Edenhope-based Cadillac Racing next month will take on the role of major sponsor for the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC).

In making the announcement last week, MGGRC president Noel Perry expressed the club’s sincere thanks to Captain Abbott and Kerry Hawker of Cadillac Racing for their valued support.

He also acknowledged the club’s previous major sponsor, Carlin & Gazzard, who will continue on as a club supporter.

“It certainly gives the club much pleasure in welcoming on board Cap and Kerry as our major sponsor. This, of course, will see the 2024 Group 3 Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) – run on April 7 and 14 – carry Cadillac Racing naming rights.

“Also, the club thanks Carlin & Gazzard for its valued support over the past two years and is most appreciative that C&G will continue to be involved with the MGGRC.”

Cap Abbott’s involvement in greyhound racing goes back to 1968 and a dog called Grand Brigadier who he said had given him a good start in the game.

“Later, a handy distance dog called Kwik Boy came along and in 1974 a Melbourne Cup with the 26-month-old Kwik Metal,” he said.

Between 1980 and 1998 the Victorian-based Abbott worked as a panel beater and dairy farmer before relocating to Edenhope in 2004. He’s been a Tara Raceway regular ever since.

He rates his best greyhound as White Arrow, the daughter of Tina’s Jo and Cape Arrow winning 25 races at Mount Gambier, Warrnambool, Angle Park, Horsham, Sandown Park and The Meadows.

In more recent times, Black Spring won the 2019 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year while two years later Another Pick also won the GOTY.

For Kerry Hawker, her involvement goes back to the 1980s out at Glenburnie where she worked as a steward alongside Michael Robinson – no longer an official but still a regular at Tara Raceway.

Interestingly, the pair renewed acquaintances in 2016 when racing a greyhound called Gentle Moment who had been trained for them by Dean Fennell.

Hawker moved to Edenhope four years ago and proceeded to set up Cadillac Racing with Abbott. These days she’s training 17 of her own greyhounds.

Cadillac Racing is now really starting to take shape.

“New kennels and yards, to cater for an ever-growing number of greyhounds, have been completed as have fenced galloping yards,” Abbott said.

“Also, we now have on the property a fully fenced greyhound education circuit (aka “bullring”) which we are finding to be invaluable when it comes to the education of young pups.

“Then, of course, there’s Kerry’s dog rug cupboard. There’s certainly no way any of our dogs will ever go cold!”

Cadillac Racing wrapped up a pretty good year at Tara Raceway last Sunday after Mister Cadillac and Gladki were successful in their respective races – the Gambier Vets Grade 5 final (400 m) and the Progreyhoundtips.com Stake (400 m).

Chasing five consecutive wins, Mister Cadillac, a son of the UK-bred Magical Bale out of Koa Lass, settled in third spot from box eight and took a rails run off the back before going on for a 1¼ length win over Aston Piston in 23.14 seconds.

And judging by Gladki’s performance, the son of Fernando Bale x Go Lassie Go appears to have recovered from a recent operation following his all the way win over the Hawker-trained Kerry’s Cadillac in a personal best time of 23.07 seconds.

Collectively, Cadillac Racing ended the year with 133 winners – Abbott 77 and Hawker 56.

Cadillac Racing’s year also included the Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year with Nero Valentino and the Leading Dam with Pamela Rocks – the daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass producing 42 winners at Tara Raceway Thursday and Sunday meetings.

By Fernando Bale out of Sweet Barbados, Nero Valentino – who turned five on Christmas Day – was purchased by Hawker in June 2022 for $2000. During 2023 he registered seven wins, 21 seconds and nine thirds for a total of 75 points – 13 clear of Redshift Uniform.

The Mount Gambier GOTY is scored only on Category 2 (Sunday) meetings. Points are allocated on a 3, 2, 1 basis for 305 metre and 400 metre events and 4, 2, 1 for races over 512 metres, 600 metres and 732 metres.