Serious Car Accident Involving Racing Greys And Trainers

[OSoSwift]

Link to news story

After a successful night of Greyhound Racing at South Australias Angle Park track for the heats of the 2012 Adelaide Cup, several of the Group 1 finalist greyhounds and their co-trainer George Dailly along with handler Carl, have been in involved in an tragic car accident in the early hours of the morning.

The accident is believed to have claimed several greyhound lives and both George and Carl have been hospitalised with injuries. Those injuries are considered minor but George is believed to be suffering from broken ribs.

One greyhound is confirmed to have been killed in the accident. Big Black Mac, who had qualified for the $175,000 Adelaide Cup final by winning the first heat of the Cup in 29.66 has been confirmed by Police as having died at the accident scene.

Big Black Mac was a very promising young greyhound winning 6 of his career 11 starts, with earnings of over $25,000 and had already registered a best time of 29.59 at Sandown. He wasnt due to turn 2 years of age until December this year.

Lektra Ottens is also confirmed as missing, having fled the scene in panic. Police have confirmed that local CFA volunteers are still searching the area for the missing fawn greyhound.

Fourteen greyhounds are known to have been onboard when the accident occurred, having all competed for trainer Andrea Dailly at last nights meeting. Several greyhounds are said to be pretty banged up and while it was believed there may have been multiple greyhound fatalities, only one greyhound is confirmed dead at this time.

A Police spokesperson has confirmed that a vet attended the accident scene to assist and assess all greyhounds.

Among those on board were Heston Bale, nominal favourite for the Adelaide Cup final after drawing box 1 in the final, and the winner of nearly $100,000 in prizemoney. High profile greyhound and SA Derby winner Spud Regis, another Adelaide Cup heat winner, was also onboard at the time of the accident.

The combined prizemoney earnings of the greyhounds known to have been involved in the accident is in excess of $450,000, where the real value of the greyhounds involved would be multiples of that with potential stud prospects Heston Bale and Spud Regis involved.

Dyna Lowell and Dyna Morris, who quinellaed the 2012 Traralgon Cup were both involved in the accident, with career prizemoney earnings of $131,000 and $130,000 respectively.

The accident is believed to have occurred in the early hours of the morning while George Dailly was sleeping and Carl was at the wheel. The accident occurred approximately 10kms east of Nhill, near the small rural town of Kiata about half way between the South Australian border and Horsham.

The Victorian Police spokesperson also confirmed that the Daillys ute and trailer carrying 14 greyhounds traveling in an easterly direction, left the road at approximately 3:45am, crashing through a fence and a vacant paddock before impacting upon the western verandah and wall of a house where a male and female occupant were asleep. Both home occupants were unhurt in the incident although they were said to have been thrown from their beds by the impact of the crash.

Amazingly there were no human fatalities from the accident, and the only confirmed greyhound fatality is that of Big Black Mac, although grave concerns are held for Lektra Ottens, and the racing careers of many of the injured greyhounds may be in doubt. Sources close to the Dailly kennel are suggesting already that neither Spud Regis, nor Heston Bale will return to Adelaide to take their places in the $175,000 final.

The accident is said to have written off the Daillys F250 truck and their expensive US imported dog trailer which was capable of transporting at least 16 greyhounds.

The Daillys greyhounds were returning to their Victorian Anakie training base having just won three heats of the $175,000 Adelaide Cup with Big Black Mac, Heston Bale and Spud Regis, all qualifying for the final. The Daillys also provided a further five placegetters during the eight heats.

Bookmakers such as TAB Sportsbet betting pre-post on the Adelaide Cup final have currently suspended all betting in the wake of the accident.

GRSA have already confirmed that the Angela Langton trained first reserve Quo Vadis, will take fatally injured Big Black Macs place in the final, and further announcements will be made as the other greyhounds injuries become known.

George Daillys brother Tom is currently in transit to the Horsham Hospital to attend upon George and Carl and to collect the remaining greyhounds.

This tragic accident comes just one night after Victorian greyhound trainers Steve and Heather Collins suffered a similar loss when kennel hand Jay ran off the road near Geelong on the way back from Warrnambool greyhounds and rolled the trailer, subsequently killing several greyhounds including Sisco Diamond and losing Lektra Ice who fled the scene.

Both the Daillys and Collins are prolific Victorian greyhound trainers who train greyhounds for leviathan greyhound breeders and owners, the Wheelers and the Lenehans.

More details to follow as they come to hand.

Edited October 5, 2012 by OSoSwift

[Dame Aussie]

So sad.

[HazyWal]

[WreckitWhippet]

That's really sad, we watched the meet last night and back a few.

[Esky the husky]

Oh that's so terrible

[Tralee]

Terrrifying

I used to travel all over Victoria with my great uncle and his greyhounds when I was just a pup.

Very scary.

[Parkeyre]

It was an impressive car and trailer setup.

A friend of mine saw it just yesturday and posted a photo of it..

[pipsqueak]

[k9angel]

Poor buggars.

R.I.P. Big Black Mac

[Kirislin]

Poor dogs.

[dogbesotted]

every dog persons nightmare.

Candles lit for all ionvolved

H

[Rozzie]

Update

http://www.australianracinggreyhound.com/australian-greyhound-racing/victorian-greyhound-racing/lektra-ottens-still-missing-in-nhill-area-after-accident/37109

Promising young greyhound Lektra Ottens remains missing this morning in the wake of the tragic car crash that claimed the life of Big Black Mac and hospitalised co-trainer George Dailly and kennel hand Carl Schlensog.

Both George and Carl were discharged from hospital yesterday afternoon and returned to their Anakie base, but Lektra Ottens, a strapping 34kg Fawn dog is still missing.

Owner and breeder, Phil Lenehan explained this morning that after speaking with George Dailly, its a miracle that only one greyhound had died and that George and Carl were alive.

“According to George, the car ran off the road and narrowly passed between two huge trees. If the car had struck either of those trees they would be dead.”

“It was likely at this point that Big Black Mac was thrown from the trailer, and the door was damaged to Ottens’ kennel which allowed him to escape.” said Lenehan.

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“The trailer was airborne and contacted the tree about 8 foot in the air……from there it ran through a vacant house before crashing in to the second house” continued Lenehan.

A subdued Lenehan said “To be honest, its incredibly fortunate that the situation is not worse. It’s just amazing George and Carl are alive, and there weren’t more greyhound fatalities”. This is despite the fact that the likely loss of Lektra Ottens is a significant blow to Lenehan, and his kennel of racing stars.

The young greyhound was not due to turn 3 years of age until February 2013, and in just 40 starts, the son of Bo Frazier and Miss Gabby had amassed $54,000 in prizemoney from 10 wins and a further 10 placings.

Lektra Ottens had just placed third behind Coal King in the secondheat of the Group 1 Adelaide Cup after a checkered run in transit, and had previously been a WA Derby finalist.

Lenehan optimistically said that “There’s at least a slab in it for anyone that can find him”, but the truth is that with each passing day the future for the greyhound with the kennel name “Ottens” looks increasingly grim.

Anyone with information or sightings of Lektra Ottens can contact Australian Racing Greyhound directly via our contact page,Facebook page or one Twitter @GreyhounfRacing and we will pass that information on to Phil Lenehan.

[Polecatty]

Poor greyhounds.

[CHA]

I hope Lektra Ottens is found safe soon what a nightmare for any dog owner, poor Big Black Mac RIP

[k9angel]

Poor Lektra Ottens I hope they don't give up looking for him, poor buggar must of been terrified that morning when he did the bolt. I hope he is found soon.

[Rebanne]

Don't forget there were other dogs killed the night before and Lektra Ice got loose as well.

[Rebanne]

Just been told by my greyhound man Ottens was found yesterday

[OSoSwift]

Great he was found, and yes this was the second of two serious car accidents.

RIP those dogs who didn't make it.

Is Ottens in reasonable condition? I hope so poor thing would have been terrified and just bolted.

[OSoSwift]

Update

Lektra Ottens Found Alive Near Accident Site

Written By Kevin Pitstock, Editor & Australian Greyhound Racing Expert Contributor Monday 8th October 2012

Missing greyhound Lektra Ottens has been found alive by locals near the Kiata accident site that claimed the life of promising young greyhound Big Black Mac.

Lektra Ottens has been on the run since the early hours of Friday morning, when the kennel door burst open during the accident and grave concerns were held for his welfare.

Owner and breeder Phil Lenehan happily reported this morning that “Ottens is alive and we know where he his”.

According to Lenehan, a local gentleman who lives in the Kiata area has been feeding a fawn greyhound since Friday afternoon, blissfully unaware of the drama that surrounded his new friend.

It wasn’t until this morning when the gentleman’s daughter called around that her father told her of “the greyhound that turns up everyday looking for something to eat”.

Having seen the news reports on Australian Racing Greyhound, the daughter immediately knew who the mystery visitor was, and alerted the Ranger and nearby greyhound trainer Andrea Gurry.

“Apparently, Ottens has been turning up each day since Friday at about 5pm looking for a feed”, said Lenehan.

“According to the fellow, Ottens has been there every day like clockwork for dinner, and has even been seen sleeping on an old lounge in the yard if left undisturbed”.

“Unfortunately, as soon as anyone goes near him he takes off again”, continued Lenehan.

While it remains unclear if Lektra Ottens has suffered any injuries, the fact he is ambulant and eating is a promising sign.

The local Ranger and Andrea Gurry, will make an attempt to catch “Ottens” this afternoon when he turns up for his daily meal.

“Hopefully with Andrea’s help they should be able to get him back safely.”

“From there we’ll just see how he is, but if he’s okay Andrea has agreed to look after him tonight and I’ll head up to Horsham tomorrow collect him”.

“It’s been an amazing response from the media, the Police, CFA, and the Greyhound Community to help find Ottens, and I’d like to thank everyone involved and Australian Racing Greyhound for helping get the message out there”, said Lenehan.

It remains to be seen if Lektra Ottens will race again, but the fact the enterprising young greyhound has managed to stay alive and well for four days in the wild is certainly a testament to his determination and courage.

As Lenehan proudly stated “They breed them tough down Warrnambool way mate”.

[WreckitWhippet]

I reckon if he opened his front door and left it long enough, the dog would have found his lounge. They have a homing device when it comes to beds and lounges .

It's lovely that he's been found