Heartfelt edition of Winged Runner trophy set for 2024

By Jordan Gerrans

The 2024 edition of the Winged Runner trophy will be run with a heavy heart following the passing of champion Queensland dog man John Reimer.

Reimer prepared the top bitch throughout her Group 1-winning career.

The Queensland Greyhound Hall of Famer passed away this week after a long battle with illness.

He was 88 years of age.

The time-honoured Winged Runner trophy Final will be held on Thursday evening at Albion Park.

The race is a 520 metre bitches-only event.

Winged Runner was crowned the Queensland Greyhound of the Year in 2000 after winning the Group 1 Nutrience Cup (now known as the Gold Bullion), the Queensland Futurity as well as finishing third in the Topgun.

The career of top bitch Winged Runner is poignant this week following Reimer’s death and the annual running of the race named in her honour.

But, Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club vice-chairman Bob Lambert says the champion dog man always had a top dog in his kennel across his decades in the industry.

A truck driver before beginning to train on a full-time basis, Reimer also enjoyed great success with fellow Hall of Famer Miss Perlita who raced through the 1970s and 80s, among others. 

“He was there on opening night in 1972 – and got a winner – and he got a winner on the last night of the Gabba as well as on the first night at Albion Park,” Lambert said of Reimer.

“He was the leading trainer for a number of years, winning the trainers premiership.

“He was a professional trainer for a long time and he was one of the first people to do so. He had a lot of success and good dogs over the years.

“He won a few Greyhounds of the Year prizes and was always very competitive.”

Reimer’s legacy in the sport is living on through his grandson John Hutchinson who was born into greyhound racing and is currently preparing a kennel of dogs.

“John is continuing that for the family,” Lambert said.

Hutchison trains out of Lawnton and has a team of greyhounds to race at Albion Park on Sunday of this week.

“It’s great to keep the family’s association with the industry going, we’ve been involved in some way or another since the 1960’s, it’s all I’ve known growing up and I’m glad to carry the torch,” Hutchison said in 2020.

“I’ve learnt everything I know off my granddad, my dad Bill (Hutchinson) and even the care my mum has shown for the animals over the years, I’ve taken a little piece from everyone and tried to put my own stamp on the way I train as well.”

Hutchison has had a strong start to the year with his kennel, preparing 11 winners from his last 50 starters.

Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club Chairman Les Bein echoed Lambert’s remarks.

“John was very, very well-known and successful and off course I admired the man,” Bein said.

“He was a great trainer and was well-liked within the industry.”

Bein recalls the mother of his great champion Bogie Leigh - a Queensland and Australian Hall of Fame member - racing against Winged Runner in her prime.

“Hypo Havoc - Bogie Leigh’s mother - and Winged Runner used to have great tussles,” Bein said.

“They were unbelievable battles.

"At one stage Winged Runner held the record for the most wins at Albion Park with 32 and still holds the record for most wins by a female."

Like Reimer, Lambert was there on the opening night of Gabba racing and has been embedded into the game ever since.

He has held roles such as owner, breeder, steward, club administrator as well as being on the committee and interacted with the late Reimer on a number of levels and always found him to be a positive influence on the industry.

“John was a good guy and when I was a steward, my dealings with him were always quite good,” Lambert said.

“He was a good bloke to get on with and always did the right thing. He was respected in the game and was a great trainer.”

Trainer Fred Swain and Black Magic Rose claimed the prestigious Winged Runner trophy Final last year. 

The 2024 Winged Runner trophy will be contested for $24,000 on Thursday evening and is always supported by the Reimer and Hutchinson families.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Reimer family.