Les Dennis, a beekeeper who enjoyed great success as a hobby greyhound trainer, died on Thursday night, aged 85.
Dennis trained a small team at Canberra until relocating to Lidsdale, near Lithgow, in 2008.
Bathurst trainer John Buttsworth said: "His occupation was always bee-keeping, but he loved his greyhounds and many years ago Les and I travelled together to Coonamble for the annual carnival.
"When we went to trial there, we stayed in a hut on the track and Les was able to win a couple of races over the meeting.''
Father Skeeta, a son of his handy race bitch Madam Jessie, was the best greyhound Les Dennis trained.
Between 2013 and 2016, Father Skeeta won 16 races, several of them at Wentworth Park, where he reached top grade.
A minor placegetter in a final of the listed Ultra Sense series at Wentworth Park, Father Skeeta was a brilliant beginner who was placed in top grade there behind such top notchers are Bessy Boo, Zipping Willow and Let It Develop.
Les Dennis' daughter Nicki said: "Dad loved Father Skeeta, or Bro as he called him, and kept him s a pet until the dog died of cancer last year, aged 13.
"In his younger days, dad played reserve and some first-grade football for South Sydney.
"And for many years he was the president of the Southern Tablelands Beekeeping Society.''
Les Dennis is survived by his daughters Nicki, Kelle and Mandy along with son Craig, and his former wife Carmel.
The staff of GRNSW wish to extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Les Dennis.
