Caption: Gus Gus will be one of Eric and Wil Honeyman’s last greyhounds bringing the curtain down on a wonderful life with the sport. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)

(Chase Newspaper September 2023 edition)

Each month Chase puts the spotlight on a person and/or their ‘best friend’ – a story that gives an insight into the true heart of greyhound racing. It showcases all that is good in this sport and is a monthly tribute to much-loved greyhound identity Daryl ‘Albert’ Gleeson.

By DAVID BRASCH

ERIC Honeyman has promised his wife Wil the two dogs they have in their racing kennel at the moment will be their last.

But Gus Gus and his litter brother Walsh (Thirty Talks-This Time Reba) will turn five early in November and don’t look like coming to the end of their race careers.

In fact, Gus Gus was a recent Albion Park 395m winner in Masters Grade, and Walsh recently won two in a row there.

But Eric and Wil are the first to admit this is the final thrown of the dice for each of them in greyhound racing.

Eric will turn 92 in February and Wil is 84.

They have been part and parcel of greyhound racing in south-east Queensland for decades.

The Honeymans bought Gus Gus and Walsh from breeder Stella Marschke when they were pups.

“We chose them because they were the smallest in the litter as puppies, but they have grown into giants,” said Wil.

Gus Gus races at 36.3kg and Walsh at 34.8kg.

The Honeymans have a long history in greyhound racing which stems back to running coursing dogs when they lived in California.

“The two dogs are named after great friends of Eric’s from those California days,” said Wil.

“Gus Gus is named after Augustine Chrofe and Walsh after Skip Walsh.

“Both men have died, but their widows Carolyn and Barbara watch every single race the two dogs have via the internet.”

Wil says the longevity of the litter brothers could be put down to a time during their race careers when Eric needed a four-month hospital stint.

“Everything went wrong with Eric,” said his wife.

“He had a blockage in the bowel, then when he came out, he slipped over and broke a hip.

“Then the doctors found a spot on his lung. He’s had a tough time.

“I wasn’t going to work on the dogs while Eric was in hospital, so they did nothing until we were ready for them again.

“It worked out so well because the good break did them the world of good. They really improved.

“And prolonged their racing careers.”

Niow their race day exploits are limited.

“We have to rely on our good friend Steve Fredricks coming over to pick us all up, take us to Albion Park, handle the dogs for us, and then bring us home again,” said Wil.

The Honeymans arrived in Australia in the 1980s.

They got involved in coursing in South Australia and won the 1981 Waterloo Cup there with Cyclone Suzuki.

They have not been without a dog since.

While most of the littermates to Gus Gus and Walsh retired back in 2021, Eric and Wil’s pair are still going strong as evidenced by their recent Albion Park wins.

It is a tribute to a couple of grand Queenslanders who live for greyhound racing.