Springview Magic shines in retirement

By Jordan Gerrans

From walking on the beach, lounging around on the couch and being honoured at several show events, Springview Magic is flourishing in retirement.

The red brindle dog certainly made his presence felt on the track, winning on 27 occasions, with his career high point being a Group 3 crown back in early 2023.

He was prepared by Eric Conroy on that occasion and was raced by the Conroy clan throughout his Queensland campaigns.

In retirement, he is enjoying life with the Conroys at Belli Park, where Eric’s wife Karen recently entering him in a number of show events, with great success.

He featured prominently at the Ekka earlier this year before taking out the major prize more recently at the greyhound conformation show at the Noosa Country Show.

“We did get to lead the grand parade, two or three of the greyhounds,” Karen said of her experience at the Noosa Country Show in early September.

“We led the grand parade at the Noosa show just to walk around and just let people look at all the other horses and whatever behind us.

“There were all the other people with their cars and stuff and they did a bit of a spiel about the greyhounds being at the show.”

The greyhound conformation show at the Noosa Country Show, which Racing Queensland sponsored, was a mini version of the Greyhound Sweepstakes at the Ekka.

It was the first time greyhounds had featured at the annual Noosa event.

Karen Conroy campaigned Springview Magic alongside fellow greyhound industry participants Lin Kent and Lucy Roche at the Noosa event, which consisted of around a dozen greyhounds.

The seven-year-old Springview Magic, known as Apple in retirement, has adapted to life in the show ring with ease.

“The shows were just for a bit of fun,” Karen said.

“He's a handsome boy. He's beautiful. I made sure Apple stood out at the Ekka and at the Noosa show.

“I took him around as much as I could just to get the general public looking at them, patting them and talking about them.

“The general public have no idea what they're like, most of them.

“Apple's quite happy if he doesn't go for a walk, he's quite happy just to have the ball thrown for him a couple of times. That's his day. 

“A lot of people are so happy to pat Apple and learn just how great they are.”

The Conroys are based in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland of Queensland and the former racer is making the most of his beautiful surroundings.

“He's super great,” Karen said.

“He's chilled out. He loves the beach. He loves going in the water, chasing the ball with the sausage dogs we also have at our place.

“Apple is just super chilled out. Like all the other greyhounds, they're just chilled out.

“He just does everything; he's a very sensible dog. He just knows. Nothing bothers him and I didn't have to train him at all. He has just taken it all in his stride.

“I read a bit about his father Fernando Bale and apparently his father was so laid back and cool. Apple is the same, he's just super chilled.

“He's just super cool. He lives on the lounge inside. I walk him every day.

“When it's cool, he can go up to seven kilometres up the bush with me.

“He's adapted perfectly to living in the house with our couple of sausage dogs.”

Springview Magic went out a winner, scoring in his last race start in the middle of September in 2024 when he was prepared by Ben Davey.

“Events like the Greyhound Sweepstakes at the Ekka and the recent Noosa Country Show are fun events for retired, unraced and racing dogs,” Racing Queensland's Greyhound Welfare Advisor Nicola Hardman said.

“It is a great opportunity for the public to meet the dogs.

“Most people only ever see a greyhound on television.

“These events are a great opportunity for greyhounds to get pats, which is one of their favourite things to do.

“With this many people at the Ekka and similar events, it is a great opportunity for people to interact and learn more about the breed, as well as the nature of these wonderful animals.”

Eric Conroy now trains just one greyhound, with Launch Mode winning six of his 38 career efforts, including finishing third at Q2 Parklands on Sunday.