Why Racing?

I get lots of letters from people asking about dog racing and its relevance to dog shows. When our farm branched into racing, a lot of our friends asked, why? They couldn't see why we would "abandon" the show world for something they flat-out didn't understand or appreciate. Well, we didn't abandon anything. Like an increasing number of breeders entering the racing business, we just expanded our horizons. So, let's take a closer look at that question.

Dog shows, like most shows for purebred livestock, started out as a chance for breeders to compare their kennels and evaluate the progress of their breeding, nutritional and training programs. We still have that chance today. The shows have been elevated into glamorous events of national stature, such as the recent Westminster Kennel Club's dog show which is broadcast every year from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Anyone who has ever been to Crufts in England, the Salon du Cheval in Paris or the national Arabian horse show in Scottsdale can not walk away without being impressed by how far the world of purebred animals has come. So, how does that fit with racing, you ask?

A recent conversation with Greyhound breeder/trainer (and former Quarter Horse jockey) Kevin Gresham, from his farm in Kansas brought an answer to that and it goes something like this: "Years ago," he says, "Back when I was ridin', you'd have horses that did all kinds of crazy stuff. Some of them horses could really get to carryin' on and a guy could get hurt. Well, there was this one trainer who did a lot of winning. And I mean a lot. I always liked ridin' his horses 'cause they would just, you know, be real calm and keep their mind on business. Well, what this guy said was, the best racehorses are the ones who are trained the most."

Now, that's a very interesting statement and a rather broad one. But, Kevin has a broad base of experience. Besides having a few show dogs, he raises and trains some of the most expensive, successful Greyhounds in the sport. Kevin Gresham counts among his clients some of the most well known owners in the game and he knows what he's talking about.

Hearing that statement is one thing. But, understanding it and putting it into practice is a whole different matter. What it boils down to is this: the well trained dog with more experience is less likely to be surprised, distracted or worried about anything that happens. And that can be the difference that makes a champion.

Some of the most successful people in the sport of racing dogs or horses have come from the show world. What secrets do they know? To find that out, you'd have to ask the many Arabian horse trainers succeeding on the track. From there, you'd have to ask people like Neal and Ginny Ehrhart of Keystone Driving Force, who are among the top winners in Harness racing. After Neal and Ginny, you'd have to go on and ask people like Jack and Mary Butler, who were busy showing Siberian Huskies in New England about fifteen or so years ago. Or ask Jan Troxell who to this day still raises and shows German Shepherds from her Greyhound racing farm in Oklahoma. The list goes on. Maybe what these successful breeders and trainers discovered is that both disciplines-showing and racing-go hand in hand. Maybe they see the world of champions from a wider scope and in a brighter light than their competitors do. Maybe it gives them an advantage.

We believe in winners. Whether we are fans, owners or somewhere in between, all of us play a role in the making of champions and many racing athletes have crossed successfully from one arena to the other. Racehorses have proven themselves in dressage, driving, hunter/jumper classes, western pleasure and halter. Likewise, racing Greyhounds have gone on to win ribbons in the show ring as well. Rare, maybe, but real nonetheless.

Greyhound racing-from the planning of the litter to the sensation of being in the winner's circle-reinforces something in us that we can't get anywhere else. It's all about heart. It's about passion and desire. And it reminds us how powerful we, ourselves, can be.

At the racetrack, played out before our very eyes, we see a time-honored ritual that touches a chord in all of us. We see Greyhounds from across the country competing to prove which is strongest, which kennel the best, which trainer the wisest and which owner the most savvy.

In a society growing ever more soft, where schools and companies and towns seem to be falling into a political correctness that makes our lives more boring at every turn, we in racing have the "real" first turn to look forward to. Racing fans know the American Dream because we live it every day. Unfolding before us on the track, we see its promise played out with every race-the promise that if you look straight ahead and give your all, you will get from where you are right now to where you want to be. You will cross the finish line, fast or slow. Racing is about the individual, not about hiding behind a team that you're part of, but you, alone, against all odds. They don't teach you that kind of self-confidence in high school, but the sport of racing does. And if you take it to heart, you will always know-no matter how long you live or what you do-that you are truly the best. You've reached the winner's circle and the world knows it.

Ron Hevener
Author/Artist - (Horse Racing/Dog Racing/Dog Shows)