Hi Don, thanks for taking the time for an interview. As one of the folks involved early on with coursing, I'm excited to get your words down on paper here. So let's start right in.
Dave: When did you first get in to performance events, and with what breed?
This is from when Go Forth and Camby were mated in 79
Don: In 1974, I got my first sighthounds, two whippets for racing. In those days we did not have a race or show Whippets, they were just whippets and you did everything with them.
Shortly after I got into show greyhounds when I purchased Vulcans Icon and put a CH on him. He was the reason I got into track greyhounds..... I did not get in to the other breeds until the mid 80's when I was in Merced Calif and running the NOFC, National open field coursing, hunts.
Dave: Any particular early Borzoi that was set apart from the rest?
Don: I got my first Borzoi from Lyle Gillette. I had known Lyle for years he used to judge for me when I put lure trials on in Southern California and I judged for him and the northern clubs. I was extremely lucky when I took my pick of the litter, Rancho Gabriel Canby was in. She took to coursing like a pro and my first wife also had a beautiful fast Rancho Gabriel girl called Cache. Canby aka Candy, was the mom of CC who I believe still is the high scoring Borzoi in open field. She is in the back ground of many of the good running Borzoi I see today.
Dave: Where were you, and who were the Borzoi folks you ran with?
Don: I was living in Merced and was the president of NOFCA for years. Since I was the official field finder for the organization I took out the Saluki and Borzoi to hunts as well as the Whippet and Greyhounds. Since I was out with the hunts I decided to get a dog of each breed to run in the hunts.
The most active folks then were Lynne Green, John and Christy Cowan, Fern and Lou Lockrem, the Gowers, and Sally Barron. I did a breeding with Lynne and one with Cowans, Zephyr's Reach dogs. Cowans Zephyr's Reach Go Forth a King, has a special memory with me. Very handsome dog and produced well.
Dave: What have been the significant changes in performance events over the years for you?
Don and Lynne Green, the parti is a Candy x go Forth, son "Apollo", the white, with Lynne is his son Chemin. This was taken at the "first" Borzoi oval race held. It was at Donnie Works Greyhound track I Modesto Calif. Apollo was first and Chemin second
Don: I started in racing with the Whippets, When I started it was about doing a fun thing with your dog. As I learned the games, it became about points and getting that almighty Championship, be it an Fch, CC, CM, ARM I became a point chaser. I really wish those who were active in starting some of these events, including my self, would have paid more attention to our European counterparts who have different systems for the dogs. It is not about points it is simply being able to qualify, by times, for the big international races.
Dave: How has the typical sighthound owner changed over the years, regarding performance events? Do you see more involvement now? Less?
Don: I don't think things have changed a lot, many of those I ran with are still in the hounds. Some who came along later have done well. The sad part is the dog events have to over come two hurdles today they did not have 30 or even 20 years ago. There are not many young folks getting involved in our sports. There are just to many things to interest them that are a lot easier than caring for a dog or walking all day in an field. The biggest threat is the AR activists. I think all dog activities are on a time clock. This society we live in where groups of people think they have God given right to dictate to all others is one scary scenario.
Apollo and Chemin dicussing how they could kick the butts of the greyhounds who were running!!!!
Dave: You didn't have the internet back then, what has it changed for you and for coursing?
Don: Coursing it self changed for me - nothing to do with the internet. I was one who thought the internet was a waste of time, now I can not live without it.<G> When I was running the hunts in Merced area I lived for coursing. I knew every rancher in the San Joaquin valley. We had our hunts on private lands with permission and insurance. As Merced area become fenced and crossed fenced the hunts started to move to the desert area of central Calif. These hunts were held in areas I did not feel were safe for the hounds. I moved up to Northern Calif and gradually stopped open field all together and got back into racing and lure coursing.
Dave: What's your focus these days? How do you find the health of the sports in general?
Don: I am strictly into racing and lure coursing now. I have some dogs I know would do well in the open field but the risk of injury is too much for me. There is code in the open field that has folks not talking about injuries and deaths that happen which is fine because some folks would not understand, the down side is new folks get involved with out having all the facts of the risks involved in coursing.
Not just Borzoi but one of my favorites. I went some lure trials in Canada and took four dogs. All went first and BOB in their breed. Whippet Crystal Summer engery CC CM Fch ARM Can Fch. Greyhound "I B" CC CM FCH. Borzoi Windyglen's Apollo CC CM FCH, Saluki Jabbari of Aries CC CM Fch. Since all were best of breed they all told be they wanted the Whippet to be BIF
As for the health of the sports in general I am very worried. As you know the open field is in trouble from some AR groups. Professional greyhound racing is declining and tracks are closing constantly. Many think the putting of one arm bandits at the tracks is the key to salvation, but that is not going to happen. There are too may big breeders that keep producing hundreds of dogs on the premise that out of a bunch some will make it. Quantity instead of quality, way too many need to be rescued and many do not get that. The Whippet world is a true point chasing group that need to put titles on the dogs even if it means starting your own organization and not letting the fast guys play.
Bottom line for me is, I am going back to basics. Run the kids and enjoy the time I get to spend with them, train some dogs for folks who like to compete and host one large event each year. It had been said I get along better with the dogs than people. That is because I have never had a dog talk about me behind my back or turn on me. You look a dog in the eye and you know if you are going to get bit.
Dave: Thanks very much for your stories, Don, it's a privilege to hear them.