While Kevin Proctor may not be a household name like the renowned trainers in the industry, his inspiring tale resonates deeply with the unsung heroes who form the backbone of greyhound racing. On Friday evening, the culmination of Kevin's dedication and perseverance unfolded as his 14/1 outsider, Front Alice, triumphed in the prestigious Coral Golden Sprint, marking a significant milestone in his career.
"Around 20 years ago I came up with the idea of supplying homing doves to be released at weddings and funerals. We’ve been doing it all over London and surrounding areas ever since," shares Kevin, reflecting on his entrepreneurial beginnings.
Reflecting on his journey, Kevin reminisces about his innovative venture into supplying homing doves for special occasions over two decades ago. This entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for his eventual foray into greyhound ownership and training, propelling him into a realm where his passion and commitment shone brightly.
"I had some pups being reared in Ireland by Martin Tucker. One day he said that a little bitch in the litter wasn’t really thriving and did I have the facility to bring her home?" Kevin recalls, recounting the turning point that led him to become more hands-on in the sport.
Reflecting on his journey, Kevin reminisces about his innovative venture into supplying homing doves for special occasions over two decades ago. This entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for his eventual foray into greyhound ownership and training, propelling him into a realm where his passion and commitment shone brightly.
"They are by Droopys Sydney out of Front Society and progressing really well. One of them is up to A2 already. It was quite an eye opener, rearing through two winters, and all the mud. But it was very satisfying too, that extra interest when you have bred them yourself," Kevin shares, speaking about his experience breeding and rearing his first litter at his kennel near Harlow.
In addition to the litter of seven, he has just two racers, Alice, who was sourced by Wayne Murphy and Front Mali who finished third in last year’s Gold Cup at Oxford.
"So what are the future plans for Front Alice?" Kevin ponders. "I would really like to go for the Oaks, I think the 480 metres would really suit her. The thing is, she was in season last July, and isn’t surpressed, so that may not work out. I’ll decide in the next couple of days whether or not to go for the Brighton Belle. The 515m might be on the tough side, so I will have to think about it."
"One remaining question, was the £10K supplemented by a few pounds in the ante post market?" Kevin reflects. "I never back my dogs but this was the first occasion that I decided that I would. I decided to have £100 at 25/1 and couldn’t find anyone prepared to lay the bet. It is a sad reflection on the way the game is going."