Goodwin: Ipswich’s special ingredient helps lady trainers thrive

By Pat McLeod

Veteran trainer Marion Goodwin isn’t confident of winning Saturday night’s annual Ipswich feature the Lady Trainers Final, but the podium isn’t the reason she will be there.

Despite advancing years and an on-going cancer battle, her passion for greyhounds and the support of the Ipswich greyhound club is what she lives for.

“I have been involved in greyhound racing since I was 17,” she says. 

Goodwin is based at Loganlea, south of Brisbane. 

“Ron (Marion’s husband, who passed away last year) got me involved in greyhounds. He always wanted me to stay involved with greyhounds after he was gone," Goodwin said. 

“These days they are everything to me. I have a bit of cancer at the moment and so I have my chemotherapy, but being around my dogs, that is just what I love to do.

“Greyhound racing is everything to me. I have 10 of the best, beautiful babies (her race dogs). They are my whole life. If they stopped racing, I think I would stop as well.”

The other major draw card is the Ipswich club, who this Saturday night will host their annual ladies’ trainers race and also several races promoting awareness of breast cancer research.

For every greyhound that wins from the pink box, the club will donate $100 to cancer research.

There will also be representatives from the Breast Cancer Foundation at the meeting.

Goodwin believes promotions such as these are the reason there is such a strong contingent of female trainers regularly racing at Ipswich.

In fact three of the top five trainers on the current Ipswich premiership leader board are female – Pauline Byers (first), Kerry Hoggan (fourth) and Jedda Cutlack (fifth).

“There has always been a strong group of women trainers at Ipswich,” Goodwin said. 

“I certainly believe that some of the women are the best trainers there.

“Many probably don't get the recognition they deserve, but there are some really good female trainers at Ipswich.

“I also believe the Ipswich club is partly responsible for this because of the special welcoming atmosphere that exists at the club.

“It is such a wonderful community of people at Ipswich, from the kennel staff right through the whole organization. They really are wonderful people. Lovely people to deal with.”

On Saturday night Goodwin will have 93-race veteran Underwater in the Lady Trainers Final.

She rates her as ‘a good place chance’, but says the dog’s recent race outings at Ipswich have been marred by pad issues.

“I am not sure if she's good enough to win, but certainly a big chance of a place,” Goodwin said.

“She was a very good race dog when she was younger, but as she has grown older she has had trouble with her feet.

“The one positive about Saturday night is that she's boxed very well towards the inside (box three). She is a very good railer.

“I believe she can be quite competitive in this field as long as she keeps her head down and can get through the run without any trouble to her feet.”

Goodwin says she is able to stay involved in the industry she loves because of the help provided by her son Laurie and daughter Maria.

“They really are fantastic,” she says.

“I would not be able to keep doing this without them. I hope when I retire they decide to take up the training reins. It is such a great industry to be part of.”