One of the most recognisable and popular greyhounds of the modern era, Tornado Tears, has taken his rightful place among the sport’s immortals after being inducted into the Victorian Greyhound Racing’s Hall of Fame at Friday night’s Victorian Greyhound Awards.

A cult hero both on and off the track, Tornado Tears captivated racing fans with his remarkable ability, distinctive black-and-white markings and a racing style that made him one of the most feared stayers in Australia. Between 2018 and 2020, he dominated the staying ranks, building a record that firmly established him among the greatest distance performers the sport has seen.

Bred by Michael Ivers and trained by renowned trainer of stayers, Robert Britton, the son of Fernando Bale and Tears Siam raced 69 times for 35 wins and 14 placings, earning more than $1 million in prizemoney and joining the sport’s exclusive million-dollar club.

His record was highlighted by five Group 1 victories, including the 2018 Sandown Cup, 2018 Albion Park Gold Cup, 2018 National Distance Championship, 2019 Bold Trease, and 2019 Zoom Top. Yet statistics only tell part of the story.

Affectionately known as “Batman”, Tornado Tears developed a loyal following throughout his career. Fans flocked to see the striking white-and-black stayer unleash his powerful finishing burst, while his unmistakable appearance made him one of the most recognisable greyhounds in the country.

Hall Of Fame selection committee chair and GRV Executive General Manager –Operations, Troy Harley, said Tornado Tears was a worthy Hall of Fame inductee.

“Tornado Tears wasn’t just a champion stayer, he was a genuine fan favourite,” Harley said. “His unique markings, incredible chasing style and ability to perform on the biggest stages made him one of the most memorable greyhounds of his generation.”

Harley said few greyhounds had captured the imagination of racing fans quite like Tornado Tears.

“Between 2018 and 2020 he was the benchmark stayer in Australia,” he said. “He won the sport’s biggest distance races, set four metropolitan track records, earned more than a million dollars in prizemoney and created countless memories for racing fans around the country.”

One of the most memorable chapters of his career came in 2020. After battling injury concerns and with questions being asked about whether his best racing was behind him, Tornado Tears produced one final reminder of his greatness.

He returned to peak form late in the year, winning the Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup before claiming a stirring victory in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers, a triumph many regard among the finest performances of his glittering career.

“What stood out about Tornado Tears was his resilience,” Harley said. “When many champions would have been nearing the end, he fought his way back to the top and won another Group 1. That ability to overcome challenges and continue performing at an elite level is a hallmark of the truly great greyhounds.”

Friday night’s induction ensures Tornado Tears’ achievements will be remembered alongside the greatest names in Victorian greyhound racing history.

Britton paid tribute to the new Hall of Famer, describing him as “the perfect dog”.

“Tornardo Tears was the best dog of his era, simply because he could have gone around another lap. He was just warming up basically while everyone else was getting tired,” Britton said.

“His win in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth were just unbelievable, where he broke track records and won by many, many lengths. Just showed how dominant he was at the time. Certainly of his era, he was the best I ever had.”

As the Hall of Fame citation noted, his breathtaking performances were matched only by the connection he formed with the public. A champion, a crowd favourite and now a Hall of Famer, Tornado Tears’ legacy as one of Victoria’s most beloved greyhounds is secure.