By Alex Nolan
Trainer David Plummer tends to focus on the positives in life and for good reason.
Just days after the referee raised his arm in victory after a five-year bout against cancer, Bundaberg’s leading conditioner was among a large contingent of trainers who trialled dogs on the Rum City’s freshly renovated racing surface on Monday.
Plummer could have been forgiven for having a whinge about the fact he has battled early mornings, late nights and long trips down the Bruce Highway to Brisbane to keep his dogs racing since July last year.
But, his view on the situation is quite the opposite.
Now, like many of his training counterparts in that part of the world, the Hervey Bay trainer is looking forward to utilising the new facilities when racing resumes on Monday, February 20.
“I’ve been happy going to Brisbane,” Plummer told Racing Queensland, estimating he may have contested races there “two or three times” in as many years prior to Bundaberg going off-line.
“It was a big adjustment for the dogs but it was also an adjustment for me.
"I was leaving at 8am and if I trialled, I would get home at 1:30am the next morning.
“Even if I didn’t trial, I’d still get home around midnight.
“But, it was a great experience and I honestly recommend everybody that can, should go to race in Brisbane. The club and the kennel staff were so professional.
“The support from Racing Queensland was helpful because of the travel subsidy.
“But, like most people, we can’t wait for the 20th to be back racing again.”
The $1.4 million project included the removal of the turf surface, a full renovation of the track levels and cambers, the laying of new turf and the installation of a new judges’ and broadcast tower.
Plummer was leading the Bundaberg Trainers’ Premiership on 450 points and boasted 34 wins at a strike-rate of 35% at the track before racing ceased in the middle of 2022.
He sent six dogs around at the trials on Monday and said it was great to see so many familiar faces at the new-look facility.
Another trial session will be held on Monday, February 13, with racing to resume seven days later.
Plummer was in awe of the works that had been completed.
“There’s a new rail, lure, track, fencing and catching pen, it looks like a completely new place. It’s so professional and looks like we belong in the system,” he said.
“Even though we’d made the transition to TAB racing it looked like a country track but not any more.
“It was a little soft near the rail but that’s to be expected when you have a camber as moisture will run towards the rail. But I think it might be totally different again next week and by race week it will be excellent and ready to go.”
While the track and facilities may look different, Plummer said the camaraderie was much the same.
“Living at Hervey Bay I don’t see many of the people outside of racing so it was great to catch up,” he said.
“That’s the great thing about racing, you swap stories and talk about your dogs.
“At Bundaberg, everyone congregates together at the track. If you turned up as a spectator, there would be 100 or more people in the same undercover area. A lot of punters turn up each week and some of them were there yesterday to take a look, they’re just keen to get back into it again.”
A year ago on Tuesday, Plummer was recovering from surgery to remove his prostate, having already battled bladder cancer for four years prior.
But, last Friday, the trainer was given a clean bill of health from his surgeon.
“It has been 12 months today since my surgery,” Plummer said.
“I had some complications afterwards that I shouldn’t have had at my age, but I’m back and enjoying life.
“My daughter came home the other day and I was chatting to her about it. Sometimes you forget half the things you go through, it’s just part of life.
“The mind blanks out the bad and focuses on the good.”
Plummer prepared 16 winners at Albion Park while Bundaberg was off-line, with Durham and Little Ripper scoring multiple wins during the stint.
Both greyhounds are expected to contest heats of the Bundaberg Cup Wildcard, which kicks off on March 6 and offers direct entry into the $75,000-to-the-winner Bundaberg Cup later that month.
Durham provided Plummer with his last winner at Bundaberg when she scored on the final day of racing before the closure.
“That was over 460 metres but she ran her best time that day,” Plummer said.
“It took her a long time to get used to Brisbane, she didn’t like the sand.
“She is one who’ll be happy to get back on the grass.”