Caption: Pam Cassidy with husband Doug (right) after Riddler Jake won the 2006 Tasmanian Gold Cup.
By Brennan Ryan
Greyhound racing has very much been a predominantly male-dominated sport since day one.
But women have shown just as much passion for the sport and played an integral part in making the Launceston Greyhound Racing Club the strong organisation it is to this day.
The first recorded race on a greyhound track in Tasmania on February 8, 1933 was staged up a 440-yard straight track at White City in Launceston, and the sport has been strong in this state ever since.
Pam Cassidy made a name for herself not just as a prominent owner and breeder but also as a respected and successful chairman of the Launceston club.
The Pam Cassidy Memorial, run in March over 600m, is a race honouring this great lady’s contribution to greyhound racing.
Alongside husband Doug and son John, Pam’s family have been loyal servants to the greyhounds for well over 40 years, preparing runners from their Notley Street establishment.
Rockland Rock was the first greyhound the Cassidy family prepared back in 1972.
The LGRC Ladies Committee was a famous group of hard-working women led by Pam that also included Nolene Garwood, Dot Chaplin, Mary Rosevears and Margaret Crosswell.
From fundraising to producing catering for major events, the Ladies Committee did it all.
Pam played an important role in the history of Launceston serving many volunteering roles from LGOTBA secretary, and chairman of both the LGRC and the Launceston Owners & Trainers.
In 2004 Pam played a huge role in the steering committee that helped the LGRC transition from White City to the Mowbray Racecourse in what was a new era for the sport.
When the National Championships came to Launceston in 2006, Pam was voted to the role of chairman of AGRA (now GCA) for a 12-month position which she held with great pride.
The greyhound industry lost Pam in 2020 after a lengthy battle with illness.
Pam’s husband of 55 years, Doug, is still a successful trainer whose best dog Riddler Jake (the 2006 Tasmanian Gold Cup winner) won 30 races and was also named Tasmanian Greyhound of the Year in 2006-07. His other good dogs, Paper Trail and Casso Mac George, both won 11 races.
Pam Cassidy loved all aspects of greyhound racing and would be very proud to see a staying race at her home track at the place she worked hard to make the strong club it is today.
