Elite Machine claims top honour
Image: Greyhounds WA
Elite Machine, guided by trainer Jamie Marsh, won the coveted Greyhound of the Year title after an outstanding performance for the 2023 season.
Racing 27 times, the exceptional greyhound clinched victories in two Group 1 finals, notably the Perth Cup and the Brisbane Cup, accumulating more than $1 million in prize money.
Elite Machine also placed in The Sandgroper and was selected to compete in the invitation-only Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows.
The award ceremony highlighted exceptional achievements, including the Young Achiever Award, presented to Adam Smithson and the Kerry Vernon Award for Excellence in Greyhound Welfare, claimed by Lynne Foster for her outstanding commitment to greyhound welfare.
Chris Halse was recognized as the Leading Trainer of 2023, showcasing an impressive year with 232 wins, including training the Group 1 Galaxy winner, First Picked.
The evening highlighted the retrospective journey through the past 50 years of greyhound racing. The celebration brought together pioneers like Paul Cauchi and Paul Ambrosoli, along with the acknowledgment of contributors such as John Cole, Ann and Mike Bate and Dot and Mandy Houghton.
A special moment in the evening was the presentation of the Gerry O’Keefe Achievement Award to Norm Goold, a stalwart in the industry since its inception in 1974.
Racing WA Chief Racing Officer David Hunter said the evening celebrated both the stars of the past and the present.
“The awards not only honored the outstanding achievements of Elite Machine but also paid homage to the history and contributors who have shaped the greyhound racing legacy over the past 50 years,” David said.
“Congratulations to all winners, and to those that have contributed to the sport over the past five decades.”