Casino Record Has Veteran Patton On Cloud Nine

EIGHTY-year-old Emmett Patton and his 67-year-old sidekick Bob Blake seriously considered heading to the ‘local‘ on Tuesday night to celebrate after Kingsbrae Brett broke a long-standing 411m track record at Casino.

But, after consideration, they decided against it and stayed at home at Cambridge Plateau, almost an hour from Casino.

Kingsbrae Brett (Ando's Mac-Lil Macie Breeze) ran 22.76 to topple high class sprinter Integrity Mate's record by just .01.

The $1.80 favourite, he powered away from Shannon Scott's Come On Remi and Looks A Picture, from the powerful Mark Wilkes kennel, winning by almost nine lengths.

Kingsbrae Brett is one of just two dogs in Emmett's kennel and he had to pry him from previous owner Jake Northfield.

"Jake is a good man," said Emmett. "I told him a good while ago ‘I want that dog'."

It was not until February before Emmett could get him.

"I gave Jake a couple of thousand for him and he's a beautiful dog," he said.

Kingsbrae Brett has won four of seven starts for Emmett and six overall.

"Yep, it did surprise me that he ran the record, but his form over the 300 has been really good," he added.

Jake Northfield is an integral part of the Emmett Patton operation.

He heads out to Cambridge Plateau to collect Emmett's dogs to go racing, the 80-year-old preferring these days to get the news of success via TV coverage.

"I've been in dogs for 50 plus years," Emmett said.

Born in Fiji, Emmett at 19 headed to New Zealand for a brief stint but turned his sights on Australia. He has spent his life as a fencer.

"I've only got the two in work," he said. "But we've got some good old pals (retirees) living here as well.

"I've been buying dogs from Charlie Northfield's breed for years and done pretty good with them as well."

He is devoted to greyhound racing and the animal.

"As long as they've got greyhounds racing, I'll be happy."