It was in April 2019 that the Australian greyhound industry lost a true icon with the passing of Denise Fysh after succumbing to cancer.
Her passion and selfless devotion to the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club and to her home state Tasmania had a profound influence that will benefit generations to come.
In 2019 the inaugural Denise Fysh Award was won by Jade McKenzie (WA). Winners since have been Frank and Tracey Hurst (NSW), Ron Hawkswell (Vic.), Stevie White (NSW) and Amanda Grice (Tas.).
And with the Nationals being conducted for the first time in 16 years in SA last weekend, at the Gala Awards Night conducted last Friday night at the Pullman Adelaide it was Kevin “KD” Douglas of Mount Gambier who received the Denise Fysh Award.
Douglas, renowned for his charity work in the South East, is also one of the mainstays behind the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Tara Tipsters “Chasing for Charity” concept which supports local charities.
“By and large the Tara Tipsters is made up of regular participants making a small contribution and being involved in a tipping competition at the twice-weekly Tara Raceway meetings that benefits a local charity,” Douglas said.
“Then, every couple of months or so, representatives from the charity of choice are invited out to the track for a Sunday race meeting and receive a donation from the Tara Tipsters following the running of a designated race.
“The Tara Tipsters concept has a great social justice attitude and looks to support outside interests. Sometimes small things make a difference and we like to help people in need.”
And gratefully accepted by the Tara Tipsters was a donation of $500 from Greyhound Racing SA.
As things turned out, it was a top weekend for the reticent award winner after the David Peckham trained Bourne Model, who is part-owned by Douglas, won the Cadillac Racing Winter Classic (512 metres) at Tara Raceway on Sunday afternoon.
It was certainly a big weekend for SA greyhound racing. After the presentations on Friday night attention turned to Murray Bridge and Angle Park on Saturday for the National Championships.
Saturday morning saw the running of the $28,000 to the winner National Straight Track Championship (350 m) at Murray Bridge.
This comprised representatives from the four states conducting straight track racing – Capalaba (Qld.), Richmond (NSW), Healesville (Vic.) and Murray Bridge (SA). And it was the Victorian representative Mile A Minute who was successful.
At Angle Park on Saturday night, the $85,000 to the winner National Sprint Championship (530 m) and the $85,000 to the winner National Distance Championship (730 m) were won by Miss Envy (WA) and Raider’s Guide (Tas.).
Flying the flag for the locals at Angle Park on Saturday night was the Bartholomew family of Worrolong who had Just Alfie and Yoda Lady engaged.
Both are trained by Lauren Harris of Finniss – Just Alfie, a son of Hooked On Scotch and Miss Bellawood and purchased as a pup, scoring a big win over 730 metres.
And the Bartholomew bred and owned Yoda Lady, a daughter of Blazin Wildfire and 2019 Mount Gambier Cup winner Galactic Athena, brought up her 11th win when successful over 530 metres.