Perry Barr are to consult their trainers whether or not to re-introduce Friday night open racing writes Floyd Amphlett.
Racing manager Martin Seal said: “We needed them when the kennel strength was low but it has increased significantly in the last nine months. But for the current bout of sickness, we would have around 350 dogs available. As it is, we are left with around 320, but that’s not bad at all.
“But we are aware that open racing is popular with punters and with our track bookies, so we’ll have a chat with the trainers and see how they feel about bringing them back.”
Barr, which famously in 2004 threw out 40 n0n-contract trainers who were surplus to requirements, has ended as a reluctant feeder track to many of its Midland neighbours but still attracts handlers from across the country.
Seal said: “We still have lots of trainers who cut their teeth in the North West and the likes of Bolton and Ellesmere Port. But then we’d have the likes of Jane Meek and Dave Hunt from Gloucestershire, Dave Acott who travels from Rhyl in North Wales and Ken Humphreys who has a four hour trip each way from Pembrokeshire.”
Perry Barr’s Greyhound of the Year for 2015 was Highfire Eagle (Blackstone Gene-Oran Breeze, June 13). He won nine of his seventeen races during the year for trainer Joe Scanlon and owner Ray Thompson. (In fact, in his last 16 races, he has 10 wins, four seconds and two thirds).
Martin Seal said: ” Eagle only came to Perry Barr in the Spring of 2015 following a few trials at Monmore, where he was marked awkward. Joe gave him a few sprint races to start with, in which he showed a decent level of ability. He qualified over 480m in mid August and never looked back, only finishing out of the first three on two occasions, gaining wins over 275m, 480m and even a 480m handicap off scratch, also earning valuable points for Perry Barr in the BAGS Track Championship.
“It’s fair to say Eagle has blossomed under Joe’s handling, the one-to-one attention and good feeding enabling him to show his true ability. Another success for British breeding, Eagle has started 2016 in exemplary fashion, winning 3 from 5, including a Monmore sprint open and a sizzling 28.18 (calc) A1 romp.”
The trainer’s title race has never been closer than it was last year, with a host of the track’s contract trainers in with a shout going into December. Carol wins her third consecutive trainers’ title by the smallest possible margin, and the 2016 competition promises to be equally hard fought.
Trainer of the Year 2015
CAROL EVANS
1st Carol Evans – 1017 runners 201 winners 19.76%
2nd Jayne Meek – 719 runners 142 winners 19.75%
3rd John Lambe – 615 runners 120 winners 19.51%
4th Louise Eccles – 1379 runners 262.5 winners 19.04%
5th Pete Holland – 238 runners 45 winners 18.91%
6th Phil Holder – 379 runners 70.5 winners 18.60%
7th Barry Denby – 659 runners 120 winners 18.21%
Kennelhand of the Year 2015
Val Lambe, wife of trainer John Lambe. Val is a thoroughly deserving winner of the kennelhand of the year accolade and plays an important part in the success of the Lambe kennel both at Perry Barr and on the open race scene. Her hard work, professionalism and integrity all come as standard.
