Dianne Lozell retires after over 40 years of service to greyhound code
Pictured: Glennis Farrell, Dianne Lozell (centre) and Georgie Clark after Zipping Dixie won the Dianne Lozell Appreciation Stakes at Cambridge last Thursday.
Greyhound clubs throughout the country have unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes during race meetings. Dianne Lozell certainly fits into that category for the Waikato Greyhound Racing Club.
Fittingly, Dianne was given a rousing thank you for her 40-plus years of unbroken service during last Thursday’s Waikato meeting at Cambridge Raceway.
Over that period, Dianne has worked at greyhounds tracks in Tokoroa, Rotorua, Gisborne, Claudelands, Cambridge and Manukau.
“I started with timekeeping back in the days when timing wasn’t automated. When we got automated timing, I moved into working in the kennels. I found the role working with greyhounds very rewarding and enjoyable. It always was a pleasure doing so,” she confirmed.
Dianne and husband George were introduced to greyhound racing in the mid-1970s, when Tokoroa stalwarts Max Mathews and Graham Churchill provided them with a pair of greyhounds.
Mr. Lucky and Shoe Shine Boy were their initial greyhounds and Dianne recalls their debut race with Shoe Shine Boy. “
It was in Rotorua, and he disgraced himself, getting a 30-day stand down for marring! He came back to win races.”
The couple then embarked on breeding, and raced a rather handy type in Hori’s Revenge in the 1980s. She also recalls introducing Mike and a then rather young Brian Martin to greyhound racing.
“They bought a pup from a litter we bred and that starting them in greyhound racing.”
They also trained and owned the 1992 Railway Sprint winner Alf’s Boomerang at Manukau. “That was our biggest win,” confirmed Dianne.
During the years when Tokoroa was racing, Dianne and George ran an open home, with numerous visiting trainers benefiting from overnight stays thanks to their kind hospitality.
Dianne has served on many occasions on various club committees and her 10 years on the Waikato GRC committee saw her being afforded life membership of the club. Both George and Dianne spent many years undertaking ear-branding and then microchipping duties.
It was around 15 years ago when Dianne became actively involved in her Affordable Pet Accessories business, as she explains.
“It was actually my daughter Jade who started it. I prepared and sewed parade rain coats for all clubs and heaps of coats for trainers, along with satin dress rugs for the Waikato and Auckland clubs. I also donated a coat for my race every week.”
Dianne is also very proud of her family involvement in the code.
“Both Mike (son) and Sam (grandson) have done very well over the years. I am very proud of what they have achieved.”
Dianne and George will shortly be moving to Papamoa.
“It is a little bit sad that I have finished. It has been an interesting and very enjoyable journey over the years, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.”
And Dianne also confirms – “Yes, my sewing machines will be moving with us!”
Goldstar Carlito – Auckland Greyhound Racing Club Greyhound of the Year
Powerful wins in the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar heat and final were sufficient for the current NZ Stayer of the Year Goldstar Carlito to add the Auckland GRC 2022/23 Greyhound of the Year title to his award wins.
It was a watershed season for his conditioner Riley Evans, who became the youngest Silver Collar winning trainer, while his team of Goldstar named greyhounds won in excess of a million dollars for the Goldstar racing team, comprising of Riley and his parents Steve and Bonnie.
“It’s pretty cool to be recognised like that. Goldstar Carlito was phenomenal in the way he won the Silver Collar. To us, the Silver Collar is the most prestigious race on the national calendar.
“Dad has been trying to win it for over 10 years. We are so proud that Carlito beat a field of high-quality stayers,” commented Evans, who advised the star stayer is on his way back.
It was a full-on season for the Auckland GRC, which saw competitive season-long Manukau Stadium racing and that has been reflected in the awards presented during Sunday’s race meeting.
Auckland GRC 2022/23 Greyhound of the Year awards winners are:
Distance Greyhound of the Year: Goldstar Carlito (Riley Evans)
Middles Distance Greyhound of the Year: Opawa Arlo (Glennis Farrell)
Sprinter of the Year: Portland Trey (Lisa & Tracey Craik)
NZ Bred Greyhound of the Year: Portland Trey (Lisa & Tracey Craik)
Track Star Award (most wins): Portland Craik 10 wins (Lisa & Tracey Craik)
Auckland GRC Trainer of the Year: Lisa & Tracey Craik – 135 wins
Auckland GRC UDR Trainer of the Year: Lisa Cole – UDR 0.3577
Auckland Greyhound of the Year: Goldstar Carlito (Riley Evans)
By Peter Fenemor
