Diane’s not-so-secret thoughts on coursing
By Peter Quilty
Victoria’s 2020 coursing season opened with a full card of 12 events at Lang Lang on Sunday, and among the coursing faithful delighted to see the return of the code was Diane Ireland.
Based in Knowsley (around 30km out of Bendigo), Ireland has been a passionate coursing participant since the 1970s, and she had a successful outing.
Her greyhound Secret Thoughts won Event 3 (Kingston Trophies Maiden – Mixed) with a ‘walkover’, while another of her competitors, Stareena finished runner-up to Secret Bliss in Event 4 (LLCC Maiden -Mixed).
It was the first crack at coursing for both greyhounds, and Stareena is a younger half-sister of staying star Blazing Cartier, who last week contested the G1 Sandown Cup final (715m).
“Wherever there’s a coursing meeting, I do my utmost to be there,” Diane said. “It’s been the ‘staple’ of greyhound racing for many years – and it does the greyhounds the world of good!”
Diane added that coursing “definitely sharpens them up physically – and mentally – for the track. It puts their mind on the job and gives them extra fitness for the track… And it’s such an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere.”
Harking back almost 50 years in coursing, Diane – who has competed in Waterloo Cup and Victorian Oaks/Derby meetings – vividly recalls champions such as Abrupt and Rambler, just to name a couple.
“When I was younger, I wanted to buy a harness racing horse… But I was advised it was an expensive hobby, so I opted for a greyhound. I really got into greyhound racing by default, but I’m so glad I did,” Diane said.
“I also trained racecaller Rob Testa’s first greyhounds… I’ll probably keep going in the sport until I drop.”
While preference was offered to maidens and puppies for Sunday’s meeting, with the season launching under new race-day protocols because of COVID-19.
Coursing now heads to Longwood on Queen’s Birthday weekend with Week 1 of the Victorian Derby and Victorian Oaks – along with the Bert Clark Memorial and Longwood Cup – on Sunday, June 14.
Incidentally, 2019 Victorian Coursing Greyhound of the Year, Barracuda Fozz, won Event 1 (LLCC All Aged – Mixed) at Lang Lang on Sunday.
