Despite having been the number one hunting ground for tracks seeking trainers, the Perry Barr graded strength has once again regenerated and it could get stronger if GBGB approves the return of permit racing.
Racing manager Martin Seal says: “As well as stimulating plenty of favourable conversation, the Star’s campaign to bring back permit racing revives many memories of Perry Barr in the early 90’s when the track was owned and run by Maurice Buckland.
“This was before my time, but I understand permit racing took place at the track on Monday and Friday evenings, with permit trials on a Wednesday evening, and ran alongside the professional trainer meetings.
“Racing or trials took place pretty much a seven days a week at Perry Barr in those days. Lin Clarke, wife of late Perry Barr Clerk of the Course Matt, oversaw the permit racing and had well over 100 trainers on her books, travelling from all over the country. Many of those switched to Perry Barr following the closure of the track at Norton Canes.
“These days, I have 38 trainers on the books at Perry Barr, 16 contract and 22 non-contract. Of those 38, just 12 have kennel strengths in double figures. Perry Barr has always been happy to give newcomers to the training ranks their first break, whether their background has been on the flaps or as an owner who fancied giving it a go themselves, and many have progressed and gone on to greater things.
“The smaller trainer tends to have a slightly higher standard of greyhound, on average, and many take their charges open racing. This high number of attached trainers is a bit of a pain administration wise, and it’s fair to say that we are often grading trainers rather than dogs
“But the smaller trainer is quite often willing to come with the one runner to help fill a race, just pleased to get a run for their charge.”
Meanwhile Bob Welshman is now attached to Perry Barr, and will run a small, select kennel from his Walsall base. Gary Elwell has upgraded to a professional licence and has taken over the Bromsgrove kennels of the recently retired Michael James.
Gary has already started to expand his operation, acquiring a number of Westmead prefix hounds from Henlow, and it is likely he will be offered a training contract in the near future.
Going in the other direction, Barry Denby has accepted the offer of a position at Nottingham, and will complete his move at the end of October. Barry has had a couple of stints at Perry Barr, and always enjoyed a decent level of success.
“We wish him well” said Seal, who adds “Local ‘legend’ Joe Scanlon has decided to finally retire from the game, and plans to move to Galway with his long suffering wife Delia. Joe is based just a few hundred yards from the track, there’s not much that Joe hasn’t seen in greyhound racing
“He always enjoyed the craic with his many friends in the game. Joe knew the time of day, and trained many a good dog in his lifetime, some of the best known being the prolific and quirky Highfire Eagle, as well the talented duo of Shaneboy William and Shaneboy Nelson. I think we’ll miss Joe.”
On the racing front, Dave Hunt’s Sawpit Sunshine was the star of the show for Perry Barr in our home leg of the BAGS/SIS Track Championship, winning the dogs race in 28.29, the fastest time of the day. Sunshine backed that up a week later, landing a standard open from a good field in a flying 28.41 (-20). Unraced in Ireland, Dave Hunt’s black has really come of age in the last month.
Following some impressive open race staying performances over both 660m and 710m at Perry Barr recently, the Sharon Hunt trained Strides Hugo will be flying the flag for the Midlands track in the William Hill St Leger at Wimbledon, taking on Mustang Golden, Ribble Atom and Romany Rouge in his first round heat.
Seal said: “We wish Hugo, Sharon and partner Alan Brazier good luck in the ‘smoke’.”
On a sombre note, Perry Barr has sadly lost two well known faces in the past week. Firstly, bookmaker Phil Morgan died suddenly last Monday. Phil was an ever present fixture at the track, operating under the Halliday Bookmakers banner, and combined his Perry Barr duties with standing at many horse racing meetings.
Seal said: “Phil was old school, and steadfastly maintained his enthusiasm for the game, despite the challenging economic climate. Perry Barr has lost a friend, and Phil will be sorely missed by many. Our thoughts are with Phil’s family.”
Equally as upsetting was the news that Tom Ridley, husband of ex-Perry Barr trainer Julie, lost his long battle with cancer at the weekend. Successful in both business and greyhound racing, Tom was very much his own man, and made sure everything was done to a high standard, corners were never cut.
Seal added: “Tom was well known not just at Perry Barr but at Hinckley flapping track, where he was affectionately known as ‘The King’. Tom and Julie enjoyed great success with their Charter prefix greyhounds, including many from the brood Bag Of Gold.
“I guess the achievements of two greyhounds in particular would neatly sum up Tom’s talent with a dog – firstly the prolific dark brindle Dinner Guest, winner of 27 of his 97 starts, as well as a few more at Hinckley no doubt, and the venerable bitch Charter Serina who, at the time of her retirement in 2010 had taken part in 210 races at Perry Barr, and whose picture can still be seen on a couple of billboards locally, promoting Perry Barr stadium.
“Our thoughts are with Tom’s family.”
