Hutchinson Already A Winner Ahead Of Cup Test

SOUTH Coast trainer Penny Hutchinson is skeptical about her prospects in the East Maitland Bowling Club Gold Cup Final (450m) with War Hawk but despite that she and her dog are already winners.

What do you do when the kids fly the coup? Take out a licence to train greyhounds.

That's the basis of how Hutchinson ended up with a finalist in Friday's $40,000-to-the-winner Group 2 East Maitland Bowling Club Gold Cup Final at Maitland.

Hutchinson, 57, was introduced to the sport via Facebook and the first greyhound she owned was the classy On The Rocks, the winner of 26 of 57 starts.

"It's a bit of a weird story," Hutchinson said of her involvement in the sport.

"I found her as a puppy on Facebook and she took us on a wonderful ride.

"Donna Campbell who trained her always encouraged me to get my licence and have a go.

"I thought ‘no, no, I wouldn't be able to do that' but she convinced me to give it a shot.”

Two year's after her first foray into greyhound ownership, Hutchinson took the leap and after taking out her attendants licence, she also secured a permit to become an owner/trainer.

"My daughters and I evented horses, weekend after weekend for years and then when they grew up they left home and my husband (David) is in the Navy and works sun up to sun down," she said.

"There was a void, this real void in me, and the dogs filled that.

"I just do it for fun. It's a hobby and I love the dogs.

"I don't understand the gambling side of the sport and to be honest it doesn't interest me.

"The feeling and satisfaction the dogs give you when they run well is like nothing I've ever experienced.

"Training them is a real commitment. I didn't realise just how much of a commitment it was going to be.

"It's a real 24/7, seven day a week commitment."

War Hawk has won the opening heat of the East Maitland Bowling Club Gold Cup tonight! The Penny Hutchinson-trained chaser clocked 24.99 in his victory over Oh Minnie and Nangar Larry…

Full Results: https://t.co/Nf7qFi1WRG#thedogs #maitlandcup #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/vSpzzuTz2r

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) December 1, 2023

In just 18 months, Hutchinson has had a total of 180 starters for a haul of 41 winners at just shy of 23 per cent and another 58 placegetters.

To date, her biggest win as a trainer came when War Hawk won a $4000-to-the-winner race last month at Wentworth Park.

On Friday, the lightly raced 38 kilo brindle brute, will be chasing Hutchinson's biggest win since becoming involved in the sport when he's one of the eight finalists in Maitland's biggest race of the year.

War Hawk won his way through to the final by winning the first of the six Gold Cup heats when exiting from box seven, the same draw he needs to overcome in Friday's rich final.

"I'm just happy he's made the final," Hutchinson said. "I'm always a bit skeptical before they race.

"There's a lot of fast dogs in the race so I don't think he's that well boxed but as long as he gets home safely I'll be happy."