Taylor taking advantage of the perfect apprenticeship

By Isaac Murphy

Barry Taylor has always been enamoured with the racing industry.

It is the thrill of the contest has been something that’s captured his imagination from a young age and it’s no surprise decades later he’s found his calling as a greyhound trainer where he’s found help from some of the biggest names in the sport.

“My family don’t come from a racing background at all but growing up I always loved the horses and wanted to be a jockey before I realised that wasn’t going to happen by about ten,” Taylor laughed.

“I was still mad keen about racing and used to get the easter eggs out and do little race calls like a young John Brasch.

“Where I was from in rural New South Wales there were no dogs it was all about horses, so I got involved in ownership, which was great, but little did I know it was all about to change when I moved to Queensland.”

It was a chance encounter with Hall of Fame trainer Tony Zammit that kicked of Taylor’s greyhound journey.

Taylor is forever thankful for the man who showed him the ropes.

“I was at a neighbour’s barbeque and got to talking about dogs, someone mentioned I should get in touch with Tony Zammit about buying a dog and a few days later I got a knock at the door from Tony himself,” Taylor said.

“Tony started picking me up and we’d go watch his dogs’ race, I got my handlers license shortly after and was able to catch plenty of winners for him, it all happened pretty fast.

“I didn’t quite know the hierarchy at that stage, Keith Sternberg came to me one day after I caught for Tony and said you cost me three winners today, so I’ve always deferred to him ever since.”

Taylor’s been a jack of all trades over the years but had never experienced an environment like he greyhound fraternity.

“The industry’s like no other, it’s almost an extended family, if you ask a question someone is always there to help you out,” he said.

“Nothing was ever secretive or off limits and after a while I found myself with a wealth of knowledge from Tony and Corey (Mutton) and a host of other trainers, I thought I better do something with it.

“I went and got my license and started as a hobby trainer with a few giveaways, I wasn’t making living out of it, but the thrill of race day had me hooked.”

Taylor has come on in leaps and bounds after starting with just a couple of dogs and credits Claude (Dacey) and wife Norma for his exponential growth in the las six months.

“Since I started training Claude Dacey has been my main mentor, he’s taught me how to do things the right way and that’s saved me years no having to figure it out on my own,” Taylor said.

“Claude (Dacey) has seen it all over his career and is always telling me the mistakes he’s made, so I can avoid them.

“The dogs Claude and Norma (Dacey) have had over the years have been brilliant, for me I’ve always tried to follow those methods, I’ve got a few kennels up at their place which the dogs just love.

Taylor currently works as a starter and kennel attendant at Albion Park and something that helps him to sharpen his training and find suitable races.

“I’m still in the infancy of my training career and don’t have the class of dogs other trainers have, but it’s made me do my research and be really deliberate in placing them where I think they can win,” he said.

“Before I nominate, I go back through the previous few weeks and see which dogs are racing well where and try to work out the next target.

“When I was working at Albion Park, Ipswich and Capalaba it was really beneficial because I’d see the competition in trials, get the inside word on where dogs were headed.”

Taylor might not be breaking any records at his stage but with every winner he prepares the sense of accomplishment and his own confidence grows stronger.

“My dogs might not be world beaters, but it’s all about advancing my skill set and reputation as a trainer, if people see you winning with giveaways like a Saint’s Gold who was sacked up in Townsville, you’re more likely to get noticed in the long run,” he said.

“I’ve got to the point where I’ve been able to purchase a few, Under Shot Mail and Aston Ajax both have plenty of potential and Chad’s Boy named after my son has plenty of upside too.

“Chad (Taylor) just loves the dogs as well, he’s the one doing all the research on where we should be racing now, it’s pretty cool going from being the one asking questions to seeing your own son taking after you.”

Taylor’s ambitious approach has served him well thus far and he’s got some key targets to tick off in 2021.

“I’ve found setting yourself goals really useful, at the start of last year I only had a few dogs and said I’d love to have six winners on the year, we knocked off that target and said ok let’s get six more,” he said.

“With a few more dogs in the kennel this year I’ve set my target at twenty-four for the year, I got off to a great start with four in January and am still on track at this stage.

“If I can hit those goals it gives me opportunities financially to buy a couple more dogs, I’d love to get one of two who could get the five hundred metres, that’s the next stage.”

Building a training career from the ground up is no-where near easy, but for Taylor the hard work’s worth it for the thrill of the chase.

“As rewarding as the journey’s been so far there’s plenty of tough work, I had Torayden in at Lismore last night where he ran second, it’s a big sacrifice making the drive for one runner,” he said.

“I drove back up late last night was up early from trials at Albion Park this morning, am working the Wednesday afternoon meet and have to pick up a couple of dogs from Claude’s (Dacey) and head back home, it can get pretty taxing.

“It’s like anything though if you’re passionate enough about something you push yourself to do more and I genuinely love what I’m doing.”