Lismore Cup winner Allan Lang stays positive after track closure


As much as the demise of Ladbrokes Park at has been a massive blow for the industry in northern New South Wales, trainers in the region are preferring to remain optimistic.

They were the thoughts of after overseeing 's $54,300 victory last week, crossing the line in 27.66 seconds in the 484m 2 feature.

Life will go on, and Lang will train more victors in the area, with and still operating.

And just as importantly, the interest in greyhound racing remains high.

“They (authorities) tried real hard to keep it open, and to keep our races we have going,” Lang told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“We all thought the race the other night (Lismore Cup) would've been lost.

“Good crowd. They always get a good crowd for a twilight or night meeting at Casino.”

Grafton hosts 350m, 450m and 660m events, while Casino has 411m, 484m and 620m options.

Lang said he and his peers were just grateful to continue having these races in his region.

“People realise we've still got Casino and Grafton,” he said.

“They're two different tracks, so the dogs still get a bit of variety.”

Lang said the Lismore track was an ideal preparation facility for greyhounds who were good enough to be competitive at in Brisbane.

“It was the only two-turn track we had over 520m, so we could test them over that distance if we thought they could go to Albion,” he said.

“It was just a good track. It's sad that we lost it, but what could they do?

“I would've liked for it to stay open, but they worked hard on it.

“It was another place you could've trialed at, too. They won't be going back there where it was.

“They might build another place, but that's up to the GBOTA and Greyhound .”

Lang said his two-year-old kennel star adapted well to the conditions at Casino because his last start before the Cup heats at that venue over 484m was back on November 18.

“He hadn't had a run for 12 days, and he hadn't had a 484 for a long time because you can't get a race here every week,” the Stratheden-based conditioner said.

“It's hard to get a start. He only ran four-hundredths outside of his best, so I thought it was a pretty good run.”

Cataclysmic also did well to cross over and get onto the rail after the $3.10 winning chance started from box seven.

But that is what he does well, according to Lang, who praised his dog for finding an inside lane on a track where that is difficult to do.

“He's a mad railer. He loves the rail and he's got a bit of early toe,” Lang said.

“It's hard to get past at Casino. If you're stuck out three-wide, you find it very hard.

“All his education was at Casino.

“He either had a lot of luck, or he was just clever. He's unbeaten from the seven (in three starts).”

Lang said the celebrations from his Lismore Cup victory went well into the night.

“It was terrific. We had some good celebrations, and it was good to win my local cup,” he said.

“I got home at five to four the next morning.

“It was at my next-door neighbour's place – he's got a big bar room.”

And rightfully so – last week's triumph was Lang's No.1 moment as a conditioner.

“As a trainer it would be (my best moment). But I owned Paw Licking,” he said.

“He won a Hobart and Cup.”

2022 Lismore Cup Replay (484m)

Cataclysmic – 27.66 seconds

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