Bob Lambert on hand for every step of the Brisbane greyhound journey

By Jordan Gerrans

Lure driver and race caller.

When Bob Lambert looks back on his half a century of involvement with greyhound racing in Brisbane, there is not many roles he has not filled over the journey.

Only two stand out in his mind that he has not completed, driving the lure around the track as well as being the voice of the race itself. 

The respected Lambert can recall the massive crowds on the opening night of dog racing at the Gabba all those decades ago.

And, he will be on hand on Thursday evening as the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club celebrates their 50^th anniversary with a gala night at Albion Park.

Over the five decades of the club, Lambert thinks he has held almost every job within the industry – owner, breeder, steward, club administrator as well as being on the committee.

“I have been here ever since it started,” Lambert says with a smile.

“The only jobs I have not done is lure driver and race caller (laughs).

“I have done almost everything else.

“There are some wonderful people in the industry. I’ve been involved for 50 years myself and most of the friends I have were made through greyhound racing.”

Lambert was first introduced to the sport in the late 1960s when a neighbour of his purchased a greyhound and he quickly obtained a catchers licence so he could help out.

In his 70’s these days, the valued industry participant eventually worked his way up to being a steward, then race manager at the club before semi-retiring from full-time work, which opened up the opportunity to join the board.

He remains today as the vice-chairman of the flourishing club.

It has been a significant year for Lambert and his family after he inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2021 TAB Queensland Greyhound of the Year awards earlier this year.

Thursday evening’s long-awaited event will celebrate the legacy of greyhound racing in Queensland, which commenced at The Gabba Greyhound Racing Club in 1972 to 1993, and the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club from 1993 to present.

For Lambert, he has been there every step of the journey.

When an occasion like a 50^th anniversary celebration for a storied club like this rolls around, it is an opportunity to reflect and look back on how far the code has come.

There will not be many that can boast being at the first night of racing at the Gabba as well as being at the track again this Thursday night, but Lambert is hopeful of seeing a few familiar faces from the old days.

“There will be a few people around – like me – that were at the Gabba on the opening night, it was a massive night,” he said.

“We had trials here a week before and there was 6000-8000 people here for that, watching trials go around.

“It was just massive, we had 40 odd book makers on the first night, it was just unreal.”

After wearing countless hats within the industry over the decades, Lambert is a perfect person to evaluate just where the sport is placed in the middle of 2022.

He dug through the history books a little while ago and when he read the prize money on offer in the first year at the Gabba, he quickly realised just how far the code has come across the 50 years.

“I looked back at the first year’s annual general report a few years ago and for the first full year we raced, we paid out $200,000 or so in prize money,” he said.

“That was very little as now days, we are doing that in one race.

“We have had days where we have paid $1 million out in prize money – it has come a long way.

“They used to race for $200-300 in the early days, now it is over $5,000 to the winner on a Thursday night, it has come along in leaps and bounds.

“We are paying out $20 million a year, which is just astronomical compared to where we once were.”

Current Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse says Lambert has been crucial to the sport’s fortunes in South East Queensland.

“Bob’s contribution over the years cannot be understated,” Gatehouse said.

“It was deserved recognition when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Plenty has changed since the opening night at the Gabba, before the club moved to Albion Park, and one of the key improvements – according to Lambert – is the welfare of the greyhound.

“From a safety point of view, that is very important, some dogs just did not handle the Gabba and there was some injuries,” Lambert said.

“Albion Park is a lot safer and every time a new track is built around Australia, it is safer again, with all the technology and science they have got now.

“From the dogs point of view, it is a lot safer, which is important for the entire industry.

“We have great schemes around vets helping to get dogs back to the track when they have had an injury, which is a positive thing.”

As is the case at events like this, Lambert believes there will be lots of reminiscing on Thursday night. 

“There will be a few old timers there and tales told on the big night, there was a few more rogues around in those days that we do not do have any more,” he said with a laugh.

Event Information:

Event Date: 2 June 2022

Event Time: 5:00pm – 10:00pm

General Admission: Free

Feature Race Event: $50,000 BGRC 50th Anniversary Trophy.