LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

  
Earlier this year, TV personality James Sherry spent a day filming at two greyhound race meetings for Channel 7's popular program, Coxy's Big Break.

An estimated 450,000 people watched the segment when it aired for the first time last Sunday, and got an insight into the daytime picnic atmosphere of daytime provincial racing at Healesville through to the corporate dining associated with metropolitan racetrack, The Meadows.
 
Sherry this week recalled his favourite memories of the day...
 
 

JAMES SHERRY ON... 
 
 
HEALESVILLE
"Standing behind the boxes at Healesville I couldn't believe how quick the greyhounds were. This was my first trip to the greyhounds since going to the GABBA racetrack in Queensland when I was a kid."

"I didn't expect that spectators could get so close to the greyhounds when they race and when they are parading before and afterwards. You are so close to everything which gives you a real appreciation for the greyhounds' physical attributes."

"Another thing that struck me was that a lot of the trainers are hobbyists. They work a 9-5 job and in their spare time they are having fun racing what is effectively their pet."

 

THE MEADOWS
"I kind of expected Healesville to be a family environment, but I was surprised that there were also plenty of kids at The Meadows. It's a great place for mum and dad to have a wine and beer and have a couple of bets if they want to while the kids play in what is almost like a courtyard."

"The view from the dining area on to the track is magnificent, and from outside looking up at the grandstand it is equally as spectacular."

"The races are only about 20 minutes apart and as one race finishes, a few minutes later the greyhounds in the next race are parading so there is always something going on."

"I find that people get lost in chatting about 'the punt' whenever they talk about racing, but there is so much more to the greyhound racing world than gambling."