Saturday, June 2, 2018

Barry Shepheard, Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club secretary/treasurer for the past 10 years, is to take on a full-time role at Tara Raceway as from next week.

First taking over in an administrative capacity in the mid-2000s at a time when the club was in dire financial straits and in danger of closing, he later oversaw a remarkable turnaround which today sees more than 75 TAB meetings run each year at a venue that has since undergone significant improvements.

Glencoe-based Shepheard, who will now be known as the club manager, has also joined the Greyhound Racing SA stewards’ panel and as from Thursday will be officiating at Tara Raceway race meetings.

Besides his administrative duties, he’s also been a greyhound trainer for 19 years, although his new role will require him to relinquish his trainer’s licence.

“I’ve certainly enjoyed training over the years,” he said. “But I believe it’s now time to move on and I’m certainly looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.

“Basically, 80 per cent of my time will be spent as club manager and the rest as a steward on race days,” he said.

Shepheard’s last day as a trainer was at Tara Raceway on Friday and he went desperately close to going out on a winning note after Trademark Jet failed by a half head to grab Joshy Wink Wink in the Trackside Meats Mixed Stake (600 metres).

He rated two of his better greyhounds as Rellim Lilli and more recently Galactic Viper.

Besides carrying out his duties for the MGGRC, Shepheard has also served on the GRSA Grading Review Panel, the GRSA Directors’ Selection Panel and has been a Combined Member Clubs representative.

---