FORMER star Tasmanian greyhound Damek died in the arms of his part owner-breeder June Phillips last week as a result of a snake bite.
It was a tragic end for a greyhound that still had so much to offer at stud.
Damek was a champion sprinter that took all before him in his home state,
The son of Big Daddy Cool-World’s Finest (x World Title) started 61 times for 45 wins and six minor placings for over $100,000 in stakes before being retired through injury.
The dog spent much of his time in Tasmania in the care of Invermay trainer Eileen Thomas who regarded him as the best she had trained.
The dog also was prepared for much of his career by his other part owner-breeder Peter Phillips.
Damek strung together some impressive runs of consecutive wins during his racing career, winning at his first 14 starts and had another run of nine straight wins and one spell of seven in a row.
He raced interstate without great success owing to him being a poor traveler.
“It was terrible to lose him this way (snake bite). He died in my arms and it was so sad,” Mrs. Phillips said.
Her husband Peter Phillips was at the Devonport meeting when the dog passed away and after celebrating the win of Faolan he returned home to the news of Damek’s passing.
“Pete was devastated and took the dog’s loss hard,” she said.
“We treat our dogs like members of the family but Damek was extra special and it was like losing a child,” she said.
Damek’s legacy will live on in two litters that are on the ground and Mrs. Phillips said they have three of Damek’s straws but they will be preserved for use on their own brood bitches.
However, Damek’s well-performed brother Decembrist remains popular at stud.
Tasmanian greyhound historian Greg Fahey regards Damek as one of the best of all time in Tasmania.
“Damek was clearly one of the best sprinters ever to grace Tasmanian tracks,” Fahey said.
“His record of 45 wins from 61 starts speaks for itself but his record in feature races also is outstanding.”
Damek won heats and finals in some of the best races in Tasmania including the Illingworth Classic, St Leger, Gold Cup and he won his heat and State final of the 2011 National Sprint Championship but he was denied his chance to show off his talent in the National final in Queensland through injury.
“Damek broke the Hobart and Launceston track record twice and in Launceston it was in the space of a week,” Fahey said.
“He clocked 29.45 over 515 metres one Monday night and 29.40 a week later,” he said.
Given Damek’s performances on the track he could soon become a member of the elite group that reside in Tasmania’s Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame.