More than four decades on, Dynamic Dean’s 1975 Melbourne Cup win remains something Sandra Reed will never forget.
The electric atmosphere and big crowd on the night is something she vividly remembers.
“It was very exciting. There was a huge crowd, back in those days that was the norm – the atmosphere was amazing.
“It was a great thrill. The Melbourne Cup and the Australian Cup were the two races that everyone wanted to win,” she explained.
Dean won his heat of the Melbourne Cup in typical fashion and cemented a spot in the final the week following.
“He wasn’t the fastest dog, but he was a very good box dog, he’d typically show good pace and lead a long way.”
Dean was a reliable beginner throughout his career however when it mattered most he made a mistake that forced Sandra to dismiss his chances.
“He missed the start for the first time in his life, I thought it was end of his race. But by the time they got to the first turn he had somehow found the front.”
Dean won the Melbourne Cup by eight and a half lengths. First prize for the race was $11,500, a meagre sum in comparison to today’s $420,000.
The Cup win was the first for Sandra, however the second for the family as they had Cheltenham Lass claim the event 9 years earlier.
“I was only very young. Cheltenham Lass was just perfect, she had a tremendous nature and her ability was a bonus. Unfortunately no one remembers back that far,” she laughed.
The night prior to the Cup final, Sandra appeared on the popular night time television show, ‘The Ernie Sigley Show’.
“I went on the Ernie Sigley show the night before the race and was supposed to bring Dean. Given it wouldn’t have been the best thing for his preparation, I took his brother who looked a lot like him. I was interviewed with the Melbourne Cup trophy on the desk, Dean was the hot favourite but little did they know it was his brother who I had on set.”
Daughter of GRV Hall of Fame trainer/breeder, Paul Hogan, Sandra has spent a lifetime in greyhounds however didn’t always have her heart set on it as a youngster.
“Growing up I didn’t want to train greyhounds, I hoped to travel around the world and become an air hostess but I couldn’t do that until I was 18. When I was 16, my grandmother passed away and I was fortunate enough to be given a greyhound, which turned out to be a record holder over the long distance at Olympic Park.
“It was my first dog and I was thinking ‘wow, this is too easy – I’m going to become a greyhound trainer, I can earn more money than working in an office’. It turned me around,” she explained.
At that stage her father was one of the most prominent trainers in Victoria. In the mid 1970’s he decided to take a break from the sport and handed training duties to Sandra.
“He decided he wanted to travel and get away from the demand of having greyhounds. He bought a house in Dandenong then travelled overseas.
“I was busy caring for my three children. I had a six acre property at Rowville where I reared and trained greyhounds. As I was busy balancing three children and the dogs, I had Karen Leek helping me out, she was only 18 or 19 at the time.”
Dynamic Dean’s litter was one of the few that her family sold. Potential buyers had their chance to buy Dean, however decided against it due to a troublesome toe.
“We didn’t sell many dogs but the ones we did sell we trained. Dynamic Dean was left behind because he had a crook toe.”
Little did they know what Dean had ahead of him. He was handed to Sandra by her father due to his hiatus from the sport.
“I had about 12 dogs when dad gave me Dean. That was a big kennel in those days, not many people trained greyhounds full time.”
No longer training greyhounds, Sandra now holds the position of President for the Victorian GOTBA (Greyhound Owners Trainers and Breeders Association).
“The final outcome of the revised code of practice will define our future, we are working to ensure it is affordable and in the best interest of our dogs welfare. Our public image through whole of life responsibility for our dogs should ensure the future success of greyhound racing and the GOTBA is very committed to ensuring a sustainable industry by working with participants, regulators and politicians.”
The 2017 edition of the TAB Melbourne Cup will be run on Friday November 24. Head to superdogs.com.au for more information
