Wheelchair Norm has been breaking national records in his latest sprints on the two southern located tracks. The durable John-McInerney-trained sprinter notched up career win number 89 when he dashed to his effortless Forbury Park 310m victory last Tuesday afternoon.
Pictured: Wheelchair Norm delivering his 89th career win on Tuesday (pic Dave Robbie)
Wheelchair Norm’s Forbury Park win took him clear with the most career victories for a greyhound who raced in New Zealand during a career. Hifi Allegro was retired with 88 races wins listed beside her name.
Her early career wins came when she raced in Australia as did Wheelchair Norm who won his first two races prior to crossing the Tasman. Hifi Allegro made her way into this country graded as an open class greyhound. She maintained that status throughout her outstanding career.
New Zealand’s highest stake earning greyhound Little Mother ($377,751) actually held the record for the most races delivered solely on New Zealand tracks with all 85 of the Greyhound Racing NZ Hall of Fame inducted greyhounds career victories coming on local tracks. Wheelchair Norm went past that total when he posted his 86th Kiwi race win two races ago on Ascot Park. He now has 87 race wins on New Zealand tracks.
Wheelchair Norm belies his veteran age, as this, February 2013 whelped, son of Spring Gun and Jumpin’ Canary continues to provide his younger rivals with a clear view of his hind paws. He has made the Tuesday open class Forbury Park 310m and Ascot Park 390m sprints his own personal domain for a considerable period of time now.
We asked Jonathon McInerney about Wheelchair Norm’s remarkable racing career. “He’s bloody amazing. Norm thrives on his racing and he just keeps on going and going. He simply loves it (racing) and he will continue to do so providing he remains sound as he ages. It has been deliberate race placement on the southern tracks for him. Those tracks are slightly softer (surface wise) than Addington.
“It is a pipedream, however we will push on with Norm to see if he can get 100 race wins. In saying that if he shows any signs of unsoundness he will be retired immediately. He has run time in his last two wins so there’s certainly more left in his paws at this stage.”
Wheelchair Norm is raced by the long time Sydney based kennel client Mark Bell. “Mark has been sending us quality dogs for a while now. He knows how competitive racing is over here and he sends us the right type of dogs,” advised Jonathon.
So, what is Wheelchair Norm like around the team McInerney kennels? “Norm is a real nice greyhound to work with – he’s such a cool dude in the kennels. He does have one noticeable trait though. Norm knows Tuesday is race day and if for some reason he’s not racing and he’s left at home he’ll bark nonstop all day. It’s the only time he barks – you never hear anything from him any other day,” he says, adding “Norm is Dad’s mate, although he is a very special dog for all of us around the kennels. He always looks immaculate even though understandably he’s starting to grey now. He’s a big, powerful dog at around 36kgs.”
Wheelchair Norm has own special place in the race day vehicle when travelling. “He hops in, lies down and he doesn’t move – he loves it!” That traveling has been huge, pretty much on the same scale as photographer Dave Robbie (along with the McInerney team). A rough calculation for Wheelchair Norm’s travelling efforts works out something like this when checking out just his Dunedin/ Invercargill travel schedule. He has been in a vehicle for around 1350 hours (56 full days), while covering around 96,250kms with more to come!
Wheelchair Norm’s resilience can be measured by his 185 race day outings, winning 89 of them. He has placed on a further 44 occasions which sees his career stake earnings currently sitting on $161,103 not out!
It was appropriate that John McInerney was joined by Otago committee man and also a long time kennel client Mark Thompson in recognizing Wheelchair Norm’s 89th career win; a regular Tuesday afternoon photo grab for Wheelchair Norm and his mate John McInerney; Wheelchair Norm doing what he does best – winning Tuesday open class sprints - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
By Peter Fenemor
