Goodonya Noel that's good news I hope she does one better next time and at subsequent starts. Re your bitch still being too heavy, how does your weight system work. I suppose it is still the same in Australia as when I was last involved (20 years ago), you can't vary more than a kilo from one run to the next although I would think, depending on the circumstances, that the stewards would be asking "the question" if you're close to a kg up on the last run, say a week ago. If your dog has been out for a long while and let's say, builds up quite a bit, the dog needs a new "registered weight" and to do so, has to run in a stewards trial to be granted that new starting weight. If I am wrong it would be great if someone could "straighten me out" - I should ask my mate, I have been out of it for so long. Back in the "olden days", a dog had a "Registered Weight" at each track, that is, you could be 62lb at Moss Vale, 65 at Wyong and 59 at Queanbeyan (not likely of course). If, for example, you went back to Queanbeyan, at 62lb more than 2lb above your registered weight of 59, you needed to apply for a "Re-weigh" to be able to start but from memory you could not get another "Re-weigh" for another 3 months. When racing my first greyhound, she was 52lb (4th) and 51lb (3rd) at her first two starts at Queanbeyan. I had been taking too much notice of people pushing the "lean and mean" approach. Some people I met at Queanbeyan and got a lift home with, set me straight: get her home and build her up over the next next few months with plenty of "tucker" and work. She easily won her next two starts for me but I had to get that "Re-weigh", her new "Registered Weight" at Queanbeyan was 55 1/2 lb. The poor little precious pet, if she'd only had someone who could train a dog. I mentioned above that I got a lift home from Queanbeyan (to Sydney). Do you know what, the dog (bitch) and I got the train to Queanbeyan to race. I did not have a car. The Friday night procedure was, had to leave Friday afternoon meeting (in Sydney CBD) slightly early, about 5.00pm, down to Wynyard Station, took 40 minute train trip to my local suburban station, walked home (10 minutes), my mum had the dog and my kit ready, another 10 minute walk to the railway station, already had my weekly ticket so just a dog ticket for the dog, 35 minute train trip to Central Station, during train trip met "old drunk" who advised me that he had a dog called "Forest Lodge". Although it sounded like a typical dog name it sounded even more like a very well know inner-city pub, I suspect one his favourite pubs and that no such dog existed. It was then a short transfer for me and the dog to the country trains platform and a one hour or whatever wait for the Sydney to Cooma mail train. The dog had to go into a special compartment, I travelled in the passenger carriage. The trip then took over 7 hours to get to Queanbeyan. I think I got her out at Goulbourn for a break. Arrived at Queanbeyan at all hours of the morning. I slept in the railway station waiting room on a narrow bench, with the little bitch's lead tied to my arm, with her sleeping on an old tent and blanket I had placed on the wooden floor. By the way, her breakfast that day I am certain was pretty basic, probably little more than a 4 x 4 inch biscuit and water maybe with a touch of powdered milk. In the morning I wandered, after seeking directions, to the Queanbeyan dog track (Queanbeyan Showgrounds), I met some more drunks, some locals who had supposedly been beaten up by the local "cops" the previous night. Who knows if that was true but they certainly looked the "worse fo wear" (like they had gone 15 rounds and lost). It was a long wait until kennelling, she was in an early race and as indicated above ran 3rd. To be honest, I was pleased, she had run a "place". It was then a lift home with a very nice man and his sons but the man who was to become a friend was an "alcoh", his oldest son wanted to drive but the dad insisted on driving, steering wheel in one hand and a bottle of Penfolds port wine in the other. Heaven knows how many rums and beer chasers he's had during the day. I can't understand why I was not terrified but you didn't seem to worry about that sort of thing so much in those days - times have changed however. Obviously I got home alive. It was all quite ridiculous but I do look back with fond memories.