Crayford’s trainer breeding program bears fruit once again in January when Belinda Green takes over the trainer’s licence from dad Arun.
She will join Julie Luckhurst and Barry O’Sullivan as a second generation trainer and extend the track’s youth policy which already features Katie O’Flaherty, Dean Childs, Tom Levers, Jim Daly and Mark Fenwick.
SKY viewers will not be too surprised to hear of the licence change had the seen the powerfully poignant interview with Belinda following Pure Placere’s victory in the Guys And Dolls Final in September.
Arun had been going through a rough time with his health and that spilled onto the screen as his daughter hinted just how much the victory meant to the family.
Arun said: “I’d had a couple of operations and I still have more to come but the kennel is in safe hands. Lindy has been running the show for a while and transferring the licence to her just simplifies things.”
Dad hands over a strong kennel of 90 greyhounds. Set in 40 acres, Lowland Kennels in West Sussex was once the home of champion trainer ‘Gentleman George’ Curtis.
Arun joined Crayford 19 years ago after spells at Swindon and Portsmouth.
Belinda, 25 this week, might have been weaned at Pompey – where her abiding memory was the track’s “pick n mix” but has been Crayford reared and is expecting, as the politicians might say ‘a smooth transition of power’.
She said: “I have been dealing with the track and the owners for quite a while now so and luckily we haven’t done too badly.”
In addition to racing, the family are active home finders, though neither is Belinda’s first love.
“The pups” she says, “I absolutely love seeing them grow up and reach the track. I have a pup with my other half and brood Stamford Molly who will be retired after her third litter.
“The worst part will always be injuries but if you have been involved with dogs for any length of time you learn to manage and treat them. It is nothing we can’t deal with.”
