Maitland GBOTA Honour A Hunter Legend
Maitland GBOTA have announced the inaugural running of the Duncan Dart Memorial to honour a man who was universally respected in the NSW Hunter Valley and who helped develop and shape the greyhound racing in that area.
Duncan Dart passed away earlier this year (March 11th 2008) after a short illness, but the quietly spoken and modest trainer was very well respected in the industry by those fortunate enough to know him.
Duncan who was born in 1926, held a trainers licence for 55 years and was an integral part of the Redhead trial track and the Cardiff Greyhound Social Club of which he was a life member.
An absolute stalwart at the old Wyong straight track, Duncan had enormous success with prolific race winner Dynamic Diamond who won 31 of his 91 starts, with 21 of those wins up the straight at Wyong on the grass. One of the most impressive of those wins coming in the running of the 2003 Wyong Cup.
In later years he had Wentworth Park success with Margaret Mary.
Reknowned for his willingness to help others and pass on his years of experience, Duncan was one of those rare gentleman that was liked by all who knew him and through long years in the industry, there wasn't many he didn't know.
The running of a race that we all hope will be grow and become a highlight on the Hunter Valley greyhound racing calendar, will commence with heats to be run over the 450 metre journey on 11th Septmeber and the final to be run on the 18th Spetember 2008.
Quite appropriately the race will be for greyhounds with only 1-3 wins, as Duncan was always one to help a young trainer get their young greyhounds on the right track.