By Mike Hill
“WE’VE been very fortunate in the past 10 years,” said Frank Hurst, one of only a handful of greyhound trainers to have become an instant millionaire on the racetrack.
Hurst, who’s been in the sport most of his adult life, has trained a host of ‘good dogs’ over the years but says Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada ‘is the best of them’.
“He’s the fastest and best dog I’ve ever had,” said the Londonderry-based (western Sydney) conditioner, who we feature this month in The Trainer column.
“He was the standout … a true champion.
“Not only did he win a million-dollar race, he raced all over Australia (in Group finals) against the very best dogs.
“It’s hard to go past him.”
Good Odds Harada (Collision-Solar Pak) retired in late 2021 with a wonderful 36-24-11 record from 87 starts and prizemoney totalling $1,336,625.
The brindle sprinter contested eight Group finals, was successful in the G1 Dapto Megastar and the G3 Bob Payne Sprint, won the NSW State Sprint Final and the Maitland Future Stars Final, was runner-up in the G1 National Sprint Final (Perth), G1 Gold Bullion (Brisbane), G3 Christmas Gift and G3 The Collerson and third in the G3 Shootout and the G3 Goulburn Cup.
He was also a finalist in the G1 Topgun and the Listed Bathurst Gold Cup.
Good Odds Harada won the Million Dollar Chase in late 2019 in a sizzling 29.34s – the fastest seen at Wentworth Park in years.
Soon after the victory Tracey Hurst said: “People have to understand this is not a one-week thing. This has been 50 years of my husband’s life work. He deserves it; he really does.”
A painter by trade, Hurst and his wife moved to their property at Londonderry in the late 1980s and a few years later he quit painting to train greyhounds full-time.
Now in his 70s, Hurst first picked up the lead and collar in his teens when his family lived in the Sydney suburb of Granville, next door to a boarding house owned by legendary greyhound trainer Sep Gollan.
He started assisting Gollan, who had 1950s champion Keen Student and ’60s speedster Swanky Beau.
In an interview with Jeff Collerson a decade ago Hurst said: “He (Sep) was ahead of his time because in those days most trainers just walked their dogs, while Sep was free galloping his, something nearly everyone does now.
“Sep possessed a key to nearby Rosehill racecourse and would slip his greyhounds down the thoroughbreds’ home straight.
“It was a different era in those days.
“Greyhounds were kept in backyards in most suburbs and trainers just walked them around the streets (as training) and there wasn’t a lot racing in those days.”
But like everything else, the industry has progressed significantly since then, he said.
“Training methods have improved, tracks are better,” Hurst said.
And over the years he has seen some great dogs … none better than the mighty Zoom Top.
“She was a freak … she could win over 300 one day and 800 the next,” he said.
Hurst has also had his share of great dogs including his first big-race winner Rush Of Gold, who claimed the Dapto Oaks final among her 15 wins, before becoming the dam of Good Odds Judy, winner of the 2008 Lithgow Golden Muzzle.
She was also a finalist in the Dapto Maiden Classic and the Wentworth Park Ladies Bracelet, while another big success came in 2009 when Dancing Surf won the Group 1 Vic Peters Memorial Classic at Wentworth Park.
In more recent times he put the polish on speedster Zulu Zeus before his recent golden run with the likes of Good Odds Harada, Good Odds Cash (59: 28-10-6; $389,580) and Sound of Silence (79: 27-21-12; $226,751) to name a few.
But with success has come agony and worry for the trainer and his family.
Five months after his million-dollar success Hurst was struck down, literally, by a dog in a training mishap at the Richmond track.
He was knocked unconscious and suffered breaks to both arms (collarbone and elbow), but that was just the start of his concerns.
Scans taken at the time also picked up a tumour in his brain.
“I got my arms fixed and then, because of COVID, I had to wait a while to get the brain done,” he said.
“Eventually I had an eight-and-half-hour operation in Penrith Hospital to remove it (tumour). They sent it away and it was non-cancerous, thankfully.”
Hurst said he’s in good health now and has received good reports from his doctor since the operation, but admitted he was easing back on dog numbers.
“We’ve been cutting back and we only have a small team of dogs in work, although we have a litter going to the breakers this month,” he said.
“We have some nice brood bitches that we’ll breed from and we’ll be selling the pups from those litters at three months old.”
1: How and when did you get involved in greyhound racing?
A: Fifty years ago I bought my first dog for $80.
2: Who has been the greatest influence on you as a trainer?
A: Seppy Gollan (legendary Sydney trainer).
3: At what age do you start preparing a pup for racing?
A: I like to start as young as three months old … the more handling they get the easier it becomes.
4: How long does it take to prepare a pup for its first race?
A: I like to break them in at about 14 months … and it takes about three to four months after that.
5: What makes a good pup?
A: Temperament.
6: Do you do anything special when preparing a young dog for its maiden compared to a seasoned performer?
A: Not really, just a slow and steady prep.
7: Do you have a set routine for all your greyhounds or do you vary training for individual runners?
A: Set routine.
8: Do you have any unique or unusual methods you would like to share in regard to training?
A: No, just be kind.
9: Do you swim your dogs as part of your training regime?
A: No.
10: How frequently do you like to race your dogs?
A: Once a week.
11: What’s your training routine for dogs between races?
A: Just a slip between runs up our straight.
12: Do you do all muscle work on your dogs and treat all injuries?
A: All minor strains are treated by laser, while all major injuries are shown to the vet.
13: Do you do treat all injuries to your dogs yourself?
A: No.
14: Which is the best greyhound you have trained?
A: Good Odds Harada … a true champion.
15: What do you consider is the best greyhound track in Australia and why?
A: Bulli is always in top order.
16: What does the industry need most going forward?
A: Better programming of feature races; dogs can’t be in two places at once.
17: What is the best advice you could give someone just starting out as a trainer?
A: Get advice from top trainers and follow their lead. Purchase pups out of proven bitches by proven sires.
