Trainer Joe Edgar enjoys record breaking month a year on since taking over father Tom's licence

Trainer Joe Edgar enjoys record breaking month a year on since taking over father Tom's licence

Newcastle trainer Joe Edgar sends out runners from his Jubilee Kennels establishment and today, he celebrates a year in charge of the kennels, taking over from his father Tom.

After racing on the flaps for many years, primarily at Workington and Blackpool, the imminent closure of Workington take out his trainers licence in September 1998 and became attached to Newcastle, where he remained for over 25 years continued service. He sent out his first winner on October 13th 1998 as Spiral Merlin won a handicap contest,(picture below) and followed that up with an estimated 6,000 winners before handing the licence over to son Joe.

Speaking this afternoon, Joe said: "The licence change was very simple. The plan was always for Dad to slow down a bit, so we transferred the licence over to me last year”

“We’ve had a really up and down year. I’ve turned over half of our kennel in that time so I’m lucky enough to have a lot of younger dogs that have come in lately and everything is running really well”

“I also operate the Cumbria branch of Greyhound Trust and put a lot of work into that”

“We’ve got a few dogs running well for us of late. Clear Eyes Is one who I bought off Ben Collins in November. He took a while to come too, but is on a streak of six wins at the moment and has become a handicap specialist, he runs again this afternoon.”

“Another would be Magical Ruby. She was bought at the Towcester sales for big money and they couldn’t get her to win a race at Perry Barr. I picked her up cheap and she’s absolutely flying. She won last week in 28.39.”

Edgar continued “I’m also lucky enough to buy dogs off Dave Firmager who we have a really good relationship with, we have a lovely bitch called Fabulous Appeal, who started off in an A8 when she came to us and is now up to A3, breaking 29.00 with more to come”

“I’ve been in the game all my life. We are based up in the Lake District so we don’t do a lot of Open Racing due to the travelling. We really enjoy our graded racing and take a lot of pleasure from improving dogs that come into the kennel”

“I’m a big believer in doing the basics right, keeping the dogs well fed and happy as happy dogs run well. We had a record breaking month last month with 41 winners. It’ll be a while since anyone has broken 40 graded winners at Newcastle in a month and I’m really proud of that”