Sheer workload has prevented me staying on top of the Readers Letters feature. This is a selection of some of the correspondence that has come in during the last couple of weeks. We kick-off with my request to Simon Harris for some memories of the late great Geoffrey De Mulder.

Geoffrey DeMulder aka ‘The Meriden Maestro’

My father Roger Harris was one of four trainers attached to Hall Green and had a range of  kennels based at the stadium up to 1971 when the GRA sold the kennels for building (that sounds familiar!) and moved to a contract trainer system, my father swapped a lead for a pen and moved into the racing office. 
Geoffrey DeMulder was one the new attached trainers and to say he was different to the usual type of GRA employed trainer is a big understatement,  a bit like comparing the policemen of Dixon of Dock Green to The Sweeney.
My dad would take me with him when he went to ‘mark up’  dogs for registering at Geoffreys kennels based at Meriden in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside a million miles away from the kennel ranges at the stadium. It was a eye opening experience from the moment you arrived to be greeted by a big old blue brindle greyhound with half a tail by the name of Cahara Rover who roamed around free as if he was in charge, which often probably was the case
The whole operation seemed to be run on 90% total professionalism and 10% inspirational chaotic input from Geoffrey. But the one thing that there is no doubt about,  his success as a trainer is right up there with the best in the history of greyhound racing. For a period in the 70’s and 80’s he was almost unbeatable.
Greyhound folk will all be aware of his major successes but certain things stick in my mind which demonstrate his ability as a trainer.
A perfect example of this is during the mid 80’s a couple of brummie bobbies bought a reasonably priced bitch by the name of Burnpark Gypsy and gave it to one of the other Hall Green trainers.
After about five or six trials the bitch had still not achieved a grading time. Fate intervened and they  showed the bitch to Geoffrey, who spent ages studying her and checking her over eventually proclaiming in his inimitable style ‘If you give her to me son I’ll make her top grade!!’. You can guess the rest, he was true to his word and the bitch graded, flew through the grades and eventually won top grade.
I had a ex Wimbledon retired greyhound at home  as a pet,  who developed a really bad wrist problem for which several visits to the local vet saw no improvement.
In desperation I rang Geoffrey who told me to bring him over and he’d sort it. Again true to his word after a couple of hours of treatment problem solved. The only cost to me was to spend most of the rest of the afternoon watching cowboy films on the telly with Geoffrey, which were a major interest of the great man.
A final couple of anecdotes which hopefully sum up Geoffrey’s character. The first was told to me by former trainer Chris Allsopp at Geoffreys  funeral, it happened a few years earlier when Chris and his right hand man Paul Anderson had open race runners at Nottingham on a Monday night and asked Geoffrey if he would like to come to the track for an evening out. They picked him up from home and took him along, where he  went off and spoke to everybody and anybody which was his way. All’s well until the end of the meeting and no sign of Geoffrey!
Chris and Paul searched the stadium high and low to no avail, and had no option but to go back to Geoffreys house about midnight. On arrival, they rang the door bell which was answered by Geoffrey’s wife Carol. They explained that they’d lost him and were really sorry.Carol interrupted and said he’d  been home hours and was upstairs in be. He’d actually got a lift back off somebody else but not bothered to tell Chris and Paul.
Last but not least, I was at home on a Sunday morning and about 7am I heard my phone ringing. Bleary eyed I got out of bed and answered it, to be greeted by ‘Hello Steve’ from the caller
‘I think you’ve got the wrong number’ I replied
“Is that you Steve?’ came the caller back
Upon this I recognised Geoffreys unmistakable voice.
“Is that you Geoffrey? I asked, this is Simon. Simon Harris!”
A very long silence followed by ‘what are you doing at Steve’s house?’
Classic Geoffrey I think we eventually cleared things up and I got off the phone about an hour and a half later.

Greyhound View

You may already be aware that the IGB are showing old Greyhound View programmes. Last week was the 2001 Greyhound Derby and the first few minutes are of Nick Savva. He had Tinys Bud in the final. Dale Inferno (another finalist) was a son of Westmead Merlin. I remember this Derby well. The peoples champion Late Late Show just failing to get up after his usual whirlwind finish. He was initially called Ullid Duke, and owner Pat Kenny had him renamed (to do with the show he was involved in). I’ve just had another look back at his early career, and he was beaten comfortably in his first race in low grade at Shelbourne. It was won by a dog called Yes Speedy who later won the Select Stakes at Wembley.

Anyhow, Pat Kenny asked Ladbokes for a price on this novice (now renamed Late Late Show) winning the Irish Derby, and Ladbrokes took one look at the form, and offered (I can’t remember exactly which one it was) either £200 at 500/1, or £500 at 200/1 with the £100,000 going to charity if he ever won the Irish Derby.  So apart from just missing out on the £100,000 winners prize money, they also just missed out on another £100,000 as well for Charity.

* There’s more spooky words coming from Nick Savva in the interview. He says when he went to Harringay he got the virus and it stayed with him.

Tony Smith

Returning to racing

After reading your thoughts on getting back to racing, your views on the workings of tracks is spot on. I hope this will be lobbied to the government, mainly to get people back to work. This could be the flagship that small steps will work when everybody obeys the rules. I know everyone involved is doing their best, but so many staff from all walks of life are suffering. We have to start somewhere and the discipline at tracks is second to none, so why not start there?

Wayne Morris

Just to reiterate though Wayne, my view was based on racing being considered reasonably early once lock-down is eased. But certainly not until then – Ed

David Millington

I am sad to be sharing with you the death of David Millington. Dave was paddock steward at Perry Barr for numerous years. He worked for Martin Burt and a number of other trainers.
In recent time, he is one of the 5 owners of Droopys Aussie. David was 68 years of age.
Kieron Dawson
Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson adds: “Dave was a lovely gentleman and was associated with Monmore for many years as kennel hand to Martin Burt before working for Sandra Ralph and then Chris Ferreday. He loved his dogs.”

Oran Jack

My dad bought two greyhound pups from Jimmy O Brian. One was a dog called Oran Jack. I was only five years old when this eventual Irish St Leger winner came home. My mother Rose Grealish trained him. 42 years later, dad was talking about the night Jack won from trap 2. There were thousands of people at the old Limerick Greyhound Stadium but I got up on the fence to see Jack crossing the line with that famous blue number 2. Dad couldn’t believe I could remember that far back. Please publish a small article would mean so much to my mam and da.

Pat Grealish

Thanks Pat – remember Oran Jack well. Had forgotten he was owner trained. Your mum did a great job. I have had a quick look through the archives and unfortunately, Jack’s achievements in 1982 were a year before the Star was first published. I have checked the old Greyhound Magazine coverage which was limited to say the least. I will bear it in mind tho’ – Ed

Savva

Really  enjoyed the Savva story. Fantastic. I worked for Frank Melville October 1975 for about 18 months . Hard  work  but great experience. ‘Big Phil’ Bradley worked in the kennel too. Great lad.

Stewart Rowden

I remember Phil at Northaw too. He was working for Adam Jackson at the time. Guess we must have just missed each other, I started in May ’77. – Ed

Sprinters

I have a question that has been puzzling me, and my greyhound racing friends can’t answer it either. Have there been any pure sprinters who have gone on to be serious successes at stud?
Paul Trower
It is a bit of a trick question Paul. For example, you could say that Bright Lad, who held the Shawfield sprint track record was a great success – which he was, and virtually created his own sire line – as I wrote about in In The Blood. The issue is, he also had a brief career over four bends and reached the Produce Stakes Final. So was he a pure sprinter? You could use precisely the same argument for his great grandson Greenpark Fox, who was a sensational sire for a short period. Unfortunately, the line was riddled with a propensity for producing dogs who died prematurely of bone cancer.
I guess the last great sprinter to have a significant stud career (in terms of opportunities, unlike Jimmy Lollie who was barely used at stud) was probably Ravage Again. He didn’t make it. But then, how many middle distance dogs that go to stud are outstanding successes? – Ed

Joe Booth

Any chance we can have a story about Joe Booth. Reliving some of his strokes, etc
John Davies
Hi John. It is something I have considered. My only reluctance is the fact that the original article, which first appeared in the Star in the late 80s, was later repeated at least twice, (the second time with a sequel) plus it was included in one of the ‘Factfile’ year books. On the last occasion I can clearly remember our Northern correspondent John Forbes commenting ‘not Joe Bloody Booth again’.  I became a bit of a sensitive flower at that point and swore it would never see daylight again. Leave it with me to get over myself – Ed

Savva/2

Loving this Savva stuff with time on my hands to read. Even tempting me back into the game breeding a litter as l have loads of space here in France. May start looking for a good brood bitch.
Vic Partridge
Does anyone know what happened to Richard Steele, greyhound trainer at Ramsgate and Crayford?
Paul Gibson

Rumbled

Smiled greatly at Charlie’s independent information ! Reminded me of a Summer Wednesday evening in ’72.

I had been hearing rumours about a certain Hall Green trainer (no names no pack drill, but not GDM) who was allegedly having runners at Warwick flap.
So along with Hall Green GM Cecil Leggett, we stealthily left the race-meeting at Hall Green, which was in full flow and drove the shortish distance to Warwick.
The small entranceway (the racing had already started) was at the first bend, so we paid our 2/6d’s each. (12p approx in today’s money) and sidled along by the outer track fence trying our level best to keep a low profile.
He did, I didn’t. Because what we didn’t consider was that “Legg” was only about five foot four and I towered above him !
Our efforts to remain incognito were immediately dashed when the Warwick security guy marched up to us before we had even seen a single race enquiring
“Are you Bob Rowe ?”
“That’s right” I said.  “Well, I’m afraid you’ve both got to go…………. and here’s the five bob you both paid to get in !”
Happy days !
Bob Rowe
“No names no pack drill?” I would have been betting 6-4 Bertie Gaynor 🙂  – Ed

Paul Wheeler

Check out You Tube interview with Paul Wheeler. All about greyhounds in Australia and his views about things over here. All greyhound people will love it.

Kenneth Storey

George Curtis

Hello, my name is Lauren Ayres. I am the granddaughter of George Curtis. I just wanted to say thank you for the tributes and write ups you have provided recently it really is helping make an awful time a bit easier to deal with.

Thank you Lauren – it is nice to lovely to think that it is helping. Your grandad was greatly loved and respected in this industry – Ed