Lenny Jones was retrospectively announced the the 2014 GOBIS Breeder of the Year at the Victorian Greyhound Awards on Thursday evening at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

Jones, of Woodend, received the award as a result of greyhounds he bred winning the most prize money ($76,250) from designated GOBIS races during the 2014 calendar year with greyhounds he bred.

While Jones has retired from breeding, he bred many topline greyhounds over a long period, with Sweet It Is, Skullring, Orochi, Tingtop, Stud Ring, Off Springer, Echelon, Echelonic Action and Mr. Frisbee among the standouts.

The delay in presenting this award came about from the 2014 awards night being cancelled.

“This is great for me and it’s also great for the industry. (Quality) breeding is a very important part (of the industry as it) supplies the good stock for the good trainers and for the battlers as well,” Jones said.

2014 GOBIS Breeder of the Year Award

1st Leonard Jones ($76,250)

2nd Barry Smith ($56,850)

3rd Paul Westerveld ($43,000)

The Greyhound Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (GOBIS) operated in Victoria for many years, providing bonus prize money on designated races to Victorian breeders and owners who paid a registration fee for their greyhounds. GOBIS has now effectively been replaced by GRV’s VicGreys program, which was introduced late in 2017.

Jones encouraged GRV to continue to recognise breeding excellence and suggested that with the VicGreys program now in place the foundations were there to do so.

VicGreys is generating up to $1.4m in bonuses to Victorian breeders and owners across 1,900 Victorian races each year, with registration being automatic for all greyhounds bred in Victoria.

Full details at: grv.org.au/vicgreys

For a comprehensive wrap of all the award winners please click here.