Barry Taylor reaching new goals in greyhound industry

By Jordan Gerrans

Up-and-coming greyhound trainer Barry Taylor is a man who likes to set himself goals.

Mentored by experienced trainer Tony Zammit as well as Claude and Norma Dacey within the greyhound industry, Taylor has only been training for a couple of years and has gradually lifted the numbers within his kennel and then the increased winners have followed.

At the start of 2021, he was keen to reach the milestone of 24 winners and in late September of the year, Taylor only has four more to go to reach the goal.

Looking forward, the Taylor kennel want to now increase their presence on Thursday evenings as metropolitan racing heads to Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.

Dogs Church Mouse and Aston Ajax give the kennel two runners this Thursday with the emerging trainer optimistic he might just be able to land his first ever winner on the bigger stage of Queensland greyhound racing.

“I am happy with how I have been going,” Taylor said.

“Last year I set the goal at six wins with two dogs in work back then but I got a couple more dogs later in the year, which after hitting six I put the goal up to 12 and I managed to get that last year.

“This year, I set it at 24, I wanted to improve and go a little bit better on the year before. 

“I am really happy with how the year has gone, there has been a fair bit of travel that has gone into it all.”

The Taylor kennel is a busy one, racing dogs at Capalaba and Albion Park on Wednesday of this week, back to headquarters on Thursday night before a trip out to Ipswich on Friday – which all comes after starting Aston Ajax at Bundaberg on Monday.

Travel is no issue for Taylor, who is usually based near Coffs Harbour at Bellingen, but has remained in the Sunshine State to race his dogs with all the concerns around border closures.

He has been known to drive as far south as Taree to races his dogs when it is permitted, as well as heading up to Rockhampton in Central Queensland in recent weeks with racing in NSW a difficult proposition.

There are plenty of early mornings and late nights coming back from the races but Taylor would not have it any other way.

“I have to try and place them where they have a chance,” Taylor said.

“Everyone always stirs me and says, 'have dog, will travel'."

He is also heavily involved with the Dacey kennel, helping prepare their greyhounds as well as travelling their dogs around the state to race.

Taylor refers to the veteran Daceys, Claude and Norma, as like family, people who have guided him as a trainer as well as always offering advice.

As well as training, Taylor works part-time at Albion Park on the track as a starter, kennel attendant or helping out on the gate.

Of his chances on Thursday night, Church Mouse shapes as Taylor’s best hope, previously winning on a Thursday night at Albion Park with her previous trainer Kerry Hoggan.

Taylor acquired Church Mouse from a Barcia Bale and Shanae's Magic litter for Masters races with an eye to breeding down the line after she ran a slick time of 22.5 seconds over the 395-metre trip at Albion Park earlier in her career.

After finishing second at Ipswich last start, Church Mouse is expected to appreciate the step up in trip this week and be aided by the inside draw.

Taylor said he would be disappointed if Church Mouse and Aston Ajax both did not run in the top four on Thursday night.

“It is going to be exciting to have a couple of runners on a Thursday night, hopefully they go well,” Taylor said.

“I have not had many Thursday night runners before now, a couple more suitable dogs in the kennel would be nice.

“That will be my next step next year, to attract a couple of decent 500-metre dogs, competitive over that distance.”