NGA Greyhound Review 2016

T 2015 GAPY South Carolina and adoption the remarkable
R WINNERS Georgia are home to the success story it is,” said
A ANNOUNCED two greyhound adoption Guccione. “The AGC
C organizations that have is honored and proud
TK been named winners to recognize them for
A of the 2015 Greyhound their extraordinary
L Adoption Program of contributions to the
K the Year Award. The adoption movement.”
groups are Greyhound
A brief Crossroads of Greenwood, Greyhound Crossroads
look at SC, and Second has been placing retired
recent Chance Greyhounds of racers for approximately
develop- Douglasville, GA. The 15 years. Although its
ments award is presented each primary service area is
in racing. year by the American North and South Carolina
Greyhound Council and Georgia, Greyhound
(AGC). Crossroads has been
known to facilitate
AGC Communications adoptions as far away as
Coordinator Gary Alaska. The group places
Guccione said the 150-200 greyhounds per
organizations are very year in adoptive homes.
different in their focus
but share a common Its trademark event is
commitment to going Beach Bound Hounds,
“above and beyond” to an annual gathering
ensure that every retired that draws over 500
greyhound finds a loving greyhounds and owners
permanent home. each year to beautiful
Myrtle Beach, SC. The
“Both of these program includes speakers
organizations exemplify and workshops, education
the total dedication that and training programs,
has made greyhound and “a whole lot of fun,”

Second Chance Greyhounds, one of two recipients of the American Greyhound
Council’s Greyhound Adoption Program of the Year, gathered at the Jenkins
Correction Center at Millen, Ga., where inmate volunteers have been trained to
work with retired greyhounds.

T they are needed because Patti Peterson said the commemorative plaques
R the dogs are always the program benefits prison for permanent display in
A priority.” residents as well as the their offices.
C dogs. ”The dogs learn the
TK Second Chance behaviors and skills they’ll In 2014, the GAPY
A Greyhounds operates a need in their new homes, Award program was
L unique program in which and the inmates learn modified to recognize
K retired greyhounds are patience and responsibility. outstanding adoption
fostered and trained They also experience the organizations instead of
according to Greyhound by prison inmates for unconditional love that deserving individuals.
Crossroads Director Kim ten weeks before being comes with the human- The award began as an
Owens. placed in their permanent animal bond, something initiative of the American
homes. The program was many of the prisoners have Greyhound Track
Nominators for developed in partnership never experienced,” she Operators Association
Greyhound Crossroads with Jenkins Correctional said. Peterson also noted (AGTOA) in 2007, and
paid special tribute to the Center at Millen, GA. A that working with the dogs became an AGC program
organization’s “amazing dozen inmate volunteers reduces inmate boredom in 2010.
network of volunteers, were trained as trainers, and tension, which
who step up whenever and they work with 12-15 makes for a safer prison 2015 All-America team
dogs at a time. Second environment for inmates Greyhound racing’s
Chance provides complete and staff.
support, including crates, leading active racer,
dog beds, toys, food, The two groups will Husker Magic, the sport’s
training treats, veterinary receive donations of undisputed queen from
care and transportation. $1,000 each for their Derby Lane, has been
programs, as well as named Captain of the
Second Chance Chair 2015 All-America team,
the American Greyhound
Greyhound Crossroads, with its primary service area in North and South Carolina and Track Operators
Georgia, received one of two AGC Greyhound Adoption Program of the Year Awards. Association (AGTOA)
Volunteers in the organization--which includes its core group and some area families announced today.
from Augusta, Ga.,-- gathered at Augusta in February for this photo. (Compliments of
This is the 53rd annual
Patrick Biestman of Acuity Photography) All-America team, dating
back to 1963. The program
annually pays tribute to
the top eight greyhounds
nationally, as deemed
by the member tracks of
AGTOA.

Others named to the
latest team are: Flying
Fired Up (Southland),
Need My Moneynow
(Gulf Greyhound Park),
B’s Headliner (Naples
and Southland), Seldom
Told (Gulf), Boc’s
Hank Jr (Bluffs Run),
Highlyclassified (Derby
Lane) and Storm Control
(Palm Beach).

Tagged for the All-
America Second Team are:
O Ya Gunsmoke (Orange

18

Park), Red Utopian Queen Stake in 2015, en team (joining Husker Derby Lane in 2015. He won
(Flagler and Naples), AMF route to being named co- Magic), Headliner finished the track’s $75,000 Holiday
Sleekstrangr (Wheeling), track champ with 22 wins the year by running second Distance Challenge, finished
AMF Spamwich at the W. Memphis oval. in the Naples Floridian second in the Derby Lane
(Wheeling), Chasmo’s Fired Up, who also ran Sprint. Her sister, B’s Distance Classic and third
Dutch (Southland), Ted second in the Festival Male Graciebswift was a second- in the St. Pete Derby. His
Cruz (Wheeling), Boc’s Sprint Championship late team All-American in 2014. record was 18-16-12-9 in
Tony Romo (Bluffs Run) in the year, tallied a 22-12- 60 starts, and he posted the
and TMC’s Sweety Pie 6-7 record in 55 Southland Seldom Told (Trent track’s three fastest 3/8 times
(Orange Park). starts for the year. A March Lee-Need A Date), who during the year.
2013 product, Flying Fired was a Second-Team All-
Husker Magic Up is the youngest member American in 2014, is a Storm Control
(Rhythmless-Casino Zada), of the 2015 squad. half-brother to fellow (Lonesome Cry-Racy
who also was named to the All-America Need My Reward), owned by
2014 All-America team Need My Moneynow Moneynow, and is also Steve Schlachter, was
(the only repeater on this (No More Loving-Need A owned and raced by Sharon a multi-stake winner at
year’s squad), is the sport’s Date) was Gulf Greyhound Williams. He captured Palm Beach for B & B
leading active winner with Park’s track champion with the Gulf $4,000 King Racing—capturing the
95 career victories going a sparkling 39-6-4 record & Queen Stake, while $50,000 Palm Beach He’s
into 2016. She captured the in 49 starts. Owned and posting a 23-5-2 record My Man Classic and the
Daytona 550 BetAmerica raced by Sharon Williams, in 31 starts at Gulf. He $50,000 Art Rooney Sr.
National Championship he won the Gulf $10,000 set a new track record at St. Pat’s Invitational. He
early in 2015, following Diane Whiteley Sprint Gulf (later lowered by his also finished second in
up with a victory in the Memorial while sweeping half-brother), then tied the Daytona 550 National
Derby Lane $64,000 Sprint all rounds, and set a track his brother’s track record Championship.
Classic. Owned by Imark record at the Texas track. later in the year. He has
Kennels and racing for With win streaks of 8, 9 since joined Need My The aforementioned
the Abernathy Kennel, the and 14 straight during the Moneynow at Orange Park. eight will be honored with
“Blonde Bombshell” won year, he finished third in the All-America plaques at
the Derby Lane Spring North American win race. Boc’s Hank Jr (Kiowa the Greyhound Hall Of
Meet track title with 23 Need My Moneynow has Mon Manny-Boc’s Fame awards ceremony on
wins in 32 starts, as well as moved her act to Orange Miss Rodeo), owned by Thursday night, Apr. 28,
the North American win Park, and captured the Brad Boeckenstedt and during the NGA Spring
title with 41 wins in 57 Daytona 550 in January. Mickey L. Hasty, won Meet in Abilene, Ks.
starts. She was a finalist in the year’s biggest purse
the Derby Lane Fall Sprint, B’s Headliner (BD’s in the $500,000 Iowa- AA 2nd Team
and chalked up win streaks Grayson-Odd Cherie) took Bred Classic at Bluffs Orange Park track
of 11-straight and 8-straight home both the $30,000 Run. Racing for the champ O Ya Gunsmoke
in 2015. She continues to Sprint Stake and the Boeckenstedt Kennel, (Kiowa Sweet Trey-O Ya
race at Derby Lane, and $60,000 Derby for the he was Bluffs track win Queenie) led the Second
finished a game second in Everett Kennel at Naples champ with 27 victories in Team All-Americans.
her defense of the title at while winning 14 times 46 starts. He also finished He charted a 34-13-7-9
the Daytona 550 in January. in 25 outings at the South third in the Bluffs Run record at the track, while
Next goal: breaking into Florida track. Owned by Secretary’s Choice race and finishing second in the
the 100-career win circle. Vince Berland and Tim was a finalist in the Bluffs Jacksonville Sprint Classic
Ertl, Headliner went on Run Open. Hank Jr was and the Holiday Stake. He
Flying Fired Up to Southland where she named co-captain of the All also was a finalist in the
(Rhythmless-Flying charted a 5-8-9-3 record Bluffs Run Team for 2015. Orange Park Derby and
Ablaze), owned by Vince in 36 starts and finished bestbet Derby.
Berland racing for the second in the Razorback Highlyclassified (Kiowa Red Utopian (KC And
Lester Raines Kennel, Classic. The oldest of the Mon Manny-Cantrell), All-Sweetest Revenge),
captured the Southland All-Americans (whelped owned by the Jacobs Racing owned by Ann Occhino
$50,000 Sprint Derby and February 2012), and only Kennel and racing for the and raced by Oxbow
the Southland King & the second female on the John Farmer Kennel, was Kennel, was Flagler track
the top 3/8 greyhound at

19

champ with 11 wins in Boc’s Tony Romo on the same team was Hall gaming is a bad deal for
19 starts and also tied for (Flying Penske-Boc’s Slim Of Famer Miss Gorgeous, racing.” –Bood-Horse
Naples track win title (13 N Fit) is also owned by the whose first breeding to Magazine editorial, Feb.
wins in 24 starts at spring same Boeckenstedt-Hasty Friend Westy produced 20 issue.
meet). She finished second duo that owns Boc’s Hank 1976 All-Americans
in the Naples Sprint Stake Jr. He won the Bluffs Run Highway Robber and Miss Bills recently introduced
and had an 8-race win $60,000 Open and was a Friend. Later, when bred to in the Florida Senate and
streak, while posting a 34- finalist in the Secretary’s the same sire, she produced House of Representatives
9-4-3 record in 56 starts. Choice at Bluffs. He co- Rooster Cogburn, who not would, if passed, allow pari-
captained the All Bluffs only made the 1977 team, mutuel facilities to end live
AMF Sleekstrangr Run Team with a 21-7-10 but was later inducted into racing but maintain gaming
(Djays Octane-Super C record in 50 starts at Bluffs. the Hall Of Fame. operations.
Alexis), owned and raced
by Thomas A Ferris, TMC’s Sweety Pie Daytona’s Dream Finish While many greyhound
was Wheeling track win (Kiowa Sweet Trey-TMC’s The promoters of tracks in Florida support
champ with a 26-9-0-2 Romance) captured the those measures, horsemen
record in 39 starts. He ran Orange Park $50,000 this year’s edition of the have re-stated their
second in the Wheeling Derby for the second year Daytona 550 National adamant opposition.
Sweetheart’s Stake, broke in a row. Owned by Rhonda Championship couldn’t
the track record and racked McDonald and raced by the possibly have been any In particular, the United
up a 10-race win streak at CB Kennel, Sweety Pie had happier with the final Florida Horsemen, which
Wheeling in 2015. a 15-6-5 mark in 45 Orange result of the stake in late was formed last year
Park outings. January. Neither could specifically to oppose
AMF Spamwich the American Greyhound any effort to remove
(Kiowa WW Brother- Need To Date Track Operators live-racing mandates in
AMF Push), also owned One of the breeding Association. legislation, have reiterated
by Ferris, took home the ironies of the 2015 that position. As reported
Wheeling $25,000 George All-America team (see That’s because the top in Blood-Horse, on Feb.
Kellas Memorial while above) is that the nation’s three finishers in the 2015 5, the group said there
sweeping all elimination top-ranked producing AGTOA All-America is “confusion” over
rounds. She had a 13-1-3- female last year, Sharon voting wound up as the total decoupling, partial
7 record in 32 Wheeling Williams’ Need To Date, trifecta in the Daytona decoupling or decoupling
starts for the year. became only the second stake. for only dog racing.
female in the 53-year Therefore, it re-emphasized
Chasmo’s Dutch (Djays history of the All-America The order of finish its “total opposition to any
Octane-Chasmo’s Layla) team to produce two in the Daytona event, and all decoupling.”
finished the year strong All-Americans with two which was organized by
at Southland, winning different sires. United Greyhound Racing In other words, Florida
the Festival Male Sprint Need A Date’s pair of (UGR): winner was Need horsemen are concerned
Championship. He had a All-Americans were Need My Moneynow (third in that if the decoupling camel
20-7-5 record in 44 starts My Moneynow (sired by the All-America voting), gets its head under the tent,
at Southland, while posting No More Loving) and runnerup was defending it’s one big step closer to
2015’s fastest time at the Seldom Told (sired by Trent champ Husker Magic jeopardizing all types of live
track. Lee). The only female to (captain of the All-America racing in the state. “Such
accomplish that feat was team) and third was Flying a precedent,” said Blood-
Ted Cruz (My Rooster- Dutch Koerner’s Dutch Fired Up (second in the Horse in the Feb. 20 issue,
Soft Trent), owned by Debit, who produced 1985 All-America voting). “is likely to haunt racing in
Kevin Dalton and raced All-Americans Dutch the not-so-distant future.”
by Clear The Way Kennel, Bahama (by Hairless Joe) Now, that’s running true
won two distance stakes at and Dutch Delusion (by to form. The United Florida
Wheeling—the $25,000 And Then Some). Horsemen members are
John Dallas Memorial and The only other female Horses and decoupling the Florida Horsemen’s
the $10,000 Mountaineer to produce two littermates “Make no mistake Benevolent and Protective
Marathon. He had a 13-8- Association, Florida
4-3 record in 39 Wheeling about it—the movement Quarter Horse Racing
starts. to decouple pari-mutuel Association, Florida
licenses from electronic Quarter Horse Breeders’

and Owners’Association, greyhound racing Winter in Kansas
Florida Standardbred was being threatened
Breeders’ and Owners’ legislatively this winter. Bentley Strickland, 7-year-old daughter of Mike and
Association, National A bill to ban greyhound Natalie Strickland, of Abilene, is shown playing with
Horsemen’s Benevolent racing was introduced a litter of pups on the family greyhound farm. The
and Protective Association, in the Arizona Senate in November 2015 pups are by Kiowa Mon Manny-Lily
American Quarter Horse February. Mobilization Rose, owned by Mick D’Arcy and Lisa Wheeler.
Association, United States to fight the bill was
Trotting Association, well under way when bare, the tribe says, will to non-racing states is
Florida Thoroughbred it was announced that they decide what will be more critical than ever….
Breeders’ and Owners’ the bill (SB1397) would done with the property. Costs associated with
Association, and Ocala not be heard by the accomplishing this present
Breeders’ Sales Co. Arizona Water & Energy Adopt-a-Greyhound a real challenge. National
Committee, to which it Month Adopt-a-Greyhound
WV rally had been assigned. Month is the perfect time to
Racing interests, both Legislation targeting welcome an ex-athlete into
greyhound and horse, Multnomah live greyhound racing in your dog-loving family.”
staged a rally on Mar. 1 at Maybe it’s a good several states this winter
the West Virginia Capitol in thing that the historic underscores the need for The Greyhound
Charleston to combat bills Multnomah Greyhound vigilance in the on-going Project works to
that call for the decoupling Park, which closed its effort to place retired support more than 300
of live racing from gaming. live racing program to racers into loving homes. greyhound adoption
A Senate and House Portland, Or., area fans As legislative sessions groups nationwide. The
joint bill to defund and forever in 2004, is being wind down, it’s appropriate charity also publishes
decouple greyhound demolished this year. that April continues to be Celebrating Greyhounds,
racing at Wheeling Island As it stands, the once- recognized as National an award-winning
and Mardi Gras (Tri-State) beautiful facility is today Adopt-a-Greyhound quarterly magazine written
was being heard as this a mess, thanks to not only Month. for greyhound adopters,
issue headed to press. 12 years of dormancy and owners and supporters.
Members of the West decay, but also because the The Greyhound Project
Virginia Kennel Owners previous operators (who continues to spread the T
Association headed up the were horsetrack folks) message of greyhound R
greyhound racing effort allegedly trashed the place adoption awareness to A
at the rally. They also before leaving. It’s past ensure that 100 percent of C
participated in an anti- time to put the once-palatial eligible retirees find caring TK
decoupling conference and place out of its misery. homes. A
demonstration at Wheeling Those who recall MGP’s L
Island on Feb. 28, and glory days can then perhaps “Greyhounds make K
have been working hard to fondly remember the way it great pets, companions
try and stop the dangerous was, rather than the eyesore and are gentle 40-mile-
legislation. that it has become. per-hour couch potatoes,”
More recent As reported in the said past president of
developments on November/December issue, The Greyhound Project,
decoupling bills in both the track was purchased Michael McCann. “The
West Virginia and Florida by the Grand Ronde Tribe need to move these dogs
can be followed on racing in Oregon. It was then
websites and e-mail blasts. rumored that the tribe may
be planning on creating a
Arizona bill casino on the site. The tribe
Florida and West is still not saying what their
Virginia weren’t the plans are for the property.
only states where live Only when the ground is