Today we are celebrating the final of Reg Crawford 3rd/4th grade. Reg has been a stalwart of Queensland greyhound racing for over 24 years. He is a former secretary manager of Capalaba and the Committee have named this race in his honour to thank Reg for his contribution to our Club and this industry.
Reg was born in a little place called Taroom, which is located about 300 kilometres west of Maryborough. He spent some years growing up in Maryborough when his parents were licenses at the White Lion Hotel and Federal Hotels. After finishing school Reg joined the National Bank and spent the early part of his working life in what we would term as the bush. Reg recalled some of the places he worked in included Bundaberg, Cracow, Ravenshoe Rockhampton and Innisfail. It was in Innisfail that Reg was to meet and marry his wife Mary.
Following a stint in Rockhampton Reg was transferred to Kingsford in Sydney where he set up a new branch of the National Bank and was manager there for approximately 5 years. Eventually, Reg left the National Bank and returned to Queensland where he and Mary took over the Wynnum North Newsagency in approximately 1978. Little did they know how that was to change their lives.
It was whilst in the newsagency that they got to know a customer by the name of Ian Smith. Ian and his mother where involved in greyhounds and would tip to Reg and Mary. Their interest in greyhounds increased after a few $20 wagers returned some handsome profits and eventually they purchased a greyhound by Milo's Charm that was trained for them by Doug Mann. Unfortunately, it was no good. Their interest remained and through a trainer called Diamond Louise who had a contact in Melbourne Reg and Mary continued to race greyhounds. Judd Baker was another of their trainers during this time.
Reg recalled that his launch into the training ranks occurred when their trainer retired and Reg and Mary ended up with about 6 greyhounds under the house at Wynnum North. Eventually, they sold the newsagents and moved business interests into a takeaway shop before Reg took up an offer of secretary manger at Capalaba in the early 80's. He followed previous secretary manger Ray Crawford who was no relation. Ray Crawford was secretary when the track was moved to its present location.
The Club at Capalaba was in debt at the time and Reg set about rectifying its financial position. Current Club Patron and Federal Member for Bowman Con Sciacca was one of the trustees during this time. The Club was turned around financially and some of the Committee members that Reg can remember were Molly Campbell, Darby Richards and Dave Palmer. At that time there were no offices at Capalaba just a shed and Reg said that break-ins were very common. In fact on one occasions there were a group of people sitting on the creek bank drinking stubbies and listening to the radio. You can imagine his shock when he recognised the radio as his own that had been recently stolen from the Club premises.
It was through their friendship with Gary Cottrill that Reg and Mary's life in greyhounds was to a turn for the best. Cotterrill had a bitch called Fearless Payout and Reg took her to be mated to the Bill Northfield sire Pretty Short. Apparently everyone who turned up to buy a pup wanted a black dog or bitch because that was the colour of Tangaloa. This left a brindle dog that nobody wanted and Reg and Mary purchased him for $250.
That dog raced as Pretty Fearless and not only changed Reg and Mary's lives forever but also became a major force in greyhound racing in this country. He was to hold the record as the highest stakes winner in Australian greyhound racing at that time when he recorded a prize money tally of $103,000. Reg believes his most memorable win was the Coca Cola Cup at the Gabba in November of 1986. Perhaps this was because Pretty Fearless in winning had paid off the mortgage.
He later went to Western Australia and beat the best dogs racing at the time. When retired Pretty Fearless stood at stud and his influence can be seen in today's bloodlines. Another of Reg's good dogs was a daughter of Pretty Fearless, Fearless Midge she won plenty of races and has the distinction of winning the first staying race ever ran at Albion Park. In later years Reg was to get another good dog in the form of Nujooloo a grandson of Pretty Fearless. He won plenty of races and was almost unbeatable at Albion Park where he won over all distances.
Pretty Fearless helped establish Reg and Mary in racing folklore. At the peak of their involvement as trainers Reg and Mary were located at Burnside Road from 1982 to 1995 in the heart of greyhound country. During that time they had 14 dogs in work and over 80 pups and broodbitches on the property. Reg is ever quick to give Mary a lot of the credit for their success. During this time Reg had a lot of handy dogs with most carrying the Fearless name.
In recent years Reg and Mary have scaled down after moving to Nujooloo Road. In June last year Reg had a serious accident that left him in intensive care for nearly 2 months and in hospital for 4 to 5 months. For a time it was touch and go as to whether Reg would fully recover but he has come along in leaps and bounds lately and no longer needs to continue occupational therapy.
The interest in greyhound racing still remains and Reg has 3 dogs at home. Nujooloo, who has served approximately 30 bitches since he retired, Waltzing Time and a pup by Fortified Speed that Reg thinks, may be all right. Reg and Mary's daughter Susanne never really showed the same interest in greyhounds as her parents. Grandson Christopher is showing some interest especially in the racing aspect but is not too keen on the early mornings.
It is good to see Reg back at the track and enjoying greyhound racing again.
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