Greyhound racing is in mourning after the passing of Geoff Dawson, an icon of the sport for near half a century.

Tribute by Neil Brown

“Smokey” made everyone who came to Sandown Park feel special from young kids to regulars and first-timers. He made friends easily and had them in every state and overseas.

He was revered.

His passion for the Sandown Club and its advancement showed no bounds.

A Board Director from 1979, he became Chairman in 1987, serving in the role with distinction for an unprecedented 30 years before retiring and being honoured as the Club’s first patron, he had been honoured with life membership.

Geoff served as Chairman of Greyhounds Entertainment for a long period of time and Dawsons Bistro at GE is named in his honour.

His service to greyhound racing was recognised in the year 2000 when he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and in 2007 he won the Ken Carr Medal, Greyhound Racing Victoria’s highest honour.

His ultimate salute came last year when he was inducted into the Greyhound Clubs Australia Hall of Fame.

At Sandown, his legacy continues with the annual staging of the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson.

Geoff loved racing greyhounds and had many over the years with varied success.

He was a soft touch if offered a share he never said no.

‘Smokey’ will be missed by many a Sandown man to the core, he will never be forgotten at a Club he devoted so much of his time and effort to making it a better place.

Vale Geoff “Smokey” Dawson. His legacy lives on.