Go Bears battles father time and talent at Albion Park

By Pat McLeod

Ron Ulrick acknowledges that he and his ‘best ever’ dog, Go Bears, are slowly losing the race against time.

“Unfortunately for both of us, our best days are behind us,” the 77-year-old says with a wry chuckle.

“Go Bears has lost a lot in recent times. Between when he was three to three and a half, that was when he was at his prime. He’s lost some speed, but what he hasn’t lost is the fact that he still is an honest, tough dog who will chase all day.

“And, he’s still a dream to train. The best dog that I have ever had. He is still racing because that is what he loves to do. He wants to race more than anything. Eventually we will have to call ‘time’, but he will tell me. I’ll leave that up to him.”

On Thursday night Go Bears will ‘jump’ for the 94^th time at Albion Park.

Just to show this old dog can learn new tricks, he will tackle the 600 metre journey for just the fourth time.

“I wondered recently if he could handle the 600 metres (after just one previous start over that distance back in October, 2023 at The Gardens) and decided there was only one way to find out,” Ulrick explains.

The result was a win and then a third, all at Albion Park.

“Thursday night is a tough ask for him because of his age and the quality of dogs he will be up against," Ulrick said. 

“That is another great aspect of this dog’s career, he never dodged anyone. He took on the best and proved what an exceptional dog he is.

“I would love to have a kennel full of dogs like him. He has never had a major injury, but when I first took him on to train him, his then-owner said he had a bit of a wrist issue and ‘probably wouldn’t last long’ as a race dog.”

His stats tell a different story – 93 starts for 24 wins and 29 placings for $182,875 in prizemoney.

Go Bears has proven his worth at top level, placing third in the Group 1 National Derby to Victa Damian and winning the Group 2 Richmond Derby.

Early in Go Bear’s career, Ulrick’s daughter Karen bought the dog for $20,000, resulting in a very handy return and also the continued training association with her father.

Around 14 months ago the father and daughter moved to a 50 acre property at Shannon Brook, near Casino, in Northern NSW.

Ulrick said that property was ‘getting close’ to what they want as a greyhound facility.

They have just the three dogs in work at the moment, but a wave of young talent coming through.

Ulrick will be at Albion Park on Thursday night with his youngest granddaughter Holly Taylor assisting him with race duties.

“All I want is for him (Go Bears) to go around safely,” Ulrick said.

“I do know that he will give his best. He always does. He is never out of the race. I remember him winning the (2022) Coonamble Cup (over 405 metres). Going through the bull pen the first time he was turned sideways.

“He dropped back, but kept chasing. He refused to throw in the towel and got up and won. He had no right to do that, but he did.”