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Revered Dacey aiming to go out on Cup high

3 October 2024

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By Andrew Smith

Claude Dacey reckons he has been talking about retiring for the last two decades, but is now convinced that this year is his last in the greyhound training caper.

The 90-year-old holds the mantle as the oldest registered greyhound trainer in Queensland, after Eric Honeyman gave up training at the age of 92 at the end of last year.

Now the veteran dog man will follow suit and hang up the collar and lead when 2024 draws to a close.

Dacey outlined his retirement plans as he prepared Daysea’s Tim to contest Sunday’s Group 2 Capalaba Cup Final.

The Gilberton-based conditioner said the time was right to step away from training, as he prepares to hand over the reins to son Robbie.

“This definitely is the last year…I’ve been thinking about it the last 20 years, probably,” Claude said with a laugh.

“I just can’t do it anymore, I’ve got a few issues besides being old.

“It’s hard to get out - you’ve got 25 dogs here, you can’t just walk away, and you can’t get rid of your dogs.

“I’m lucky that Robbie is here to take over and keep it going.”

Daysea's Tim Next Racing
Valhalla
Bad Boy Wilson
Man Of Zeal

Claude’s sons Robbie and Jim have already been heavily involved in taking care of the kennel.

Claude was first introduced to the greyhound game by his father, who was a trainer.

He worked as a builder in his younger years while dabbling in the sport, before eventually taking on the training full-time around 40 years ago.

However Claude will not be going ‘cold turkey’ from the lifestyle as he passes on his knowledge and experience to Robbie during a transition period.

“There’s no way known I won’t be involved, because it’s Robbie’s first year at it, and he can’t pick up the things that I can pick up,” Claude said.

“Even though we fight like cats and dogs, I’ll be still there to guide him - he couldn’t just do it on his own.

“There’s so many things you learn after 40 or 50 years and you don’t pick it all up in 12 months.

“I’ll definitely be involved but I just won’t be going to the tracks and training and trialing and all that and getting out of bed at 5 o’clock in the morning.”

Robbie and Claude Dacey with Daysea's Tim at the family's Gilberton property.

Claude and wife Norma, who also used to train, are not as hands on as they used to be with the dogs, as age and health issues set in.

They still managed to recently take a two-week road trip to Grafton, where Daysea’s Tim’s litter mate Daysea’s Rory ran in the Grafton Regional Final of the Million Dollar Chase.

Claude said it would be a strange feeling finally stepping away from the day-to-day conditioning.

“That’s what you do - since I retired from full-time work, it’s my whole life,” Claude said.

“All I have got is greyhounds and I just love it, and the wife loves it too and we’re happy here - it’s  perfect.

“We don’t like going out anywhere, we’re pretty stick-in-the-mud type of people and this just keeps us going.

“It makes you get out and do something as well, it keeps you going - there’s no rest when you’ve got dogs.”

Robbie Dacey (right) celebrates the 2024 Pink Ribbon Cup win with Daysea's Chief.

Robbie will often travel from Gilberton to Albion, Ipswich and Capalaba and handle the dogs on race days in Claude’s absence.

He collected the trophy for the family when Daysea’s Chief took out the Pink Ribbon Cup at Albion Park two weeks ago.

However, Claude’s two-week trip away down south reminded the 56-year-old he still has plenty to learn as he steps into his father’s shoes.

“He’ll still be around of course, but they just went away and I didn’t realise how much he actually does, because I was flat out while he was gone,” Robbie said with a laugh.

“I took the dogs in the first day, they were a bit overweight and was thinking ‘what am I doing wrong?’ so we’ve got them back on track again and Dad’s back so it’s all good.

“I’ve just got to keep up with him and argue the point all the time and ask ‘why?’ and I need to know why we’re doing things, but after we get through that, we’re pretty good.

“The only thing that will change will be the name on the things because he’s going to put all the dogs over to me and my brother so we’ll run the show from there.”

Daysea's Tim winning his Capalaba Cup heat. Pictures: Toby Coutts.

Before then, the family will be chasing a coveted Capalaba Cup crown when Daysea’s Tim lines up in the $75,000-to-the-winner finale on Sunday afternoon.

The dog out of Sennachie-Nikki Nettle has posted three straight wins on the turf at Capalaba, with his heat time of 19.41 seconds last weekend his best of the three.

He will jump for box six for the 366 metre trip – a draw that has not left Claude happy.

“I hate it for him - any other dog I would love it, I reckon it’s the best spot you can have, but for him, he just wants to go straight to the fence,” Claude said.

“He does come out quick but some of the others also do come out quick in this race, so it’s going to make it hard but we’ll see what happens on the day.

“He’s fine and ready to go, you can’t get any better than that after last Sunday and there’s not much you can do more than that between here and Sunday, he’s at his peak.

“It’s a good even field, and there’s not too many slouches in there.”

Races

6
6

Capalaba | Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club | 2:16 PM

CON SCIACCA TAB Capalaba Cup H

Defending Cup champion Valhalla will jump as the favourite from the eight alley, clocking 19.35 seconds in Sunday’s heats.

Bad Boy Wilson and Man Of Zeal will also be looking to upset the Tom Tzouevlis-trained ‘King of Capalaba’, having both posted 19.34 seconds in their respective heats.

For Claude, a maiden Cup win would be the perfect way to round out his career.

He has enjoyed plenty of success at the Redland track over the years, but is yet to claim the big one.

“To me, I would love that money,” Claude said.

“There’s so much money in this game now - when we first started we were racing for $100, and now you get $100 just for turning up.

“I’m not a glory hunter, I don’t go looking for trophies or rugs anymore, I’ve been through all that, but my son, he would love it.”

Valhalla taking out the 2023 Capalaba Cup.