We always hope for the future!

LIKE so many, Reg Walsh had a traditional introduction into harness racing.

Formerly-known as Dr Walsh, the veteran industry participant simply followed his father into the sport.

With his Dad – Reginald senior – a keen punter and owner, Walsh was hooked at a tender age.

Exactly how long ago that was Walsh won’t say!

“My father Reginald got me involved when I was 18 years old, but that was a long, long time ago,” Walsh said.

“He would always go to the yearling sales at the old showgrounds in the eastern suburbs in the early days and he was good at buying yearlings.

“There wasn’t one he bought that didn’t win.

“He won a Golden Slipper when the name belonged to harness not the gallops when Nicks Star won it in the 1960s.

“Sonny Teal was a good young trotter he had when young trotters weren’t that reliable. They didn’t have foundation races like we do today for young trotters.”

Also becoming an owner, Walsh moved into breeding standardbreds, which quickly became his passion.

Jokingly claiming it is a fool’s game, Walsh admits there is nothing more satisfying than winning with a homebred pacer or trotter.

“I am quite silly as I have been breeding for a long time,” Walsh said. “I’m not going to say how long, but I’ve bred three generations now.

“The amount I breed varies each year, but it is usually two or three.”

Walsh’s top performers include Harold Park track record holder Koros Legacy and 2013 Group Two Pink Bonnet winner, Denises Legacy.

Walsh was represented by Just Rocknroll during yesterday’s Cobram meeting.

Unfortunately the David Kennedy-trained son of Rock N Roll Heaven finished towards the tail of the field.

“I’ve had some that have gone alright over the years, but I couldn’t say I’ve had a champion yet…we always hope for the future!” Walsh said.

“Koros Legacy held the mares’ track record at Harold Park for about seven years.”

Naturally witnessing a host of changes throughout the years, Walsh believes the treatment of breeders has deteriorated.

An aspect of the industry he is adamant needs immediate attention.

“Overall the sport is going along ok, but we need more for the breeders,” Walsh said. “To be quite honest with you, breeding has not been encouraged properly at all and the little breeder is pretty much not around at all.

“A breeder would come from the bush to the sales with one or two they’ve bred and simply wasn’t really looked after well enough…they would barely get the service fee back.

“It’s all good to have a breeders’ bonus, but that doesn’t really help the breeders, it only helps the winners.

“It’s gone backwards, which is disappointing to see. There might have been a slight increase in the last year or so, but over 10 years it has diminished and diminished.

“More needs to be done to keep encouraging the little breeder to stay an active part of the game.”

• HARNESS BREEDERS NSW