The Born to Run. Ryan Reed

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      By 1990, the RIGOA had turned into a genuine lobbying force that was dealing with multiple legislative issues. Yet, at the same time, the association was morphing into something else altogether: a benevolent group serving the needs of retired racing Greyhounds as well as Rhode Island’s underprivileged citizens.

      In recent years, the RIGOA has donated around $100,000 annually to Greyhound adoption efforts, plus another $150,000 to local charities. The single biggest recipient of the RIGOA’s benefaction is the Lincoln Greyhound Adoption Program, founded in late 1994 and later known as Twin River Greyhound Adoption. To get the organization started, the RIGOA paid for an adoption kennel in the secure Lincoln Park kennel compound, as well as a brand-new van to provide transportation. Electricity, telephone service, food for the retired racers, and even furniture expenses are also covered by the owners’ association.

      Summing up the relationship, adoption director June Bazar said, "Whatever we need, we get. Our kennel wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the RIGOA. All they care about is what’s best for the dogs, and I love them like family." With their combined efforts, approximately two hundred retired racing Greyhounds were adopted through the Twin River Greyhound Adoption Program each year, allowing the racetrack to enjoy a 100 percent adoption rate while it was hosting live racing.

      In Massachusetts, the Wonderland and Raynham Greyhound Parks worked in conjunction with one another to host an annual Greyhound Adoption Expo at their respective facilities in Revere and Raynham. The expos drew some 450 attendees, and the schedule of events included a mock race—called a “fun run”—for retired racing Greyhounds, an amateur racing demonstration, speakers, raffles, racetrack tours, and even weeklong gigs as helpers in a racing kennel as prizes for some lucky adoption representatives.

      NORTHEASTERN STYLE | photogallery

      Hidden away in the quiet corner of northeastern Connecticut near Pomfret Center is a breeding farm that embodies New England charm. Fred Fulchino started the Regall Sports kennel in April 1997 after spending a good deal of his life working in Greyhound racing. Fred’s career has taken him from the position of leadout at the Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere, Massachusetts, to being the owner of the highly acclaimed racer EA’s Itzaboy, captain of the 2003 All-American Team. With the assistance of two kennel helpers, Fred cares for eighty to one hundred Greyhounds at any one time.

      In a moment of simple pleasure, four-year-old Capones Lil jumps for joy while Fred walks her around the breeding farm during a chilly September morning in 2003. Two years earlier, the brindled speedster won the $75,000 Great Greyhound Race at the Seabrook Greyhound Park.

      A tub of kibble, ground beef, cooked macaroni, and powdered supplements is prepared for the pups, who have built up an appetite after running and playing throughout the day. Once the future racers have finished eating, their individual bowls are collected, washed, and neatly stacked, ready for the next meal—a ritual that takes place twice a day, every day, whether it be an average Monday or Christmas Day.

      Full of curiosity, energy, and life, pups of different ages and bloodlines spend a sunny afternoon playing and acting downright silly. Fenced 250-foot-long sprint paths give the youngsters enough room to stretch their growing legs when the mood strikes. Their New England way of life is a good one.

      Aiding first-time patrons and professional handicappers alike, the tote board at a racetrack displays pertinent information, such as time to post, odds, pools, results, and payoffs for each race.

      Running for the sheer joy of running, an eleven-month-old pup—bred from sire Craigie Whistler and dam Mohican Topaz—kicks up a cloud of dust in his sprint path during an early morning romp. While Greyhounds are trained to refine their innate athletic aptitudes just like any other athlete is, they are not trained to run or be competitive—that comes naturally from eight thousand years of instinct.

      Three-year-oldFlying Kulwicke (number 5) is slowly losing her slim lead to Erupter (number 7), a slightly younger pup who crossed the wire just ahead of the steely-eyed black beauty. After a successful racing career, Flying Kulwicke eventually became a brood matron.

      With a matinee scheduled for 12:20 in the afternoon, a great deal of work needs to be done, starting at sunrise. The sounds of heavy machinery will beckon and the smell of diesel exhaust will begin to hang low in the New England morning air. A few minutes after sunrise, Tony Blinkhorn—a starter/maintenance manager for Lincoln Park—goes to work on the racetrack by first scraping up the top 6 inches of the sand-and-clay composite using a motor grader. This process allows the composite to absorb the water needed to create a safe running surface. After several passes around the racetrack, the upturned composite is broken up and redistributed. On the curves, the composite is graded toward the outside edge to keep the degree of banking within proper standards.

      Once the racetrack surface has been upturned, Tony trades in the motor grader for a tractor that pulls a heavy dragging apparatus, which levels the surface. After several times around the track, the dragging apparatus is removed. The tractor, however, continues to circle the racetrack to tamp down the surface. After numerous passes, the racetrack is ready to absorb the predetermined and specific amount of water. Before the first race begins, the chute area and escape turn will be raked by hand. Because of this careful preparation of the racetrack, racing injuries are kept to an incredible minimum.

      In hot pursuit of Rhody, Lincoln Park’s mechanical lure, BF Elli (number 2) leads the way of grade-BB racers. At this point in the race, the three-year-old speedster is pulling away from the pack and preparing to round the first turn in perfect form. While BF Elli took the win in 37.36 seconds, JJ’s Slick (number 5) and PS Wise Choice (number 6) both made solid efforts and finished in second and third place, respectively.

      Trainers and handlers from the D.Q. Williams kennel unload their fleet-footed racers one by one as other kennel operators arrive at the paddock building for the weigh-in procedure. Faith Keeper and Storm Mist, the two white and fawn Greyhounds, along with Time Warp Lily and Showtime, the two black Greyhounds, are all solid AA to B racers.

      While holding onto a half-dozen leashes with one hand, kennel operators must attach brass tags onto each Greyhound’s collar with the other. Each brass tag has the number of a race and post position to identify what race and position each dog runs. Because trainers are used to the routine, the procedure is completed in a surprisingly short time.

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