Dale Wright celebrated his 10th year as a greyhound trainer in the best possible way - by landing his first winning Wentworth Park double last Thursday night.
Wright won race 10 with Sir Tick, who led all the way over 520m in 29.95, far and away the quickest of his five appearances at Wentworth Park, while Ritza Ken took his tally from box one to six wins from eight starts when he came from third in the middle stages to win over the same trip in 30.32.
Because he still works full time as a plasterer, Wright relies on help from his wife Jodie and 10-year-old son Nate to care for his large team of 16 race dogs at his kennels at Williamtown, 25 minutes from Newcastle.
"It was through being a plasterer that I became involved with greyhounds,'' Wright said.
"I was apprenticed to Troy Vella, who won the 2013 Group One Vic Peters Classic in race record time with Belfast Johnny, and he got me interested in the sport.
"I had whelped a couple of litters for Cassandra Billingsley, the owner of Sir Tick, and for Frank Gratt, Ritza Ken's owner, so I got to know them through doing that chore."
Sir Tick
"Frank Gatt and his son Mark had Ritza Benji and Ritza Ken with Mark Davidson who was a good friend of mine, and when he sold up and went overseas to live, he put my name forward as their replacement trainer.
"Frank and Mark agreed to give me a shot with their dogs and Ritza Benji, who won for me at Wentworth Park in 29.54 on July 3, finished second to Summer Quinn at Wentworth Park last Thursday night.
"Although Wenty has been good to me lately I don't really have a favourite track, my preferred course will always be the one where each dog goes best.
"Sir Tick and Ritza Ken won heats last Thursday so they will be back at Wentworth Park for the final on Saturday night and I will nominate Ritza Benji for another fifth grade at the same meeting.
"Sir Tick turned two in early January but has had only 18 races because he lost three-and-a-half months early in his career.
"He tore the tendons in both stoppers when he was being pre-trained so he has done well to come back and win at Wenty in sub-30 seconds.''
