It was interesting to note that the Rising Star and Patron’s Cup have been added to this season’s Virginia GOTBA coursing calendar.
Both these events were featured back in the days when drag lure coursing was conducted on a regular basis during the winter months at Harold Dodd’s property at Aldinga.
Back in 1986 the SA Greyhound Leash, a weekly greyhound paper covering all things relating to SA greyhound racing – including drag lure coursing – was edited by Brenton Scott, the current CEO of Greyhound Racing South Australia.
That was the year legendary SA trainer Doug Payne of Meadows made his first visit to Aldinga to try his hand at drag lure coursing with a dog called Reeling Away who had been owned in Mount Gambier by Peter Black.
After four elimination rounds of the Patron’s Cup the final pair was Reeling Away and Cyril Boston’s Boofanaire. According to The Leash, bookmaker John Gray had been offering odds of 6/10 the pair.
And Reeling Away, a son of Chariot Supreme x Strident Lee, really turned it on as he pounded mercilessly to victory.
“Everything went like clockwork and the whole family atmosphere is hard to find in any other form of greyhound racing,” Payne had said of the drag lure coursing meeting.
In taking out the Rising Star with Bianca Riot, Drew McFarlane, later to receive life membership of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club, demonstrated once again his prowess in conditioning a greyhound.
With live hare coursing banned in 1986, McFarlane had quickly turned his hand to drag lure preparation. Bianca Riot had won a puppy stake at Casterton and then the South East Puppy Championship.
And then at Aldinga, Bianca Riot had coursed brilliantly, showing blistering pace and never seriously being challenged.
To be run on Saturday, June 28, the Rising Star, for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1, 2023, is for the best 16. Prize money: winner $2500, runner-up $600 and thirds $100.
Then on Saturday, July 26, the Patron’s Cup for the best 16 will be decided. Prize money: winner $3000, runner-up $800 and thirds $125.