The legends behind the race –
Reg (Shorty) Ivory was a master trainer and breeder, amazing character and half of one of the most formidable teams Tasmanian greyhound racing has known, with his marvellous wife Aileen.
Reg and Aileen bred and raced a multitude of stars and few trainers have produced so many top dogs with Reg having the uncanny ability to keep his dogs at peak form way into their careers.
Some of his greatest track stars included:
Tugrah Beaver who is Tugrah Road’s most famous product.
By another star Ivory chaser in Sally’s Jim, “the Beaver” is one of only three Tasmanian chasers to win more than fifty races.
He won 52 of his 117 starts during 1978-1980.
An all tracks champ, he won 14 at the TCA, 24 at WhiteCity and 14 more at Devonport.
He won seven finals including an Easter Cup and ran second in the 1979 Launceston Cup.
His clashes with Viv Beresford’s Baron Band at WhiteCity were the stuff legends are made of.
He won sequences of three (three times), five, six, and seven in a row.
Sally’s Jim was probably Reg’s first absolute star.
The white and black son of Clean Laundry won 34 of his 69 starts and to this day remains one of the quickest beginners and dazzling early speed dogs seen here.
He won 8, 7, 5 and 4 in a row on all tracks and made many finals including the 1975 Thousand.
He won seven Invitations in a row at Devonport.
Scott James (43starts – 20 wins) gave the Ivory’s their greatest win when this son of another Ivory star King Ricky defeated True Vintage in the 1989 Hobart Thousand.
Two races prior his litter brother Hindu Flame (a Derby winner amongst his 38 wins) won the Consolation Final of the Thousand.
Unique Venture won 41 of his 84 starts in the seventies and only a broken leg prevented this champ from joining the 50 win club.
He did win the 1979 Devonport Cup and the 1978 Easter Cup.
Reg and Aileen Ivory will be forever fondly remembered and the “Ivory Classic” Trophy will continue to be most sought after by all in the greyhound industry.
By Greg Fahey and Peter Hayes.