At 16, Alan Clare partnered his father Pat in ownership of his first greyhound, Blue Warning, and that dog was a prolific winner for leading Dapto trainer Ken Howe.
Now, 40 years later, Clare has a great chance of landing his biggest win as a trainer with his dog Total Faith drawing box one and going into Friday's $25,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Bidgee Cup final at Wagga as the fastest heat winner.
When Total Faith led throughout to win his heat from box three in 29.94, he took his Wagga 525m record to 10 wins from 14 starts.
Clare, a full-time trainer who is based at Nangus, midway between Gundagai and Junee, said: "Total Faith was bred and is owned by Arthur and George Poulos from Melbourne but I have had him since he was a puppy.
"I reared him, educated him and pre-trained him and launched his career at Warragul in the Pink Diamond Maiden series in June last year.
"The race was supposed to be held at Shepparton but when there was a change in venue I could not go to Warragul so had to send the dog to another trainer.
"Total Faith made the final after finishing third in his heat and semi but wasn't suited by the big one turn track at Warragul and was unplaced.
"He is a far better greyhound around two turn courses like Wagga or even Wentworth Park where he has raced well. This Bidgee Cup field is as strong as the lineup Total Faith tackled in a Million Dollar Chase semi-final at Wentworth Park."
"He finished third to Inconspicuous in the MDC semi so he can't afford to dwell at the start on Friday at Wagga.
"He has the box and the time on the board so providing he jumps cleanly he should be hard to beat.''
Alan Clare was just four years old when attended his first greyhound meeting, at Dapto.
"My mum worked the bar in a couple of pubs at Dapto and got to know a few greyhound folk so decided to take me to a race meeting there before I even started school.
"I reckon I gained some sort of interest in the sport from way back then.
"My dad and I bought Blue Warning, who was by Amerigo Man from Scarlet Bale, from the late Paul Wheeler, and he remains the best dog I have owned.
"But Total Faith is probably the fastest I have trained in 40 years, and is by a long way the best I've had since I started training professionally five years ago.''
