing capital of Young and after having Jimmy Bale unplaced in the 10.56 race he didn't get home until 3.30 Sunday morning.
"But it was well worth it,'' McCorkindale said.
"Reason I didn't like greyhounds when I was a teenager was because my parents had them and it became a real chore for me to be always having to help them with their dogs.
"But that's all changed now and I have a dozen racers plus a couple of retirees and a brood bitch at home.
"I was working full-time until recently but in order to have more time for the dogs I left and started my own company, Electrical and Solar.
"Having my own business makes my working hours more flexible so gives me extra time for the greyhounds.
"I train a lot of dogs for Brendan Wheeler, son of the late great owner-breeder Paul Wheeler.
"Brendan used to send greyhounds to be trained by his old school friend Simon Rhodes, but when he retired from training recently he began entrusting some of his dogs to me.
"Best in my kennel at present are Zadie Bale and Jimmy Bale, who between them have won 27 races, along with Saturday's Wenty winner Wincey Bale, all of them coming from Brendan Wheeler, who has been so good to me.
"I race mostly at Temora and Wagga but because it is hard to get 520m races on those country tracks it looks as if I'll be heading to Wentworth Park more often.''
Wincey Bale, who now has McCorkindale listed as her owner, has tremendous value as a brood bitch.
She is by Jack Smith's former champion Feral Franky, and was produced by Fanta Bale, the all-distance marvel who earned $1.365 million on the racetrack.
