Heather Dimmock – Thoughts & Observations

As it approaches its 40th birthday, Greyhound Star has always prided itself on its inclusivity, trying where ever possible to include the views and interests of trainers of all backgrounds and kennel sizes. In this interview, Mark Pierrepont chats to a lady who has spent her lifetime in the sport, but seldom goes public with her opinion, Heather Dimmock. We think they are worth consideration.

Heather Dimmock isn’t a trainer who courts the limelight.  Quiet and understated but don’t confuse that with a lack of passion for a sport which she has dedicated her life too with a love of her greyhounds that comes before anything and everything else. 

Put on the map by the likes of Blackstone Marco who was not only a kennel favourite between the years of 2013 and 2016 when winning no fewer than 38 open class races at a whole host of tracks but was a people’s champion too.  The Paul Carpenter, Nick Cheeseman and Kevin Dear owned greyhound with an attitude to match his ability reached 11 years old earlier this month and is still as happy and as healthy as he ever was.

A much loved pet to Heather and her partner and assistant Mick Pacey he shows no signs of slowing down in his later years and is still as keen and enthusiastic as ever on his walks in the Northamptonshire countryside.  Heather said “He was obviously a really special dog on the track but he has brought us so much joy off it during his retirement too.  He’s a real character and is a pleasure to have about the place”.

BLACKSTONE MARCO parades for his retirement race wth Mick Pacey. Photo: Steve Nash

On breeding . . .

Heather is still very much in love with a sport which she has spent a lifetime involved in saying  “I’m very lucky compared to most.  We own our kennels in a lovely spot and are just seven minutes drive away from Towcester; eight minutes if we take the scenic route.  We currently have around 30 greyhounds in which is a decent enough number for us to handle.

“I love the breeding side of things more than anything though.  Seeing pups which we’ve bred here , that we’ve reared and then schooled go on to do well on the track there quite simply isn’t anything like it.  Those who say that people like myself are in it for the money well they should really see things from our side.  The pups here are given everything they need from the minute they’re born and anything that we do bring in from prizemoney is soon reinvested into the dogs”.

Heather offered praise to the improvements brought into the British bred scene in recent years but urged that there should be no let up.  “I’ve been really impressed by the work done by Liz Mort and her team at the BGBF in recent years.  The excellent calendar that is on offer to British Bred dogs has been invaluable to us but we must also be sure that there is no holding back.

“There is no reason why a British bred dog can’t be as good as their Irish counterparts and though we might struggle to achieve the same breeding numbers as the Irish there is no reason we can’t compete more strongly than we currently are.

“I would like to see investment into rearing and schooling facilities here in the UK.  It’s in those spheres that maybe we do fall behind the Irish somewhat.  Land space is obviously an issue but there are opportunities if the right due diligence takes place and for the sport here to continue to be successful in this day and age we need to make it a priority to invest into the facilities available as with the right opportunities British bred greyhounds can get off to the best possible start in life and this can only be good for themselves , their breeders and owners and the sport as a whole”.

On prize money . . .

Both GBGB trainers representative Peter Harnden and Mark Wallis recently put their weight of support behind the removal of trainer’s bonuses and putting the money saved directly onto prizemoney. 

Heather said “Without owners this sport will cease to exist.  We need to encourage ownership and to do everything we can to make owning greyhounds a more attractive proposition.  I do understand the concerns of some trainers that this would on face value mean a reduction in their earnings. But as Peter Harnden quite rightly points out, it should actually act as a catalyst to allow them to charge a much fairer daily kennel rate.

“If owners see their greyhounds running for fairer money then they’re much more likely to be accepting of paying a fairer amount for the professional training that their much-loved greyhounds receive.

“The sport really does need to wake up to the importance of owners and needs to provide them with more prizemoney but with a better all-round experience both at the track and away from it.  I might actually surprise a few people here but I do agree with the calls I’ve heard from some owners to see that prizemoney is paid directly to them.

“It’s their prizemoney after all and though I do see that there could be some concerns from trainers about kennel bills not being paid surely that could be covered by a month or maybe even two being paid upfront ?  I just think a centralised system whereby any prizemoney is paid directly to named owners has so many benefits.

“One being that it should ensure that greyhounds are all in the correct ownership as after all there won’t be too many people around wanting their prizemoney paid to an individual who doesn’t actually own the greyhound anymore.  From an accountability perspective this surely has to be a positive”.

Heather Dimmock with her Winter Derby winner Volcanic Reef. Hove 15th February 2020 Photo: © Steve Nash

On the Greyhound Retirement Scheme . . .

Heather had some thoughts regards the GBGB’s GRS scheme and though in principle believes it’s a good idea believes it can be improved upon. 

“I believe that the intention is right but in practise the scheme simply isn’t working for the majority.  We all pay out an awful lot of money before our greyhounds even reach the track but in the majority of cases when we need the scheme to work for us we don’t see anything in return for what we pay in.

“I’m sure I’m not alone in having dogs at the kennel for months after they’ve retired yet surprisingly see other dogs who have retired many months later found places immediately.

“How can that be fair and for me? We need to see a lot more transparency with the scheme else it will continue to look as if we pay in our money only for it to sit in a bank account whilst we still struggle to find homing places for our dogs. 

“At present it’s also the case that greyhounds lose their bond money if they’re not neutered and sent to one of the approved centres.  What about those bitches that are bred from ?  So although like I say it’s a good idea in principle there needs to be much more transparency than there is currently”.

On independent inspections . . .

Signet Ace x Popworld Pups

Planning ahead . . .

Pablo The Pup – Back On Track Soon