Graeme Bate is a master trainer.

The 13-time Victorian Trainer of the Year has won myriad Group races around Australia and multiple country cups in his home state.

A qualified electrician and keen fisherman, Graeme was introduced to greyhound racing as a teenager purely by chance.

"My next-door-neighbour, Richard McCormack, suffered a debilitating back injury in a car accident, and he asked me if I could walk his greyhounds while he was recuperating. I helped him out for a year, and during this period I caught the greyhound racing bug."

Graeme recalls preparing his first winner, Black Clyde, as a 19-year-old in the mid-'60s. He was competing in cross country and long distance events for Lara Amateur Athletics Club at the time.

"I actually used to jog along with my greyhounds as part of their training routine - and mine - in those days."

More than four decades later, Graeme is held in the highest esteem in the industry being an inaugural Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame inductee.

He has been associated with greyhounds the ilk of Ibrox, Satan's Shroud, Modern Gossip, Hay Dinney, Fair Sentence, Pure Talent, Kantarn Bale, Bomber Gleeson, Northern Legend, Malawi Law, Moonambel Gem, Lansley Bale, Suellen Bale, Henerik Bale, and more recently Velocette, Turanza Bale and Amity Bale - to name just a few.

Here, Graeme shares the 'secrets' of his training success...

(1) Post breaking-in to racing

From 13-16 months they are spelled. I worm them out and clean them up wen they're brought back into serious work.
 
Initially they are free galloped daily for a couple of weeks to obtain a satisfactory level of fitness.

Then I start trialling over 347 metres at Geelong, and build them up from there.

During this stage, I keep checking for signs of metacarpal soreness.

My greyhounds are trialled 'two-out' at first and then progress to half-fields under lights. I also put a racing vest on them.

Once they show they're handling fields, running times and doing everything right, I enter them for a race (preferably a daylight race first up).

(2) Pre-race procedure (between races)

I free gallop twice a day for 7-8 minutes duration (even the day before a race). And I have them checked 3-4 days before a race. It allows them time to get over any problems.

On race day I'll give them electrolytes with a piece of wholemeal bread. The mixture assists in the prevention of acidosis and dehydration.

(3) Post-race procedure (between races)

I watch them closely in the free galloping runs and I'll pick it up if they've got any soreness. If a greyhound does something uncharacteristic of its nature, I'll know there's something wrong. I familiarise myself with how they act.

Following a race, I also put an electrolyte mixture on their feed.

I don't use hydro-baths anymore.

(4) Feeding (basic diet)

Morning: 1 slice of wholemeal bread.

Evening: Beef and chicken (50/50), wholemeal bread, a yeast-based vitamin additive - it's balanced and has virtually every vitamin they need, and it helps them recover from the stress of racing.

(5) Maintaining fitness

Plenty of free galloping - it's always worked for me. I can't see a better or easier way of doing it.
 
You must also be consistent and I don't walk my greyhounds at all.

Back in the late '70s, I bought a walking machine and Ibrox - 1977 Victorian Greyhound of the Year - lost six lengths.

As a result, I thought why the hell would anyone want to use a walking machine?

I sold the walking machine, Ibrox returned to her brilliant best, and I've been free galloping ever since.

It's hard to keep them going and that's where a lot of novice trainers encounter difficulties. They find it hard to maintain their dog's form.

(6) Checking for injuries

I locate most of the problems myself and also consult a veterinarian. Obviously if they require an operation, a veterinarian performs the surgery.

Also certain greyhound chiropractors have taught me a lot.