A SMALL WORLD – A STORY OF TWO PAT DOBBS
Ian Fortune
Greyhound racing throws up nuggets every now and again. And this is a gem.
Pat Dobbs, who would be known to so many in the greyhound racing world recently got in touch and told a story.
When I say Pat Dobbs, I don’t mean the top jockey, who along with his brother Alan recently captured the National Puppy Stake with Up The Style but, instead, the Pat Dobbs I have known for over twenty years through his regular attendance and enthusiasm for our wonderful sport.
I think it’s better is we let Pat tell the story in his own words….
“Dear reader,
my name is Pat Dobbs,
The story starts
Saturday night 24th. Sept, Bernard Barry (bookmaker in SP) congratulated me on the great win of Up The Style in Newbridge the night before. The following Saturday night 30th. Sept. Yvonne and Tomo Barry (also bookmakers in SP) also congratulated me again after Up The Style as she Won 2nd. Round in of unraced puppy stake in great fashion in 28.53.
Move on to 8th. Oct., I get a call from John Robinson brother of Eugene Robinson, Greyhound Trainer and trainer of Derby winner Ballyanne Sim. I was very good friends with John and Eugene when I lived in Kildare may years ago. Eugene wanted to know if I owned that pup Up The Style as he saw my name Pat Dobbs down for it. Eugene said it was the best pup he had seen run in Newbridge for years as she had Won the Final by 19 Lengths in a fabulous 28.17.
The Dream continues; Sunday morning 4th. Dec., I get an Email from Larry Fogarty (who I sold South Armagh too) congratulating me on the great win by Up The Style in the Final of the National Puppy Stake in 28.29 the previous night in SP.
It’s a small world
Well, you might think all this attention is starting to go to my head at this stage!
So, my name is Pat Dobbs, and this is very true, and I have been involved in Greyhounds since I was a child.
First memory was in the mid 70’s at my local Track Newbridge, watching those two great pups Shamrock Point and Shamrock Sailor (Litter brothers I think!) trained by Ger Mckenna competing the Texacloth Puppy stake.
Also witnessed (and backed) and have fond memories of some great greyhounds race around Newbridge, like Dual Pride (unbeatable from T1), Nelsons Blast owned by the Borughal’s, Laundry Basket owned by the Burkes and many super pups out of that great Brood Handbag that the late Paddy Cross bread. Such as Fur Collar (Oaks winner), Here’s Sonny (Puppy Derby) just to mention a few.
However, I am NOT the Pat Dobbs that owns Up The Style or that great bitch Ballymac Beanie that won the Oaks, they are owned by the “other” Pat Dobbs, the Jockey and his brother Alan Dobbs from Wexford, no relations.
I am Pat Dobbs (the heavy one!) now living in Dunboyne, when I was down in Kildare recently, I got onto Robert Gleeson and his father Michael about all the hassle they were causing me? See that’s where the Small World gets even smaller. I was reared in Rathangan Co. Kildare and went to School with Michael Gleeson 50 plus years ago… Michael is as you know Robert’s dad that trains Up The Style, what a coincident that is 50 odd years later!
What next?
Well, we had a good laugh about it all and I think they only way I can get my own back now is to buy a pup out of Beanie or Style from Pat & Alan Dobbs. If it turned out to be half as good as the mother, then Pat Dobbs (the light one) will be getting all the congratulations. Only difference this time, is it would be mine (the heavy one) instead and I think we would be quits?
So, the World is much smaller than we think, whether it be in sport, life or business…
Kind Regards,
Yours in Sport (this wonderful sport of ours).
Pat Dobbs (the heavy one).