Sad Passing Of Grand Trainer Warren Harper

WARREN Harper, who made history in 1969 by winning the Group One Wentworth Park (St. Leger) Paws Of Thunder with a maiden greyhound, Beau Brin, died on Sunday night, aged 80.

Jill, his wife of 21 years, said: “He has had health problems for many years and succumbed to heart and kidney failure.

Jill Harper, the sister of former leading trainer Bruce Fletcher, added: “I don't know of anybody who loved the greyhound industry as much as Warren.

“Our greyhound Why Me is racing at Gosford on Tuesday night and when I visited him in hospital just before he passed away, I told him I would have to scratch her.

“He made me promise to take Why Me to the track no matter what happened to him, and then to put her over a middle distance.”

As a 14-year-old Warren Harper's ambition was to become a jockey, but when his father Les, a famous greyhound trainer of the 50s and 60s refused to give him permission, he had no choice but to follow in his dad's footsteps and pick up the lead and collar.

Jill and Warren Harper's last top notcher was gifted stayer Miagi, which won the 2008 NSW Greyhound of the Year award after took out the Group One Association Cup at Wentworth Park.

When Beau Brin became the first and only maiden to win the group one Paws Of Thunder (then known as the NSW St Leger), first prizemoney was $4000.

But at the time Warren pointed out: “You can buy a semi-detached house in Maroubra for that money so it was a valuable win.”

While his father Les Harper trained champions like Tegimi, Geeta, Big Pinch, Another Glitter, Arkaroola and New General, the best hurdler of his era, in the early 50s Warren was living at Northmead where his next door neighbour was legendary trainer Albert Carter.

Carter's dog Farrago was the undisputed champion of his day and became the first Australian dog to go to stud in the USA.

At 17, Warren Harper falsified his age by 12 months to secure a trainer's licence and his first greyhounds, Bush Blonde and Sunny Treasure, won their maiden races at WP, with the latter winning the 1963 Wollongong Oaks.

Later, Warren Harper trained the 40kg giant Holding, who was runner-up to Amerigo Lady in the inaugural 1969 National Distance Championship and won 19 races at Wentworth and Harold Park.

His dogs Pal's Dream and Double Summit reached finals of the Paws Of Thunder while he trained Tangleshell to win the 1984 Queensland Derby and prepared Katandra King, runner-up in the 1984 Australian Cup.

He also trained Topini Fire, winner of the Tamworth and Grafton Cups along with Matty Edwards, who took out the Singleton Silver Bullet and was once the WP 280m record holder.

Together Warren and Jill Harper trained Inspirationlee, who won the Run For The Roses at The Gardens, Garbanzo, beaten a nose by Tuiaki in the 2011 Gosford Cup and Montanus, winner over both the 520m and 720m journeys at WP.

Warren Harper is survived by his wife Jill, daughters Janine, Karen and Belinda, and son Paul.