This time last year Kevin Hutton was an attached trainer at Monmore. In April he returned to the scene of his greatest exploit as a greyhound trainer, Towcester. He finished third in the Trainers Championship hasn’t looked back.
He said: “Nothing against Monmore, I really like the place and the people, but the monotony of too much racing was never for me. I grew to hate it. We were just driving vans, not training greyhounds. If that was the future then I would have got out of the game.”
The kennel is licensed for 108 greyhounds and at its peak during the ‘first coming’ of Towcester, the place was bursting at the seams. They are now down to 50 racers.
That’s all very well of course, but can you make it pay?
Kevin said: “Yes we can. We’ve never set out to be rich. Besides, it is all very well having another 15 paying dogs in the kennel, but that is an extra member of staff. You are no better off. The Towcester racing office are brilliant, we only race once a week , but we are having fun again.”
So is there a temptation to switch to Oxford when it re-opens?
Kevin said: “No, not really. It is about half an hour away and I wouldn’t rule it out, but I don’t think so. We absolutely love Towcester.
“But I know Oxford well and you can be sure it will be a huge success. The enthusiasm for the place among the locals is incredible.
“We have had so many old owners, and even new owners, asking if we will find them a dog to run at Oxford. Loads of them! I’ve never known anything like it!
So is Towcester Mark II, a better track than the one that folded under Lord Hesketh?
Kevin said: “I never had a problem with the old place to be honest. Some people said dogs couldn’t come from behind but we never saw it as a problem. We had a handful of dogs who didn’t run it, so we moved them onto other tracks. Even then it wasn’t many.
“Since they have changed the track, we haven’t had a single dog that hasn’t taken to it. Even the pups. The 500 is quite tough but there is very little trouble and they have the room to sort themselves out.
“The straights aren’t that long but the bends are good and you can’t have both and keep a reasonable race distance.
“I have to say that Andy Lismore has been fabulous with the puppies. He really does his best to look after them.
“I wouldn’t say that it has been plain sailing. There were quite a few issues when Kevin (Boothby) first re-opened it, particularly the starting traps which were very average. But Kevin has never been frightened to make a decision.
“Over a period of time they have made so many improvements that I really can’t fault the place.”
With three Category One events to his name (Winter Derby, Select, Eclipse), Signet Ace was the clear kennel star of 2021 and a serious Greyhound of the Year contender.
Of course he would have had an even stronger claim had he landed the Steel City Cup, won by kennelmate Forest Gold.
Kevin said: “In my view he was affected by fireworks, but that’s just one of those things, I’m not making excuses. If he hadn’t drawn trap one, he might have won the Gold Cup at Monmore too, but that really is just the luck of the draw.”
Which of the three wins meant the most?
Kevin said: “Probably the Select Stakes, given the prestige of the event and the quality of the field.”
So is Nottingham his best track?
“He is unbeaten there, so it probably is, but he is very versatile. He runs Monmore really well too.”
Ace’s dam Forest Natalee looks nailed-on to be voted Dam of the Year after producing 49 open race winners.
In addition to Ace and sprinting litter brother Signet Mafia, Natalee’s third litter by Magical Bale finished 1-2-3 in the BGBF Puppy Cup. Signet Denver was beaten favourite in the Puppy Derby while Signet Otis (Runner-up) was one of three Natalee offspring in the British Bred Derby.
Bernard, from the Droopys Jet litter had previously finished runner-up in the Produce Stakes.
Ironically, Otis was beaten by another Magical Bale offspring, Dave Firmager’s Fabulous Azurra.
Kevin said: “She was a cracking bitch in great form. We had followed her since her Irish exploits.
“Both Bale and Dorotas Wildcat are doing really well at stud and we love following all their offspring.”
Pups are a little bit thin on the ground coming into 2022, but breeding is more about quality than quantity.
Kevin said: “Natalee’s next litter was only three pups by Confident Rankin. They are six months old and I don’t think we’ve ever had nicer looking pups. We also have two by Rankin out of Magical Vera and some Wildcat’s out of Galloping Moon.
“The last litter, by Wildcat out of Not Too Late, have just left us to be reared by John (Mullins) who rears all our pups in England.”
