Compton trainer Tracie Price’s record-breaking 2023 kicked off with a treble on New Year’s Day at Tara Raceway with Jayville Zoe, Ebby Tock and Donny Rocks. And his year ended with four winners on New Year’s Eve – Wilder, Starvin’ Marvin, Compton Charlie and Minh Ellie.
In what had been a busy year for Price, throughout the 12 months he had also led in 32 doubles, 21 trebles, four winners on nine occasions as well as three bags of five winners on June 18, August 27 and September 3.
Price, who turned 60 last month, was Mount Gambier’s leading trainer in 2015, 2016 and again in 2018 when the award assumed the name of the late Ian Badger – the club’s inaugural leading trainer in 1978-1979.
Price, who in partnership with wife Karen also sponsors the weekly Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Jackpot, was leading trainer again in 2022 with a record-breaking 181 winners prior to his 2023 tally of 194.
Among his 194 winners were Honey Rocks (Summer Classic), Bad Move (Cadillac Racing Cannonball), High On Life (Peter Whitehead Memorial Maiden) and Mister Banjo (Christmas Cup).
The 115-start veteran chaser Nero Valentino’s consistency throughout last year paid off when the son of Fernando Bale and Sweet Barbados accumulated 75 points and defeated Redshift Uniform by 13 points in the 2023 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year (GOTY).
Nero Valentino is owned and trained at Edenhope by Cadillac Racing’s Kerry Hawker who purchased the black dog in June 2022 for $2000.
With GOTY scoring conducted only on Category 2 (Sunday) meetings, Hawker’s pride and joy’s seven wins were enough to get him over the line given he had also run 21 seconds and nine thirds.
The year prior had seen Nero Valentino finish fourth in the GOTY award behind Departure Gate, Giant’s Flash and Rhonda Lily. On that occasion he had won nine races but recorded considerably less minor placings.
Meanwhile, it was good to see Coleraine owner-trainer Bob Wombwell, after a year of health issues, back at Tara Raceway for the final meeting of the year with a few of his Sennachie x Serene Rose litter which he also bred.
He was chasing his first Tara Raceway win since July 16 when Eskimo Roman had defeated Compton Charlie by 5¼ lengths in a maiden 305 metre event in 18.17 seconds.
As it turned out, Eskimo Sugar gained a start from box two as a reserve in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (400 m). And Wombwell had been reasonably confident after the fawn bitch had drawn in close.
“Yes, I thought once she drew the two that she would be some sort of chance,” said the long-time trainer whose involvement with Mount Gambier greyhound racing goes back to the Glenburnie days.
And Eskimo Sugar never looked like being beaten when leading all the way for a 4¼ length win over Lynette Ann in 23.35 seconds.
Wombwell said Serene Rose had won two races at Mount Gambier over 400 metres and 512 metres prior to injuring a hock.
“So far this is her only litter but I’m keen to breed again given that there are a couple of pretty handy ones in the litter now being trained for me in Victoria by Steve White who also had great success with the sire Sennachie.
“Eskimo Roger has won nine races and $41,000 in prize money while Eskimo Larry is an 11-race winner and has collected $28,000 in prizemoney.”
Wombwell said White was now considering this month’s Traralgon Cup with the litter brothers.