Team Work Makes the Dream Work for Smith Family
Monday night racing came to Murray Bridge for the second time during the Angle Park track redevelopment. Ross Smith would have travelled back from the Bridge with a smile from ear to ear after his 2 year-old fawn girl Shimmy Sharna was the fastest grade 6 winner last night, taking out race 3 by 4.5 lengths in a time of 22.34 at juicy odds of $6.50. On the same night, her littermate Fiddly took out race 11 at Cannington last night from box 3.
“We know she can run well - once she gets in front, she is very hard to beat. Monday night she flew to the front from box 8 and kept up the pace for a good win.” Ross Smith explained.
Mr Smith is a stalwart of greyhound racing in South Australia, having trained, bred and owned countless winners over the years.
“I started training in 1976 in Adelaide. My parents were based at Barmera and were heavily involved at the club there.” Ross continues.
Ross bred the 1983 Mount Gambier Cup winner Magic Fame (Magic Typhoon x Riverland Belle), trained by Barry Fullerton, and Kevin Stone’s 1986 Mount Gambier Cup winner Riverland Roy (Roy Trease x Riverland Belle). The prolific producer Riverland Belle was also the dam of 1982 Adelaide Cup winner Smithy’s Belle (by Waverly Supreme) which was raced by Dorrie and Ross Smith.
Ross and his family have deep roots in racing. Ross’s mother and father were both life members of the Barmera Greyhound Racing Club, while his son Damien has continued the family tradition becoming a trainer himself and also now trying his hand at breeding. The owners of Shimmy Sharna, the Clayboys Syndicate is managed by Mt Gambier Committee Member, David Lewis who is in fact Damien’s godfather.
From 1996, Ross stepped away from the sport for two decades due to work commitments. The last few years have seen Ross rekindle his love for the sport of greyhound racing, with nights like Monday making it all that much sweeter. Ross and his son Damien work in as a team, assisting each other with training, with Ross taking Damien's greyhounds to the track when work commitments do not allow.
“Shimmy Sharna is the only greyhound I am training now. I have plans to get a few more in the near future. I help out Damien who has a small kennel as well as some pups that are currently being reared.”
It is safe to say Ross will be returning to Murray Bridge if Shimmy Sharna continues to race like that at the track!