Ron Arnold, who has been the voice of Wentworth Park as trackside master of ceremonies for the past 40 years, will retire from that role on October 3.
He was given that task by the NSW GBOTA after working for the now defunct National Coursing Association in 1975 and being appointed as that club's racing manager at the Penrith racetrack three years later.
But Arnold declared his role as master of ceremonies at the Hyde Park protest rally against the Baird government's proposed ban on the sport in 2016 as among his proudest moments.
"The late Paul Wheeler and current trainer Kayla Coleman were among those who spoke so eloquently, while Aussie Rules legend Tony Lockett was there in support.”
"After the rally Fred Nile, a member of Parliament at the time, pulled me aside and declared 'this rally will be certain to make a difference.”
"He was right of course, with the clincher coming when the Liberal party lost the seat of Orange because of the proposed ban, and greyhound racing soon gained a reprieve.”
Ron Arnold was born into sport, as his father Ron senior and uncle Brian Arnold grew up in Glebe, a stone's throw from Wentworth Park and Harold Park, with both tracks hosting weekly greyhound meetings.
"They were both greyhound trainers, and Brian prepared Sue Vixen, who finished third in a group one National Futurity final and qualified for a National Distance Championship final.'' he recalled.
"The two Glebe houses where my father Ron and uncle Brian lived would house an average of 16 greyhounds between them.”
"As a kid on most Saturdays I would accompany Ron and Brian to tracks like Lithgow, Moss Vale and Wyong.”
"Sunday mornings I would often go with them to Botany Bay where they swam their greyhounds behind a rowboat, sharing the water with thoroughbreds trained by the great T. J. Smith and pacers from the stables of famous harness racing driver Les Chant.”
In 1979 while working at the office of the National Coursing Association, Ron Arnold met his future wife Rita, and they are about to celebrate 47 years of marriage.
Thank you, Ron Arnold, for your tireless devotion to our sport. It is probably fitting that your retirement virtually coincides with the termination of greyhound racing at Wentworth Park.
.jpg)
