Hobart Greyhound Racing Club Kennel Supervisor Don Bomford has devoted most of his life to racing having spent over 60 years involved in the industry.
This Thursday, Don celebrates a significant milestone turning 90 on a day which naturally had to coincide with the Hobart greyhound meeting where race three is named in his honour.
“I’ve been lucky with my health and have enjoyed being involved with greyhounds,” Don said.
Born at New Norfolk, Don grew up in the Derwent Valley at Hayes. A keen sportsman, a young Don was a more than useful footballer, later playing six years with Kingston and making Vice-Captain.
Don’s first association with his beloved greyhounds came through his neighbour at Hayes, Keith Fenton, who at the time raced a prolific winner Always Good, who famously won the 1943 Distance Championship of Tasmania over 670 yards at the T.C.A. beating Red Avis.
Don Bomford and Bob Moore with 1965 Hobart Thousand winner Ispwich Low.
Both Don and his father Bill would make the trip with Fenton when racing Always Good to the then Saturday afternoon meetings at the T.C.A. back in the mid-40’s.
It was while working at Silk and Textiles in Derwent Park that Don would soon gain further involvement with greyhound racing on a permanent basis. His workmate, George Startup, was a long time “Red Coat” on race nights at the T.C.A, a role later terminated when rules changed in 1975.
The role of being a Red Coat was to handle a greyhound in each race from the kennels, to boxing, to catching and then returning the greyhound to the trainer. Clubs at that time paid for 10 handlers, immaculately attired and required for the runners to be paraded pre-race in front of the public.
Don started out as an emergency handler. He would receive instructions from trainers and prided himself on treating every trainer and greyhound with the same attention, regardless of ability or attitude.
He certainly remembers the odd tip, some more generous than others when handling a winner.
Don holds a rather unique record of leading in six Hobart Thousand winners, the state’s only group one feature event of all racing codes. Namely Ophir Gold (1963), Sandy Stone (1964), Ipswich Low (1966), Sue Narilla (1968), Plunder Road (1970) and Jamin John (1974).
Don recalls leading the great Benjamin John when he broke the track record in his 1969 Hobart Thousand heat win. The legendry son of Take A Bow and Rebel Wayne went onto annex the classic beating champion rival Zoom Top by three lengths in what was a great race.
“Benjamin John was a great dog; he could weave his way through fields and had that great ability which made him a champion.
“Zoom Top was another brilliant greyhound that I was privileged to handle when they came across for the Hobart Thousand, those were great times,” Don recalled.
With the demise of the Red Coats, Don soon progressed to Parade Leader at the T.C.A, when Jack Backhouse was the Kennel Supervisor. He held other roles including Assistant Starter, eventually becoming the Official Starter on race nights, a role that Don held until the mid 80’s.
The presentation to 1974 Hobart Thousand winner Jamin John.
Don would become Kennel Supervisor and continues to be in the role to this very day, seeing the move of greyhound racing from the T.C.A. to the Hobart Showgrounds in 1981.
Don married Shirley Allikas in March 1959, and they had one son Rodney who also works in the kennels on race nights. Being a grandfather to Matthew and Olivia, Don loves to spoil them as much as possible.
After 50 wonderful years together Don sadly lost Shirley in 2009.
Don Bomford is a unique person in the great sport of greyhound racing. He has been a continuous servant of the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club in so many roles. His diligence and honest work ethic is unparalleled. His generosity and humility endear him to all that know him.
His friends in racing could nearly be bracketed as everyone, but to single out a few, Aileen Ivory, Pearl Griggs, Noel Butters, Graeme Moate, Margaret Crosswell, Peter Wright, Gavin Whitney and Margaret Rossendell are at the top of the list.
“I’ve had a lot of great memories from racing,” Don declared.
“The one thing I miss is the atmosphere and the crowds that made racing so exciting. Race nights at the T.C.A. were unforgettable and sadly those days are far gone now.
“I still enjoy working on race nights though and have made quite a few friends over the years.
“Greyhound racing has been great to me.”
Tasmanian greyhound racing is incredibly grateful for the contribution that Don has made, and we all wish him the very best for his big milestone!