By JEMMA DALEY

IN the past few years, since becoming so involved in greyhound racing, I have always read with interest the Chase column about getting into this industry.

I have found the different advice fascinating, especially in regards to establishing a close relationship with those in the industry who are willing to help newcomers get started.

Each time I read the different views of those offering advice to newcomers, I realise my introduction to greyhound racing has been different to say the least.

I’m 33 and have a team of 22 greyhounds in training as well as pups being reared on our 40-acre property at Kurwongbah. The “Hara” dogs are my passion.

Greyhounds were part of my upbringing with my “Pa”, Brian Daley, rearing and training out at Bracken Ridge. Racing is in my blood.

But initially it was thoroughbreds. I moved to Toowoomba when I was 11 and at 14 was riding ponies, galloping down median strips, teaching myself to ride.

It was on one of those median strip “races” that a local Toowoomba trainer, Ian Livingstone, stopped and asked me if I wanted to ride trackwork. It led me to becoming a jockey, eventually riding for such trainers as Tony Gollan, John Hawkes and Pat Duff.

I rode about 30 winners, but weight and a disc problem eventually forced me to give up.

That’s when my “Pa” approached long-time mate Mike “Tricky” Stephenson to get me involved in greyhounds. It was fantastic because the dogs have been good to keep me from going back to riding.

All those other columnists who emphasised getting a “mentor” to point you in the right direction in greyhound racing must have meant “Tricky”.

From the first time I met him, we became the best of mates. But that was Tricky. I always called him ‘Rent-a-crowd’ because wherever he went, Tricky had people around him. He was that sort of person.

And he quickly became my biggest supporter. He was the guiding light for Tony Glover and his entry into breeding and owning greyhounds. And when Tricky died, Tony gave me the opportunity to take over the “Hara” team.

So, what have I learnt and what advice and knowledge can I pass on to anyone wanting to become part of greyhound racing?

My first advice is to always question yourself. If you think you are doing the job perfectly all the time, then you are on the way to failing. As we all know, we must never stop learning.

Next, embrace science and technology. Those things are changing all the time and anyone in this industry is mad if they do not want to keep up with the changes in science and technology.

Tricky taught me his methods, but would always ask “why are you doing all this” when I would introduce new methods.

Feeding and training are two of the most important aspects of preparing a greyhound to race. I cannot emphasise the need for consistency in both. It is a vital aspect I picked up from thoroughbred trainers. If you keep chopping and changing both of those aspects, then it will backfire.

Pat Duff was very insistent when he told me to keep everything consistent in training.

My training is a little different to many. I like to use a walking machine and trial my dogs, but I also have an emphasis on “fresh legs”. I would never use competition runs to train my dogs.

I have taken a lot of my methods from what I learned when riding thoroughbreds.

Tricky was a lot harder on his dogs in training, but I like to keep my dogs happy and so keen to get out and do things.

Feeding is roo and chicken meat and fat, a racing oil, multivitamin, magnesium. The kibble we use is A La Carte which we buy from Sydney distributors.

So, which way would I go in suggesting a newcomer get into this industry?

My first dog was a giveaway from Melbourne and while it didn’t win, it taught me feeding and routine.

My suggestion for newcomers would be to buy a puppy. My suggestion is to only buy out of good chasing families. This is where a mentor is needed to point you in the right direction.

Let’s be honest, a newcomer to the game is not going to get the very best out of their first dog. They are initially lured into the game for the enjoyment.

If that person heads out and buys a $10,000 pup, rears it up and never wins a race, is he/she likely to stay in greyhound racing?

Or, if they went out and bought a $2000 or $3000 pup and it wins, say, a 288m maiden at Ippy, then that person is hooked for life. My only advice on pup purchase is you cannot “cheap out” on rearing pups. It is everything and needs to be done right or not at all.

If you buy a pup, you will need plenty of patience before it gets to the races. This is the perfect time to get yourself involved with a trainer … a mentor.

Of course, there is not a right or wrong way to do many things in training.

But, once you have got yourself a few dogs, they start to win, then consistently do what got you and them to that stage.

From then on you will enjoy every single winner.