Greyhounds are My Life profiles some of the 17,000 people involved in greyhound racing across Victoria. They come from all walks of life, but are united by their common love of greyhounds and by how they put the welfare of the dogs and the integrity of the sport first and foremost.
Their stories also highlight their connections with their local greyhound racing clubs and how Victoria’s 13 greyhound racing clubs are part of their communities, creating jobs, social and professional networks and supporting local groups and causes.
Profiles are being released before each Club’s annual Cup.
If you like Greyhounds are My Life and you’ve got any comments, suggestions or good stories about your own involvement in the sport, please let us know at ourcommunity@grv.org.au
Judy O’Neill
Judy has owned and run the Horsham Boarding Kennels for more than twenty years, caring for many dogs and cats, but hadn’t really thought about greyhound racing until she was asked to whelp a greyhound staying at the kennels. She decided to keep one of the puppies and see what this greyhound racing was all about. It became a very handy racer along with several others that followed over the years. Today Judy also works at the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club, helping to manage race day kennelling, before going home to a property full of retired and resting greyhounds.
Bill Powell
Bill’s first greyhound was passed onto him by his grandfather and by his teens he was training them for coursing before going on to race greyhounds for several decades, picking up some very nice wins along the way. In 1971, Bill and other members of the Wimmera greyhound community got together to form the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club and he served as club President for 23 years, In 2005, Bill was awarded the 2005 Ken Carr medal for services to the sport. Off the track Bill still plays the saxophone in a local jazz band as he has for nearly 50 years. While Bill has retired from racing, he is still very much involved with the club and still likes to take “Ninety-Five”, one of his old racers, and now a family pet, for a good run on the family farm.
Horsham Greyhound Racing Club
The Horsham Greyhound Racing Club started hosting race meetings at the Horsham Showgrounds in December, 1973. The Horsham Cup is held in March, on its recently upgraded track, which is now regarded as one of Australia’s best. In recent times the Club has supported Wimmera Hospice Care, Horsham PAWS, Halls Gap Zoo, Blue Ribbon Foundation, Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village High Care Unit, PCFA, Warracknabeal RSL, as well as many sporting clubs.
Check out our other Greyhounds are My Life videos at
www.GRV.org.au/GAML