Why Ageless Tiger Time Is One In A Million

HE'S a freak. 

That was trainer Debbie Goudge's simple assessment of her rising five-year-old Tiger Time as he races in the form of his life. 

Beginning his racing career in May 2020 – more than three years ago – he has amassed 40 wins from his 123 starts, but it's his record since turning four that has been most remarkable.  

Since officially becoming a ‘veteran', Tiger Time has won 15 of 25 including six of his last seven. His only defeat in that stretch coming in the final of the Pink Diamond Veterans where he ran second to Aston Ulysses by a mere half-a-length.  

"He's a freak. You wouldn't think a dog that's nearly five can do what he's doing," said Goudge. 

"He is fast for his age, but he's a bit like us. I enjoy what I do, and I can't see myself doing anything else. I think he loves to run and doesn't want to do anything else." 

And that, according to Goudge, is the secret to his longevity – he just enjoys racing, loves it.

"He's an easy dog to work, he runs the runs himself,” she added.

"It's funny, the day after his race, he lays in his bed with four feet in the air where he stays for most of the day. The day after that he'll come into the runs and off he goes for a couple of hundred metres, comes back and back into bed, as if he knows what he needs to do.  

"He's very quiet in the kennels, in a way he does rule – I would hate to ever get the dogs around him out before him – he has to be first at everything." 

It's ‘Tiger Time'

TIGER TIME enhanced his record to 40 wins and 35 minor placings from 123 starts in this fast run at Geelong.

Is the victory of TIGER TIME an omen ahead of #AFLTigersHawks at the @MCG this afternoon?#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/IPOP3QD69h

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 22, 2023

Not only has Tiger Time been winning races, he has been running time with three of his last four wins in the fastest time of the meeting.

His career best time over the 400m at Geelong – his pet distance at his home track – is 22.09, set at the same meeting Unleashed Collinda established a new track record of 22.00. 

He's also been a punter's pal, starting favourite in all but one of his last eight starts, the exception being when he started the $2.50 second elect, a race in which he also won. 

"I never expect him to win,” Debbie said.

“Every time he goes around, I just want to see him come off safe, that's all I want from any of my dogs. I go to Geelong and people say, ‘you're doing a good job with him,' but a good dog makes a good trainer, so he's making me look good.  

"I can't say any more about him. He's just a good dog, an honest dog, and loves to run." 

Goudge was born into greyhound racing. Her parents were trainers and she has had a license of her own for more than 40 years. She admits Tiger Time, or Agro as he's known in the kennels, is one of her favourites and has a home for life when his racing days are over. Not that it is likely to be any time soon. 

"They're all special to me, but he just brings a lot of fun, a lot of heartache and sometimes he drives me up the wall. But that's Tiger Time,” she adds. 

"I had one called Nimble Blaze. He was a stayer and unfortunately he broke down prior to getting ready for the Sandown Cup.  He's the king of the castle down the back of the kennels here and he still lets us know it. He's part and parcel of the family now, just like Tiger Time will be." 

“(But) I honestly believe he'll tell me when he's had enough. 

"One night at Geelong a few starts ago he was in a mood. How do I put this – he can be stubborn. 

"That night, I honestly thought he'd had enough. I said to him that was it, no more. Doesn't matter where you finish, we're going to finish tonight.  

"I have this little thing with all of my dogs where I bend down and say, ‘good luck, do the best you can.' All of a sudden, I could feel him change, as if he said, ‘I'm here to race, put me in!' 

"I could feel him change, and he's won a few more since then. 

"He has a passion to win, he wants to win. Once he gets past his crankiness."