Brett Lee returns to Angle Park

Records are made to be broken – but some just need to be immortalised.

Arguably the most famous track record in Australian greyhound racing, Brett Lee’s 28.88 seconds over the 515m journey at Angle Park set in the 2001 Adelaide Cup has become a touchstone for the industry. A shining example of the brilliance of a greyhound in full flight. For two decades the record was comfortably held, no other greyhound had even broken 29 seconds at Angle Park over the same journey let alone troubled the record. In a sport where time is of the essence and the quality of breeding and training have all improved dramatically, much like any other sport, this fact is quite astounding.

When works were undertaken to the Angle Park track to replace aging infrastructure in 2021, the decision was made to lengthen the main journey from 515m to 530m which would ultimately mean the state’s premier sprinting distance would change from 515 to 530 metres. It was seen as fitting for most that the only way Brett Lee could be dethroned would be by a tractor and significant earthworks! It added to the story. Except, punters had now lost the favourite conversation piece every spring when the country’s best descended on Angle Park for the Adelaide Cup – ‘which greyhound could get near Brett Lee?’.. Hence, the Greyhound Racing South Australia Board decided the record needed to be recognised in a significant way, given the impact it had had on the industry and it being synonymous with Angle Park. A statue that captured this moment seemed the perfect fit and the track’s 50th anniversary in April 2022 would be the unveiling date. 

In early September with the decision and date confirmed, the search for a sculptor started – and was abruptly stopped – when some quick research came up with Port Lincoln’s Ken Martin. Ken’s work has included some of South Australia’s biggest sporting icons including Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, footballers Barry Robran and Ken Farmer and cricketers Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann. However, it was Ken’s sculpture of ‘Ajax’ a labrador who worked for Australian Customs in Melbourne that really excited the GRSA team – Ken had brilliantly sculpted a life-sized dog previously and in fantastic detail. In that moment the project officially moved from somewhat daunting to very exciting. GRSA had found their man, and once contact was made with Ken and the idea of a Brett Lee statue discussed, it was all but confirmed.

‘I was incredibly excited about the prospect of sculpting a greyhound, they are such beautiful, dynamic dogs’ said Ken ‘I also relished the prospect of the opportunity to capture the greyhound’s incredible speed and movement sculpturally.’ 

A plan was set to have Brett Lee in place for the Anniversary night at Angle Park with the first step sending Ken as many reference photos and videos of Brett Lee himself and other greyhounds in motion as needed. To further familiarise himself with the breed, he made the trip from Port Lincoln and attended a race meeting at Angle Park where he was able to get up close and view the greyhounds being kennelled and of course, in full flight on the track. 

‘As a result of the commission I attended my first two race meetings – I am sure not my last! – and was astounded by the speed and agility of the dogs’ said Ken. ‘I had an awareness of greyhound racing but no direct connection prior to this commission but I had observed greyhounds in rural environments, particularly in my younger days on farms and marveled at their athleticism.’

The trip was another way to make sure he could meet the challenges of sculpting the greyhound.

‘The first challenge was to understand greyhound anatomy fully, having sculpted a labrador, dingo and kelpie I had an understanding of canine anatomy but greyhounds, the most ancient breed in the world, are unique.’

The design brief sounded relatively simple on paper - the statue needed to be life-sized, the number 3 rug was essential and Brett Lee had to be in full flight - but it definitely ‘posed’ some challenges for Ken.

‘Being asked to create Brett Lee in full flight was a challenge I relished and of course, this (the pose) meant he had all fours off of the ground, and in the absence of sky hooks – having him flying past the finishing post was a great solution. This allowed for the necessary invisible internal engineering of the bronze which supports the sculpture in a composition that captures a sense of weightlessness and flight.’

With the posing problem solved by having Brett pass by the finishing post and the research done, Ken had the necessary insight into the remarkable breed and it was now time to knuckle down and get sculpting. 

‘There were a number of facts about greyhounds I discovered along the way that amazed me – not least the fact that the breed dates back to the ancient Egyptians but details such as their remarkable peripheral vision which needed to be understood when sculpting the set of Brett Lee’s eyes.’

After just over a month of work, a smaller maquette of the final statue was completed in November, right on schedule and Ken made the trip back to Angle Park to show off his vision. There were a few nerves, both from Ken who like many artists is always nervous about showing anyone his work and from the GRSA team, who, while supremely confident in Ken’s ability, never knew what to expect. Any nerves were short-lived and when the maquette was revealed, and there was Brett Lee in full flight with the finishing post to his side, it was both relief and excitement. The project was again to proceed at full speed as Ken now went about creating the full life-sized version of his sculpture. It was also at the unveiling of maquette that Ken revealed the entire statue would be coloured and not just the white number three rug, which added further excitement as now Brett Lee’s shiny black coat and small flashes of white could be added to the piece. 

Brett Lee in place at Angle Park.

Photography credits: Kurt Donsberg, Iain Bond and Ken Martin.