QGOLD part of the final loop in Hara’s Salty’s ride

By Pat McLeod

Ian Hoggan has often experienced the rollercoaster ride that can be greyhound training, but he has a genuine wish that the final ‘loop’ with Hara’s Salty has a golden finish.

“He deserves to finish on a high,” Hoggan says of one of his all-time favourite chasers.

“He is just the loveliest dog in the world and you do get attached to dogs that have got that perfect nature. The shame of it all is that he never got to show what he had.

“He was a Group dog forever and a day, but injuries put paid to that.”

Hara’s Salty’s story is far from unique in any form of competition – human or animal.

Fate, not always ability, decides who stands on the podium.

However, Hoggan’s hero has one last chance to be on that top rung under lights.

This week Hara’s Salty is part of a busy procession of QGOLD heats at Albion Park on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The result of those will be eight rich QGOLD Finals at ‘headquarters’ on Thursday night, December 19.

QGOLD Feature Night has now become a very popular highlight of both the summer and winter carnivals at Albion Park.

For Queensland-bred dogs only, they showcase the broad spectrum that is greyhound racing.

They encompass the major race distances – 520, 600 and 710 metres – as well as the QGOLD Bolt over 395 metres and the QGOLD Blitz over 331 metres.

There are also the QGOLD Emerging Sprinters, the QGOLD Rookies and the QGOLD Veterans - all over 520 metres. 

Hara’s Salty will line up in the QGOLD Veterans heats on Wednesday afternoon.

While most runners across the four veterans’ heats have lengthy statistical sheets, some extending well past 100 starts, his curriculum vitae just goes to 18 races.

His ‘minders’ for the majority of his sporadic career have been the Churchable-based Ian and Kerry Hoggan.

The pair are respected industry stalwarts who understand the vagaries of sport, but they can’t help but hope that Lady Luck finally smiles on their ‘kennel gentleman’.

Ian Hoggan explains how the dog’s owner, and their long-time friend and client Gary Pearce, understandably thought he had hit the jackpot when a young Hara’s Salty started to trial.

“He was trialing so fast it was ludicrous,” Hoggan said.

“Gary, who is a good friend of ours and a great bloke, started training Hara’s Salty. He won his first two starts at Albion Park, the second race in 29.89 seconds. 

“I remember Gary saying, ‘This dog is too good for me’, and he sent him down to Melbourne. He went to a very good kennel, trialed brilliantly, but kept suffering minor injuries and soreness. He had a few starts, but eventually came back up here.”

Pearce was reportedly offered big money for the dog, but decided to send him to his good friends, the Hoggans, instead.

Hara’s Salty had two starts for them at Albion Park for a first and a second, then tragedy.

“There was a race coming up at Ipswich, so we decided to trial him there because he had never raced there,” recalls Hoggan.

“Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in that trial.

“That turned into a very long road to rehabilitate him. He was off the track for about 12 months, but we never gave up on him because he is such a great old dog.

“We got him back to a point where we trialled him and then he won a few races over the shorts. We stepped him up to 520 metres, but he still wasn't at his best and I thought seriously about retiring him then, but he just wants to be a race dog."

Hoggan described the dog as 'such a professional'.

“So, we played around with him a little bit more and he has come along well now," Hoggan said. 

“It would be great in this heat on Wednesday if there was a flicker of what he once was.

“I have no doubt that he will put himself in the race for the first 400 to 450 metres, but over the last 100 metres he will start to struggle.

“It would not surprise me if he made the Final, because he has got a big heart and that is what you want in a race dog. If he did make it through to the Final that would definitely be his swansong.

“The heat could also be his last race if he doesn't make the Final, but we would love him to go out on a high note. We already have a home organised for him and he will probably go there either just before or just after Christmas.

“He will be with horse people who have quite a large horse stud and have always wanted a pet dog. He will be perfectly suited for them. There only problem will be getting him off the lounge.”

Racing Queensland's Senior Greyhound Racing Manager Alex Kitching said the promotion of Queensland-bred greyhounds was a key component of the
2024-25 Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival. 

“It is really important to highlight the breeding of Queensland greyhounds leading into our big carnivals,” Kitching said.

“It is something that Queensland has done well over the last couple of years with this (QGOLD) series.

“The recent Flame race and QGOLD both put the focus on Queensland-bred greyhounds.

“The QGOLD Feature Night caters for all greyhounds bred in Queensland whether they are maidens, novices through to graded dogs and your potential superstars right across the state.

“It’s an exciting night for the entire industry in Queensland and I am hoping that a lot of people come to the track for the heats and Finals to see potential superstars go around.”