Final lap for greyhounds at Southland

A tribute to greyhound racing’s last day in Arkansas

By DON WILBURN

A Times Special Feature

The somber yet breezy, almost warm, weather perfectly defined the somber bitter sweet mood of the day as the final races ran at Southland Greyhound Park this past Saturday. Although greyhound racing in America has been on a steady decline since the mid-90s it was more than evident the impact that Southland, which opened in 1956, has had on the surrounding community over it’s 66 year run as the crowds came back en masse one last time with the upper seating areas, The Kennel Club restaurant and track side Concourse all filled nearly to capacity with fans, enthusiasts, animal lovers, current and former employees and perhaps most poignantly the owners and trainers of the dogs themselves.

While the dreary cloudy weather threatened a rain that would never come by the time the fourteenth and final race’s pups crossed the finish line the “rain” found it’s way into the hearts of many as there was nary a dry eye in the building.

The first greyhound in the United States to be registered was in 1894 and the oval track with a mechanical hare was started by Owen Patrick Smith in California in 1912. Greyhound racing is thought to be based on the British custom of “coursing”. At first a hunting technique dating back over 4,000 years with depictions of long-legged dogs similar to modern day greyhounds carved into Egyptian tombs and walls it evolved into a sport enjoyed by the British nobility and commoners alike making it’s roots quite possibly the oldest sport in history and the greyhound the oldest breed. The Egyptian god Anubis is often thought to be a greyhound and there are depictions of the Greek gods Hecate, Pollux, Artemis as well as the Roman goddess Diana often painted accompanied by greyhounds.

Throughout the day old acquaintances met, hugged, laughed and talked about old times as each race slowly, but somehow at the same time way too fast, trudged along in the back ground. Robert Thorne passed out Monte Cristo Cuban cigars. Thorne, owner of the Robert Thorne Kennel and president of the Arkansas Greyhound Association, began working for Southland as a lead-out in 1975 at 15 after having “fibbed” on his application stating he was a year older watched most of the races trackside holding his 15-month-old granddaughter, Madison. He appeared to be in good spirits throughout most of the day until his final greyhound, Slatex Sena, crossed the finish line in the tenth race and Thorne could be seen holding back tears.

His wife, the wonderfully boisterous Bonnie Thorne said of the business in general “Well, it’s been a helluva a run!” with a smirk to indicate the pun was very much intended.

I mingled and had the chance to speak with many others of whom are affectionately called “dog men” in the business including Josh Bertagnolli a former lead-out, helper, and trainer. Bertangnolli, who in his late 30s and nowadays is a firefighter enjoying the good life up in Searcy, began as a lead-out in 2002 fresh out of high school (and full disclosure, was hired by yours truly) quickly switched over to helper before moving to Daytona Beach and running a kennel himself did not mince words “I got paid to pick up dog crap…” is the way he would most commonly describe it to “outsiders of the business” continuing on fondly “…it could be hard and dirty work but it was an awesome time in my life where I met so many friends, did a lot of growing up in the kennels in what felt like a lifetime, in and out [of the kennels] several times a day, seven days a week. Over the years, listening to the old men say they were surprised it (closing) hadn’t happened yet, but this job wouldn’t be around forever and when I realized I am too young to do a job that will disappear in my lifetime I got out of Dodge. I am just glad I could come back and watch the last race.”.

Shane Bolender, the

See SOUTHLAND, page A3

Coming down the front stretch one last time.

Photos By Steve Schiferl

Authentic track sand was given out to everyone who attended. Word has it that there is still a little left.

“Anger does not come easy to me. It is something I have to encourage, like a greyhound in second place.” -Joe Dunthorne SOUTHLAND

From page A1

Director of Racing for over a decade was present and on track for every race managed to _nd time to say “It’s been an amazing 33 years I got to be a part of this business. I’m going to miss many things about it but out of it all, I’m going to miss the greyhounds the most.”

As the races ran on souvenirs were given out including t-shirts marking the occasion and plastic corked jars _lled with sand emblazoned with the Southland name and logo but the most sought after souvenirs were the ones being pilfered behind the scenes as there was a mad scramble for authentic memorabilia. While I cannot betray my sources and reveal what others took I can confess, being a former dog man myself, that I made out with a great haul including old photos, programs from 20 years back with mine and other familiar names in it, a racing muzzle and blanket and a few other items they will have to subpoena me to get back.

You see, dear reader, Southland just happened to be my _rst “real” job too. I also started as a lead-out and over the years held most of the positions one can hold in the Racing Department including that of track Announcer. And so it was to my delight when I asked Bolender if I might announce one last race for old times sake and he surprisingly said yes. As I entered the Announcer’s Booth the memories came ooding back and I had that cold feeling of adrenaline rising in my stomach as I thought “It’s been 20 years. Rusty is not the only thing that might be rusty”. Long story short I was satis_ed with my performance and pleased when I returned trackside and Bolender ironically offered me a job. “Rusty” which is the name of the stuffed bone (not rabbit) the greyhounds chase was sought after by many, but General Manger Osi Imomoh con_rmed that it would stay with the Southland family. Over at City Hall, West Memphis Mayor Marco Mc-Clendon, in a statement, had this to say: “Greyhound racing has long been a vital part of the fabric of West Memphis bringing economic development to our region since the 50s. It was a beloved tradition that has brought people together for generations and it’s importance will never be forgotten. [Its] lasting legacy will live on through what was invested in ASU Mid-South, East Arkansas Family Health Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs, etc. It is with mixed emotions that I say ‘goodbye’ to greyhound racing today.”

Several other trainers spoke about the last day on Facebook with Carrie Edwards saying “Karma can bite my ass now, but I’m gonna say it. I believe in karma, and I never bragged on the kennel to avoid it. I accomplished every goal in the dog business that I set for myself and our kennel. There are so many people to thank for supporting me and being my biggest fans and downright having my back to the very end. You all know who you are. And last but not least I want to thank my family, my husband, my children, my mom and dad, all my wonderful nieces and nephews and now great nieces and nephews who sacri_ced not having their mother, daughter, and aunt available to them when they needed me. They understood the sacri_ce and they dealt with it. On to the Next Chapter of my life, as I would tell my greys as they left for adoption.”

Lori Plummer: “I started working in the kennels in 2010 little did I know I would fall in love with it and be there for 12 years of my life. 12 years of great memories meeting new people some I’ll never forget it was a sad day for all of us today as Southland ran its last race. I’m not okay.”

Kristen Ward: “I sat on the counter in the kennel yesterday after I _nished cleaning up, for 2 hours. Just trying to soak it all in, and let it all go at the same time. My head hurt so bad when I left. That job got me, and I know countless others, through some of the hardest life events you could imagine, because no matter how bad or helpless we felt, we had to go let dogs out. That job wasn’t the same for everybody, and it showed. But for those of us that understood what the rest didn’t, we truly lost a gem. Everything has a time, and we got to be part of that.”

Frankie Foster: “How do you be a normal person after all this? Like I’m laying here with no clue what to do. I should be going to sleep to be up at 4:30 a.m., preparing for beds sprinting and feeding. But I don’t have to anymore. Ever. So now what? What’s normal? How do non-dog people function?”

We asked around what are to become of the dog men, the current employees, the dogs and the track itself. There are currently no plans to use the buildings or the track but they will most likely be torn down as new development opportunities arise. As for the greyhounds, preparations began well in advance to _nd homes for the 1,000+ animals and through Mid-South Greyhound Adoption, by May of last year there were so many applications that there was a six month waiting period. There are currently no more greyhounds looking for homes.

Most of the older dog men will of course retire, with the Thorne’s planning to raise mini cows. Most of the current employees have been offered positions within the casino as waiters, security guards, etc with the Racing Secretary, the infamous Kevin Lidey, who was trackside to say goodbye to each and every dog before the races, taking a position in the A/V Department and his sister, Autumn (both are lifelong dog men themselves) continuing to chart write (the person who writes the racing programs) for simulcast tracks. Although with the closing of this greyhound park it will leave only two tracks in operation in America, both in West Virginia, Tri-State and Wheeling, some of the more tenacious and younger dog men have expressed a desire to gravitate to those areas and see what is available. My longtime friend who started the same week back in 1996 as I did, Kennel Master (the person who prepares/clothes the dogs for races) Calvin Dunigan says he plans to retire as he cannot see himself working in any other industry. Calvin has always been my Dorothy to his Scarecrow and I think I will miss him most of all.

The last race ran a little after 5 p.m., amongst hugs, cheers and tears in front of an estimated crowd of 2,600. The track announcer’s last words beckoned of news anchor Edward Murrow as he said “Good night … and good luck.” Southland Greyhound Park’s _nal champion, winner of the very last race, was named Smile N Mean It.

Photo by Don Wilburn

Granddaughter Madison with grandpa Robert Thorne and son Tim. The Thorne family has been in the greyhound business for generations in one form or another.

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot; Follow your spirit: and upon this charge, Cry – God for Harry! England and Saint George!” -William Shakespeare

Photo By Steve Schiferl

Southland Greyhound Park circa 1975. It its heyday, Southland could pull in a million-dollar “handle” on a single night.

Photo courtesy of Southland Greyhound Park

Racing Secretary Kevin Lidey says “good-bye” to each greyhound before they race.

Photo by Bill Axell

The crowd was estimated to be 2,600 fans for the final live races at Southland.

Photo by Don Wilburn

Trainers Carrie Edwards and Frankie Foster in a photo ceremony that happened after every race on Saturday, a day billed as the “Last GREYt Race” at Southland.

Photo by Don Wilburn