By Jordan Gerrans
A few betting tips and banter on social media has led to a growing pool of new greyhound owners to the industry in the Sunshine State.
Brisbane-based plumber Nick Cutri (pictured) got the ball rolling a few years and the team landed one of their sweetest victories yet on Monday evening at Albion Park as newcomer Zipping Rafferty saluted at his first start in Queensland.
A keen follower of greyhounds, Cutri created the “On The Bunny” Facebook group, which consisted of tips and banter around dog racing, before developing into thousands of people who are dipping their toes into ownership.
“When I was lucky enough to be involved with my first greyhound, a guy in Brisbane by the name of Daniel Evans got me into a dog named Dusty Delight and I only owned five percent but he went on to win around $60,000 and became a city class dog,” Cutri, who describes himself as passionate about greyhounds and the industry, recalled.
“I ended up falling in love with the industry and dogs.
“I am always nervous before the races because you do love and after we got a bit of a following on Facebook and I realised how much I enjoyed it, I wanted to get more people involved in ownership.”
A couple of years on, Cutri and his “On The Bunny” team have around 15 greyhounds racing around Australia, with a handful in Queensland.
Locally in the Sunshine State, they race Monday night’s winner Zipping Rafferty and She Has Style – who won twice last month – among others.
Cutri has held regular discussions with officials at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club and Racing Queensland around bringing potential owners towards the “On The Bunny” team, which aims to promote a cheap way to get involved with dogs and to have fun while doing so.
The group are aiming to expand their operation over the next year or two, purchasing higher class dogs as well as investing in pups and breeding.