Caption: Bill Elson with outstanding brood bitch Regal Silver.

By Mike Hill

“IT’S like winning the lottery,” said Bill and Cindy Elson, almost in unison, back in early 2015.

They were talking to Chase about their outstanding broodbitch Regal Silver while walking around their 40-acre greyhound training and breeding complex at Churchable.

At the time Regal Silver, or Silvie as she was known to the Elsons, was fast becoming one of the star broodbitches in Queensland thanks to the deeds of her first two litters by Premier Fantasy and Magic Sprite.

“They have virtually paid for half this property,” a doting Cyndie said at the time. “We bought it for the dogs, now they have paid it off.”

The litters put the Elson name proudly up in bright lights at Brisbane’s Albion Park during 2015 with Bill winning the trainers premiership for the first time and Cyndie the leading owner.

They were titles the couple would dominate for the next decade.

So it was with great sadness that news came last month of Bill’s passing,

He was 77 and had spent the past few years battling dementia, with Cydnie and family members taking over the training duties.

In a tribute to Bill and his skills as a master trainer, Chase repeats the Trainer’s Column published back in July 2016:

TRAINER Bill Elson could be called the quiet achiever of Queensland greyhound racing.

Based at Churchable, west of Brisbane, Elson has been in the game for more than 40 years.

But it is only in the past few years that he has been pushed into the spotlight on a regular basis – thanks to the offspring of the wonderful broodbitch Regal Silver.

Elson and his wife Cyndie, owner of the couple’s amazing team – have become a formidable combination in south-east Queensland, particularly at Albion Park.

At the beginning of May, the Elsons and members of their kennel were leading in four of the five categories in the Brisbane Club’s annual awards.

Elson said he hadn’t changed his training methods much over the years, but agreed that his recent success had come on the back of some outstanding litters.

The wins have come thick and fast for the Elsons ever since the first Regal Silver litter hit the tracks back in mid-2013.

“Before that people would congratulate me when I got a winner. Now they question me if I don’t get a winner,” Elson said.

Elson gives his thoughts of the way he prepares his greyhounds for racing.

1: How did you get involved in greyhound racing?

A: I went to the old Capalaba track with a couple of mates to back a dog they had and got hooked straight away and have been in the game off and on for 45 years since then.

2: Who has been the greatest influence on you as a trainer?

A: An old mate whom has long gone by the name of Charlie Dicker and another by the name of Lionel Gill. They sought me and me them.

3: At what age do you start preparing a pup for its first race?

A: At 14 months old I begin working with them.

4: How long does it take to prepare a pup for its first race?

A: Three months after they have been broken in.

5: What makes a good pup?

A: A good brood bitch and make sure its reared properly.

6: Do you do anything special when preparing a runner for its first start?

A: No.

7: Do you have a set routine for all your greyhounds or do you vary training for individual runners?

A: It depends on the dog.

8: Do you have any unique or unusual methods you would like to share in regard to training?

A: No.

9: Do you swim your dogs as part of your training regime?

A: No.

10: What’s your training routine for dogs between races?

A: Nothing except their normal routine.

11: How frequently do you like to race your dogs?

A: Once a week for the 520m dogs and twice a week for the 395m runners.

12: Do you do all muscle work on your dogs?

A: Yes.

13: Do you treat all injuries to your dogs yourself?

A: Yes.

14: Which is the best greyhound you have trained?

A: Who do you think, Cyndie’s Magic. (Cyndie’s Magic – from the outstanding Magic Sprite-Regal Silver mating – has amassed more than $204,000 in prizemoney with 24 wins and 31 minor placings from 77 career starts.)

15: What does the industry need most going forward?

A: A one-turn track.

16: What is the best advice you could give someone just starting out as a trainer?

A: Put the best into your dogs from day one and always be consistent.

PAWNOTE: Regal Silver whelped 43 pups from six litters; 42 raced and all except one broke their maiden. In all they collectively won 567 races with prizemoney totalling $1,969,745. Cyndie’s Magic topped the list with $425,074 from 45 wins and 67 placings from 152 starts.