Sometimes the sport of greyhound racing will rip your heart out. Tonight at Mandurah the members of the Corfield Tavern Syndicate went from euphoric highs to head bowing devastating lows in an instant. The syndicate has endured a ridiculous run of bad luck in their recent travels in the sport and after what happened tonight where their greyhound Falsario had the race shot to pieces before tearing a monkey muscle three strides from the finishing line, I’m starting to wonder if one of the members tripped over a black cat, fell onto a Chinaman who stumbled underneath a ladder before crashing through the window of a mirror shop creating a domino effect of smashing mirrors on Friday the 13^th.

 

After purchasing Falsario on the back of some fine Cannington form, the syndicate looked set for eighteen months of fun with the handy sprinter. However, as has been the case recently their luck turned against them and Falsario flattened out. Like many a greyhound she required a change of surrounds to recapture that spark so as part of a kennel switch she and the Dockerland Racing syndicate’s Purple Shiraz changed camps. Falsario went to Christine “Diamond” Bennett and Purple Shiraz went to Pete “Leo” Sayer.

 

Falsario, or Gypsy as she is known around the kennel and by her owners, was spelled for a month and given time to refresh and get over any possible niggly little injury.

 

The Diamond Bennett team consisting of head trainer, President and CEO of Diamond Enterprises Christine Bennett herself, strategic analyst and project director Christine’s son Christopher “The Director” Bennett and the head of operations and manager of import and exports, Christine’s Dad known as Mr. “Top Dog” Bennett all played their part in getting the well bred speedster back on track.

 

Falsario had ticked all the boxes on her way back to the track and was nominated for a race which was her run earlier tonight. The syndicate members congregated at their favourite watering hole, The Corfield Tavern and positioned themselves in front of the TV.

 

A decent betting plunge was being attempted and when the lids opened the roar of the crowded Tavern was like the first Tuesday in November at Flemington. The tenacious little Gypsy had to call on all her reserves and fight her way vigorously along the rails before she was able to surge to the front.

 

The Corfield Tavern began to shake as the roof was lifted from its fixtures. The mighty little Falsario hit the front and then put a space on her opponents. The race was as good as over and just when the celebratory corks were about to be popped, the fat lady choked and her silence was deafening!

 

“Sing fat lady, bloody well start singing” was the cry!

 

Tragedy struck in the last twenty metres of the race when poor Falsario, giving her all, blew out a monkey muscle and, as race caller Ryan Levitzke said, she limped to the line into second after getting nabbed on the post.

 

Sure it was just a grade five provincial race but knowing what the Corfield Tavern Syndicate have been through recently it was one of the worst sinking feelings I have experienced in a long time with greyhound racing. The members have stuck it out and remained incredibly loyal and just when they were about to be rewarded they had a much deserved victory cruelly snatched away.

 

The good news or silver lining if you like, is that the tear in the muscle is definitely repairable. Thankfully it wasn’t a bone or ligament injury so the Diamond Bennett Team are already putting the plan in place for Falsario’s recovery.

 

“It was just heartbreaking” said Christine Bennett. “She has done everything right and had the race won. You just have to feel for greyhound and the owners in a situation like that. The positive is its not career threatening serious so we’ll give her the right treatment, get her back to 100% and try again. We’ll get her back on track for the Corfield Tavern guys.”