The Matt Dartnall Interview
(With Joe Large)
To all the lady's he's Mr Grey but to everyone else he's a great trainer and a great character now at Towcester . Q&A time with Matt Dartnall
Q1 I know it's in your blood the greyhound industry but for our members can you tell us how you got into greyhounds ?
Answer
My father trained greyhounds and his uncle trained before that, so I suppose I'm bred into the sport. My dad terry was attached to slough, wembley and Wimbledon. It was his days at wembley that I fondly remember as a child growing up. Finishing school, jumping into the back of the van and heading to the twin towers, once there you got to go into the England changing rooms, walk down the tunnel, race up and down the stairs, stand in the royal box and shout home the winners, until dad would whisper, that's enough son he's 10 clear and pulling away!! So that was my play ground really.
Q2 How are you enjoying racing at Towcester has it brought you any new owners ?
Answer
I love racing at towcester, it's brought back a bit of glamour into the sport. Every race is competitive and it's great to have winners there, It makes me proud to be part of this sport again.
Q3 How many greyhounds do you currently have in training ?
Answer
We currently have 52 in the kennel, of which about 20 are on the racing strength. We rear a litter of pups a year, and the next batch are about to start schooling at towcester in the next few months.
Q4 Do you have any kennel Hands
Answer
We employ 5 kennel hands to help with the work load.
3 full time and 2 part time.
I do a lot of the racing myself as I need to talk to my owners and watch the races to decide what we need to do, to improve our greyhounds performance or judge our competition who we'll be taking on in the following weeks.
Q5 If Someone was interested in becoming a kennel hand what advice would you give ?
Answer
Change your mind!!
I can't afford to pay my kennel hands what they deserve to be paid. It's long tough hours and physically demanding.
Have it more as a hobby, Every trainer will need a bit of help, pop in walk a few dogs, help to feed up, get to know the trainer, their staff, and their dogs, find out how it all works and maybe after a bit of experience ask to go racing and learn about that side of the game.
Q6 Since taking the licence over from your Dad Terry you have had great Success, Did you feel pressure to carry on the success ?
Answer
When I took the licence over, my dad made sure I had the tools to do the job. I reached 3 derby finals and won a good few category 1 competitions.
You are only as good as the dogs you have in the kennel. That's the tough realisation of the sport. If you buy decent open class dogs you can win competitions...if you buy graders then sadly A1 and minor open class races are your limits.
Success in this sport is hard to measure, I haven't won the derby yet, but still have a kennel full of decent dogs, and great, supportive owners. The pressure is keeping the business going.
Q7 A dog I always remember was Me Buddy who won Peterborough puppy Derby 2008, Fengate collar 2008, guys and dolls Crayford 2008 and the Tony Morris Memorial Bowl 2010. He was something of a track specialist at theses two tracks how important is it to place dogs at a track that suits and how do you decide ?
Answer
What a dog!! and I've still got him here today. That's why I've used him to cover a few bitches. Part of being a trainer is placing dogs over the right distance at the right track. Breeding, size and form are all indications of where and what distance to run the dogs over. Remember it's a game of opinions, and everyone's and every dog is different!
Q8 One of my Favourite dogs you trained was Ballymac Ruso who reached the Derby Final in 2009 along with your other runner Glenard Sunrise how did you feel getting not one but Two greyhounds in a Derby Final ?
Answer
Two derby finalists in the same year and by winning both semi finals. That was a great achievement, and made dad so proud. It was a great week in the kennel and proved that we can train as good as anyone. The draw didn't work out for either of them in the final. We lacked the last piece of luck that year!
Q9 Then In 2012 you had the favourite in the Derby in the form of Farloe Ironman their was a little trouble in the race and he came second to Blonde Snapper, does this make you more determined to win a Derby and do you think you will one year ?
Answer
As I watched the race, all the emotions overcame me, the race portrayed the ups and downs of the sport. the trouble out the boxes put an end to our chances, at the first bend he slipped inside the field to put himself back into the race, I nearly dropped to my knees as he flew down the back and nearly took it up as they reached the third bend, it just wasn't to be, 2nd. Great achievement to reach another derby final and getting so so close was gut wrenching...I will win the derby someday..
Q10 How do you prepare dogs for a Derby any different or the same routine ?
Answer
I've had 3 English derby finalists and 1 Irish derby finalist. Patience is the key..there's no point flying round the track in January, February and March, by the time May/June comes round you haven't got anything left in the tank, you need a fit fresh dog at the beginning of the competition, or you'll be heading home after the 3rd round.
Have the confidence in the dogs ability and patient understanding owners to leave him alone at the beginning of the year and in my opinion that's the key.
Q11 What has been your best moments so far and why ?
Answer
Runner up in the English derby with farloe ironman, to think I was just over a length off winning £125,000!!
Getting to the final of the Irish derby and finishing 3rd has to be a big achievement too, It took hours of hard work and I travelled on my own back and forth for each round. You are always at a disadvantage when you have to travel and Ballymac Ruso was a model of consistency thoughout the competition.
And winning the Arc at my attached track at the time Swindon, for Patsy Byrne.
Q12 what's your kennel Targets for this year ?
Answer
Targets for this year, will be to keep going. Keep the winners ticking over at towcester and hopefully have a bit of fun on the open race circuit with the new ones coming though.
Q13 which of your dogs should our members keep watch this year ?
Answer
Ashburn Lark has gone through the grades, the owner is very enthusiastic and gave me a brief to have a runner on the opening night at towcester, he wasn't an expensive purchase and is the model of consistency. 4 wins and 3 seconds from 9 starts at towcester. I was so pleased we purchased him. He should strengthen up and will win his fair share in the next coming months.
Q14 and finally if people wanted to place a greyhound with you do you have space ?
Answer
We always have room for good owners and our dogs always come first!
My contact details are in the race card, and for any questions please contact me on
[email protected]
Matt thanks again it's been a smashing Q&A and all the best for this year.
(Benny's View)
Yes Matty is a great trainer who I knew when he was at Reading always the gentleman and always puts the dogs welfare first ..
Thanks Joe for a great interview
