Daniel Miles and Harkle Road racing for the late Beryl Miles

By Pat McLeod

If youngster Harkle Road salutes at Townsville on Friday, owner and trainer Daniel Miles knows his beloved ‘Nanna’, Beryl Miles, will have supplied some divine intervention.

“Yes, I am sure that will be the case,” Daniel predicted of Beryl’s involvement in his sole inclusion in Friday’s 12-race program.

“One of the most important pieces of advice Nanna gave to me about greyhound racing was to have patience and I certainly will need it with this one.

“I bought her (Harkle Road) for a reasonable amount and let’s just say I am still waiting for her ability to come to fruition.”

However, if it does happen in race four on Friday, an event over 380 metres, then thoughts within the close-knit Townsville greyhound community will immediately turn to Beryl.

The North Queensland greyhound racing stalwart passed away on Melbourne Cup day this week just a month short of her 94^th birthday.

“In some ways it was fitting she passed away on the day she did,” Beryl’s grandson Daniel said. 

“Up until recent months she still loved having a look at the race fields. Her passion all her life was greyhound racing.”

In fact, Daniel is a fourth-generation greyhound trainer.

“I think it (greyhound racing) all started with Nanna’s father, Charlie Nash, way back before World War II,” Daniel explains.

“From what I have been told he used to walk his dogs the nine kilometres from his place at Aitkenvale to the-then straight track in Townsville.

“Those were the days when the greyhounds would chase the lure pulled by a rider on horseback. The dogs would race twice and then be walked back home.

“One of Nanna’s jobs as a youngster back then was to fan the dogs with palm fronds between races.”

Beryl’s early initiation into greyhound racing sparked a love for the sport that lasted a lifetime.

Both her and her husband Daniel (who Daniel Jnr is named after) were heavily involved in the sport.

However, Beryl was the ‘driving force’.

“My Grandad used help out, but Nanna was the main one as far as greyhounds went,” Daniel said.

“I believe she had a dog in the first meeting at the current Townsville track when it was opened (in 1976).

“She was still involved in her early 80s and would help me with the dogs then. Nanna taught me a lot about greyhound racing. She loved the sport and she was very knowledgeable.

“She gave me a lot of pointers and was always keen to share her knowledge and experience.

“She had a number of very good dogs and one that I remember was Toolakea Maggie. She won over the three distances (380, 498 and 643 metres) on the Townsville track.”

Following Beryl and Daniel, the ‘greyhound genes’ were passed on to the next generation, Gary Miles and wife Kate, who were also long-time Townsville greyhound devotees.

Their son, Daniel, now carries the ‘training torch’.

He bought Harkle Road after she had two starts, on the Richmond straight track, for two placings and then won her first start in Townsville over the 380 metre distance.

However, in her next six starts, she hasn’t finished on the podium.

“The four box on Friday doesn’t help,” Daniel said.

“So, we will need all the help we can get.”

Long-time Townsville trainer, club official and Miles’ family friend Lee Pearce said the passing of Beryl Miles was a sad day for the local greyhound community.

“Although it has been a number of years since Beryl held a collar and lead, she remains a much-loved and respected member of our fraternity,” Pearce said.

“She was part of a greyhound pioneering family in this region.

“She was also a very good trainer in her own right. But, for many of us she will be remembered for her friendship and generosity - such a lovely, lovely lady.”