Local trainer Helen Ayre had one last laugh for the year with a win to her Seldom Giggles. 

Giggles was all business in claiming the $480 prize money over 421 metres in race eight. 

“Out of the last six starts she’s had three wins and three seconds so I’m very happy – the dog’s performing very well,” Ayre said. 

Ayre’s other entrants Should We Know and Frecha Nero also ran 421 metres in race six, with the latter placing second and the former an FTF. Nero had to be carried off the track after picking up an injury. 

Moree’s only other training family had a less successful day, with Maralyn Moore’s Space Ship Two (from box five) and Butcher’s Pup last to cross the line in races four and 10, respectively. Mulwee Bliss, race seven, and Cheeky Charley, race eight, both finished fifth.

Committee member Brian Steel said the meet capped off a positive year for the Moree Greyhound Racing Club as it bounces back from a suspension by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), lifted in July 2013.  

“This year has been a success, financially and field-wise,” he said. “The auditors report looks good and we’re abiding all the rules set by Sydney.”

Steel said the money allocated by GRNSW, difficulty in securing sponsorship and restrictions on the number of annual races combined to make balancing the club’s ledger a tricky business.

“Sponsors look at the fact that we’re racing for money and say ‘support yourself mate’. But we’ve got to cover prize money, administration, rents, vets, you can’t race without a licensed man on track… and rent’s still got to be paid 52 weeks a year even if you only race 16.”

He said the club had scraped by on the support of loyal punters from around the local area. 

“We don’t have many trainers in Moree but we do have a lot of fellas who come in from anywhere and everywhere,” he said. “Coonabarabran, Coonamble, a lot of boys come out of Wee Waa, there’s a fellow who comes in every meet from Bellata, there’s strong support from Bingara.

“Whenever you have a working bee those blokes are there. They mix well together, have a few drinks, have a few bets. You’ve got an old bloke that comes in from a village called Gwabegar – he probably trains more dogs than there are people out there!”