New Capalaba boss has plenty of confidence in club’s future

By Pat McLeod

Newly elected Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club Chairman George Clegg’s confidence around the club’s future doesn’t extend to his own dog’s chances this Sunday.

Clegg, a long-time thoroughbred and greyhound participant, took over the straight track’s top administrative role on Wednesday and will have runners in both the Capalaba Futurity and Derby heats on Sunday.

“I am hopeful, but doubtful,” Clegg said.

“But, you never know. If they get the gap at the right time, they do finish very strongly.”

Clegg has Honey Bar Cool coming out of box three in the second of two Futurity heats and Bar Cool Rocks exiting box two in the first of two Derby heats.

“These two are from the same litter and I have 10 in all. Only three in the litter haven't won their maiden and one of those is injured," Clegg said. 

“They are all basically good fifth grade dogs. They are slow maturers. Honey Bar Cool took six starts to win her maiden and then another 20 or so starts to win a novice. But, now she's going quite well. They are all getting better and better.

“They are all very strong dogs. Every one of them runs on. They are not brilliant early, but they all run on. Both of the dogs I have in on Sunday have won up the straight, but just break 20 seconds there.

“Their lack of speed at the start holds them back from being very good performers at Capalaba.”

Clegg, a recently retired medico, says he is very enthusiastic about his involvement with the club as Chairman.

“The Capalaba club is going absolute gang busters,” Clegg said.

“Erin Cameron, the club’s track manager and secretary, has done such a fabulous job. She has put together this team of staff that complement each other, do great work and everything just runs so smoothly.”

Clegg said the timing was right for him to become involved in the club’s administration.

“I have had a decades long association in thoroughbreds and greyhound racing,” Clegg said.

“I believe that at 74 my time as a trainer is limited.

“When this current litter is finished racing I would say that will be the end of me as a trainer. Erin suggested that I take on the Chairman’s role and having retired about a year ago I felt like it was something I would like to do.

“Up until now I didn't have the time to do it. I believe I can add something to the club. I have had a lot of experience from an owner and trainer point of view.”

Clegg said although straight track racing has always been an integral part of the greyhound industry, it was now blossoming.

The safety of straight track racing and the injection of extra prize money had brought tracks such as Capalaba firmly into focus.

This year the track celebrated their Cup being elevated to Group 2 status with $75,000 to the winner.

Clegg said the Capalaba club was overcoming infrastructure issues with work to start soon on a new flood-proof kennel block and also with critical work just completed on electricity supply.

He said with the support of Racing Queensland, the club was now looking at a very buoyant future.

“The track is in excellent condition thanks to the work of Trevor McSherry,” Clegg said.

“The club is certainly in the position to have two permanent race days each week.”