THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL An Interview with George Bell by Julia Holder How did you begin in sight- derdog in the field to the coursing is virtually no difference in a show hounds George? greyhound. These words from the saluki and a coursing saluki. In My sighthound interest greyhound breeder started me on the UK as well, most of the major began with a fascination in watch- an odyssey that continues to this saluki breeders compete in cours- ing cheetahs course live game on day. She said, “Salukis and grey- ing on live game. TV. I lived in Topanga Canyon hounds were coursing dogs.” California in 1968 and because To make a long story short, What was your initial reaction there were no cheetahs available Varuna, a saluki from Srinagar when you saw the salukis cours- to me, I owned a 6-month-old kennels of Topanga Canyon, re- ing in the field? jaguar cat at the time. Also, as placed the jaguar. This saluki had My first hunt was a mixed a little background on Topanga a disqualifying fault and could not hunt with all sighthounds compet- Canyon for those who don’t know, be shown. But what did I care ing together. My initial reaction Topanga was the hippy center of about dog shows? I now had a was that there was a remarkable southern California at the time. coursing hound. difference between the breeds The local bars would have Janis competing. I observed the speed Joplin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, How did you locate the coursing and agility of the whippets, versus or Jimi Hendrix sit in for enter- folks to enter their events? grace and endurance of the saluki tainment. To round out this sce- Winafred Lucas, owner against the brute force and rocket nario, I had a candle and leather of Srinagar kennels in Topanga speed of the greyhound as opposed goods booth at the Topanga Fair Canyon gave me hunt information to the elegance and swiftness of that summer. One day in the aisle and briefed me on the procedure. the borzoi. Wow, this is what near my booth, a lady was hold- She was very instrumental in the coursing is all about. I learned a ing court with her greyhound to a early open field coursing (OFC) lot about coursing from Varuna, gathering audience. To show off of show salukis in the US and but he clearly was not going to be her dog she trotted it around in a donated many coursing cups and a top coursing hound. I worked circle, an exercise I thought rather trophies to encourage OFC with- and worked to make him stronger odd, as I hadn’t the faintest no- in the saluki fancy in the 1960’s. and fitter to try and be competitive tion what went on at dog shows. These cups and trophies were ea- over the next couple of seasons. The greyhound lady explained gerly sought by all saluki coursing that this was a show champion folk and still are today some 45 Did you begin looking around and that greyhounds coursed live years later. Winafred also formed for a more competitive saluki? game in Merced and that the salu- the American Saluki Association, Yes. I was on the lookout ki was their toughest competition. which boasts an annual member- for a coursing litter of outstanding Now everyone knows that a grey- ship of around 500 people. In the parents. Also, Winafred gave me hound is the swiftest of all dogs, show rings on the west coast, a salukis to try in the field. Chuck but what the hell was a saluki? It great many coursing salukis are and Marian Alexander drove down surely must be considered an un- very active in the shows and there from the Northwest to Merced,

56 www.performancesighthoundjournal.com THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL California, in order to course their who also lived up there, had heard dreaded the day we would actu- salukis several times a year. They about this litter and had gone up to ally meet. It really was akin to owned the young coursing saluki, Bellingham, WA. to take a look at when Tony met Maria at the dance Cirrus. They also coursed a show/ it. The litter was a close encounter in West Side Story. In the mean- coursing bitch named Shahin for to our meeting. I was there when time, Sally had purchased 2 salu- owners Dan and Laura Belkin, they were born and several times kis from Urray Kennels in Canada, who were spending a couple of a week after that, but Sally and I a brother and sister. And I had a seasons in the UK coursing, while didn’t meet until a bit later. couple more salukis on loan from looking for some outstanding To my surprise, the Srinigar, but we felt we had noth- coursing stock. Cirrus was bred Alexanders generously gave me ing to compare to the potential of by Srinagar and Jayne Harpling first and second pick of the lit- Lobo and Vida. and Shahin was bred by Srinagar At 4 months of age the kennels. Shahin was left in the pups joined Sally and me, her care of the Alexanders with the older salukis (Caspah and Patra) understanding Shahin was to be and my herd on a 2-week coursing bred to the top coursing male sa- trip to Idaho accompanied by our luki in the US while the Belkins photographer and buddy, Wayne were in the UK. A committee of Brigadier. coursing people was to decide on When the Belkins re- who the sire would be. turned from the UK, they decided The decision was down to to settle in Alpaugh to be near the Shah or Cirrus for Shahin’s mate. coursing fields of Merced. Then I wasn’t on the committee, but I after a season of driving down to mentioned I’d buy 2 pups if the Merced from Seattle to course our sire were Cirrus. With that per- older salukis, Sally and I moved suasion, and other considerations, to Alpaugh, California. We were Cirrus got the nod and the litter married right there in the heart of was born in March of 1971 in Four month old Lobo in the arms of coursing country. It was during Bellingham, Washington. In ret- Sally Bell in Idaho, 1971. the “off” coursing season that we rospect, I feel this was a most im- Photo by Wayne Brigadier. decided to show Lobo and Vida as portant show/coursing litter of sa- 6-month-old pups. They both fin- lukis, and arguably produced the ter. Lobo, the golden-gray grizzle ished their championships as pups most influential breeding show male and Vida, the red grizzle at the same show. stock in American saluki history. bitch, were my choices. Thirty-five years later it is the From 4 weeks on, I chron- Was it your intention to breed progeny down from this mating icled their development on movie dual purpose salukis at the that are behind 90 % of the win- film that I later transferred to vid- time? ners at Westminster Kennel Club eo. As 6-week-old-pups, Lobo No. Our primary inten- since 1977. and Vida starred in my home mov- tions were to have coursing ies chasing after the pole lure and hounds. Since 8 1/2 months of the Did you meet Sally about this exhibited an extraordinary ground year were “off” season months for time? covering trot and great interest for coursing, we went to shows for Sally and I had heard the lure. It was a couple of weeks a pastime in a usually cooler cli- about each other for years, but after Lobo and Vida came to live mate than the Alpaugh summers. we had never met. In the mean- with me that I met Sally by chance You might say that we stumbled time, with Shahin in whelp, I had at a restaurant lunch with our mu- into dog shows. moved back to the Pacific N.W. to tual friend. We always were un- help in the family business. Sally, der the impression that our friend What was your first litter?

www.performancesighthoundjournal.com 57 THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL sand the name S’mbran in Arabic on the other side of the canal. The and in English. I in turn wrote the hares would cross the canal and only name I know in Arabic, sa- lose the dogs in the grape vine- luki. The word S’mbran means yard. In those days about 70 % dark skinned tribe, as most of our of the hares got away. In today’s salukis were grizzles or tris at the fields in the desert, the escape rate time. And with part of our last is closer to 90 %. name, our saluki kennel name be- The trio was off at the cry came Bel S’mbran. of Tally Ho with the hare breaking on Jaadan’s side. Jaadan forced Though we did have George, you were first to use a couple of turns on the hare be- breeding age salukis, we felt none Jaadan. How did that come fore it reached the road. Jaadan were worthy of forming a founda- about? was still leading the other 2 salu- tion stock for our kennel. We felt At the Santa Barbara show kis down the road with Lotus in that Lobo and Vida were our best in 1972 I saw a 9-month-old pup second place and the hare was salukis and we decided that they named Euphrates Springtime headed for the bridge. If the hare would be our first breeding stock Jaadan and was immediately reached the bridge crossing the when they matured. struck with his presence and canal Jaadan would have won the Our first breeding was Lobo style. After the show, I wrote to cup. Cirrus with a burst of speed to a bitch of Shirley Lightfoot’s his owner, to ask for stud service went by both salukis and forced named Buneya. She was a Billa for Vida. Of course, the breeding the hare off the road and back into de Esta bitch that very well could didn’t happen until a couple of the alfalfa field. Cirrus put 2 more have been a desert bred. The trot years later. turns on the hare and now with that Lobo and Vida exhibited at age I’ve got to tell a story clean double go-by and the turns, 6 weeks, was to be a progenitor while we are on the subject of Cirrus was wining the course. At of things to come and would be Jaadan. His owner, Bill Lupton, this point the dogs were bunched passed down to subsequent gen- would free course his salukis on in a turn and Jaadan broke out of erations. One of the pups in this hares, but never did attend the the pack and pinned the hare for litter sired Julie Mueller and Gene hunts. He finally came to a breed the unassisted take. The judge Blake’s Karim, who went on to be hunt with the 2 year old Jaadan. dropped his glasses and sank to the top winning saluki in breed It was one of the cup hunts at the his knees crying, “No, No, No…” history some years later. end of the season and Jaadan won Obviously John thought he had a 1st place in his field. Cirrus and winner until Jaadan grabbed the Did you have a kennel name at one of Lobo’s very young daugh- hare. Those of us watching the this time for your first litter? ters, Lotus, won the other 2 fields. run-off simply smiled and headed Our kennel name mate- Traditionally we run the field win- for the cars leaving the judge in rialized on a trip to the beach in ners off for the Cup. I asked John the field to contemplate the win- Oregon prior to our first litter. We Cogan to judge the run-off. John ner. John finally walked in from happened to pass four fellows on was not yet an official judge but the field alone. He picked up the the beach and they commented, quite often we have aspiring ap- cup, and in a very dramatic fash- “Ah, dogs from our country.” They prentice judges do the honors. ion, declared the winner of the were Arabs from Saudi Arabia at- After all, it is only one course with Fatimeh Cup was Cirrus. There tending school in Oregon. After a winner and no score. How hard were no questions or explana- much discussion about Arabian can that be? It was an alfalfa field tions. We had been treated to a names for a kennel, they decided a and the hares were all running to little bit of history, I for one will beautiful sounding Arabian name the dirt road bordering a canal and never forget. for our dogs would be S’mbran. crossing the dirt bridge over the Vida and Jaadan produced With a stick, they wrote in wet canal that opened into vineyard our second litter. After the picks

58 www.performancesighthoundjournal.com THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL were made, Bachrach was still produced Fanny. Ch. Bel S’mbran ing AKC recognition for the sport. left. This leftover dark grizzle Aba Fantasia (Fanny) went on to Many coursing folk fought this male was ours to run and show. beat her fathers Best in Show re- new phrase of “Lure Coursing”. Bachrach was very successful in cord in the US. We knew one day when people the ring. He finished his champi- referred to coursing, they would onship in California by 12 months Was this about the time that really mean Lure Chasing and of age, defeating a very large Ch. lure chasing began? Can you not coursing at all. Also in about class to take Best of Breed from tell us about the people involved 1972, Bud Pine had introduced the Bred-by class. Bachrach went in establishing this activity, and the electrical lure machine, which on to become the all-time top did you run your salukis on the revolutionized the sport. winning Best in Show saluki in lure? We have always entered the US. Vida’s dam, Shahin had Lure chasing actually be- our salukis at lure coursing events, won the most coveted coursing gan in the mid 60’s. Because it “just for fun”, as they enjoy the trophy, “The Christmas Cup.” In was the OFC “off” season when outing. As I recall, Bachrach won those days there were 60 salukis I first learned about coursing. I the 3rd annual ASFA Invitational competing for the cup. Vida was went lure chasing prior to attend- in 1976. I don’t run greyhounds next to win the Christmas Cup ing my first hunt. Lyle Gillette at the lure events because of the and then both Bachrach and his was credited with organizing both danger to spraining or dislocat- daughter won the Christmas Cup. LC and OFC but he was not at all ing toe joint capsules and the pos- Thus making an unprecedented 4 involved with lure chasing in the sibility of skidding into the line continuous generations to win the beginning. Lyle was too busy with of a continuous lure set up. It’s most famous of all saluki coursing OFC and it was his dream to have just not worth the risk of injury to trophies in the US. OFC recognized by the American these speedsters. I consider Lure With the great coursing Kennel Club. Coursing for greyhounds akin to and show success of the Cirrus x Bob Shepard (with his sa- taking a Formula One racecar on Shahin litter, the Belkins decided lukis) was the person most cred- a go-cart track. I do condition all to repeat the breeding and as we ited with the early innovations in of my dogs on the drag lure using already had 2 pups from the breed- lure chasing. This was the hand- fast gradual sweeping turns and ing. We felt we didn’t need an- cranked contraption used to tow a known lure operator in order to other, but we were wrong. When the drag lure and the course had insure the safety of the dogs. My one of the pups from the second jumps at some of the early lure dogs have not had a single injury litter didn’t meet with Ed Lipton’s events. During the 60’s and the with this conditioning regimen. lifestyle, it became available so 70’s while at the polo grounds, we snatched up Anna, the golden the Santa Barbara show had a gi- When did you get involved with and dark grizzle, and the spitting ant oval lure chase in public view greyhounds? image of Shahin. Among Anna’s of the entire show. It had a row Just as a reminder as to most famous litters, was the litter of cloth bunting down the center what breed of sighthound origi- sired by her nephew Bachrach that of the oval to prevent the hounds nally started me on this odyssey, from cutting the course. It was there was a greyhound in Alpaugh just pure fun and always had a cup who invited himself to go out and winner, but was not an organized course with our salukis. He ran event with points toward a cham- loose in town and when I would pionship. In 1972, due to failing drop the tailgate for our salukis to eyesight, Lyle Gillette was forced “kennel up”; old Slim Jim would out of open field coursing and come running up and jump in the became involved in lure chasing. truck as well. Jim was always the He is credited with bringing orga- first one to the hare, and the salu- Bachrach with the Christmas Cup. nization to lure chasing and gain- kis loved Jim and appreciated his

www.performancesighthoundjournal.com 59 THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL speed in getting to the hare first shown by Jo-Ann Van Arsdale and coursing greyhound. The show and cranking a turn on it while easily gained his conformation greyhound has a relatively small they were warming up. Championship. In Gazehound gene pool and invaluable genes of In 1972, Sally and I am- magazine, a show breeder coined the racing greyhound have already bitiously decided to buy a cou- the derogatory term to these new infused the show greyhound with ple of young racing greyhounds greyhounds by calling them “Half the much-needed genetic varia- to try out in the coursing fields. and Halfs.” tion. While allowing them to gain ex- Watching this litter of How and when did you and Sally perience in the coursing field, greyhounds perform in the field acquire Huntington? we discovered it takes a lot more inspired me to write an article for During the 1974-75 cours- than speed to be a great coursing the Gazehound magazine praising ing season I was attracted to a dog. Durability, endurance, agil- the virtues of this extraordinary young sexy black greyhound be- ity, visual acuity and desire were litter and to refute the show breed- ing walked in the field. She was also valuable components to the er’s attempted insult toward the a year of age and her name was coursing hound. One of our rac- Half and Halfs and racing grey- Huntington Point. I didn’t know ing bred greyhounds developed an hounds. Unknowingly at the time, anything about her breeding, but incurable disease and went to live the article was a good argument to fell madly in love with the look to a ripe old age with our veteri- justify registration of the racing of the bitch. Sally wasn’t at that narian. The other greyhound died greyhounds in the AKC studbook. hunt, but in the ensuing week all tragically at an early age. Every 5 or 10 years some of the I could talk about was this beau- show breeders mount another at- tiful greyhound that I had walked So this was your beginning into tempt to eliminate racing grey- in the field the previous weekend. greyhounds. Obviously you hounds from the AKC registry and So with Sally’s encouragement weren’t deterred too much. this article is reprinted in many I called Jane Bulman and asked What happened next? dog magazines in support of reg- if I could buy the black bitch. Also born in March of 1971 istering racing greyhounds with Huntington’s dam, a racing bitch (in the same week as the Cirrus x the AKC. The split between rac- named Mesa Verde, was a sister to Shahin litter of salukis) was an ing/coursing and the show grey- Nishka Verushka (Striders dam). extraordinary litter of greyhounds hound is not final and there is still Both sisters were bred to Duke, that will rewrite the modern his- a chance to once again restore the Ch. Vulcan’s Strange Intruder, tory of the coursing greyhound in America. Strider, Point and Dega from this litter absolutely dominated all the competition at the mixed hunts and greyhound breed hunts as they had the speed of the greyhound, the endurance of the longest running saluki and the agility of the whippet. Strider gained over 400 points that season and it was obvious this was not just another litter of greyhounds. The sire of the litter was an all American AKC show champion greyhound named Ch. Vulcan’s Strange Intruder (Duke) and the dam was a racing bitch named Strider, Point and Dega. Brothers from the first breeding of Ch. Vulcan’s Nishka Verushka. Strider was Strange Intruder x Nishka Verushka.

60 www.performancesighthoundjournal.com THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL and greyhounds. So for the next 24 years we bred show dogs and did the Westminster thing, judging, showing and officiating in one ca- pacity or another. I judged a cou- ple of Grand Courses in open field events in CA. Sally and I applied to the AKC to judge sighthounds in the 80’s. To try and compete in OFC when by experience we knew what was involved was not practical from our distant home in the N.W. Sally was the worst salesperson. She would spend hours on the phone discouraging each would-be dog person from owning salukis or greyhounds. If the interested person still wanted to have a dog after Sally’s dis- Huntington at her first show winning a 4 pt’ major. Breeder/Judge Hobart course, he or she would probably G. (Bud) Stevenson. Owner handled by George Bell. stay in the breed forever. Sally making Huntington very close these breeders was Punky’s breed- always encouraged me to take to the same breeding as the now er who was showing her at this everything to the limit and sup- famous Strider. At just a year of show. After the show and picture ported my efforts whether it was age, Huntington at 50 lbs., hadn’t taking, the lady who trotted her dogs, video production, cheetahs, been entered in a hunt yet but in greyhound at the crafts fair, came judging, or travel. When we bred just 2 seasons with us, she became running up and asked me if I knew our greyhound, Huntington, to her the high scoring coursing grey- whom I had in the ring. She said 7/8ths brother, Strider, we could hound in those days of all time. Duke’s brother was the dog she have placed a litter of 50 grey- We tried to put more weight on was trotting in a circle at the fair hounds in good homes. It was in- her, but couldn’t get her over 55 7 years earlier. Huntington was deed a compliment to Huntington lbs. In the show ring she finished never specialed; as our saluki, to have officials who had judged in 3 1/2 months and twice defeated Bachrach, was by now winning her in the ring, ask in writing to the all-time top show greyhound, groups and we couldn’t very well purchase one of her puppies. Punky, while on the way to their show both greyhounds and salukis Bachrach sired a litter to championships. They met 4 times in the same group. Anna(his auntie), which produced in the ring. The first encounter Fanny, the sensational saluki was Huntington’s first show in So George, why did you and bitch that broke Bachrach’s BIS Bakersfield, California, where Sally move from Alpaugh? record in the US. On one occa- she won a 4-point major judged Yes, in 1976 the perfor- sion Fanny and I flew down to the by greyhound breeder, Hobart mance era of our hounds took a show in Merced, CA. where all Stevenson. He later said, “This decided drop off. Family business the hunts were at the time. She bitch(Huntington) is a classic demands took a priority because won the breed at the show that type like one of my early English of my father’s heart attack and we morning and as we had 4 or 5 imports.” Mr. Stevenson was re- moved back to the Seattle area of hours until the hound group. So I sponsible for starting several fa- the northwestern US. The 5 years took her to the hunt and although mous greyhound breeders with in Alpaugh laid the foundation of she wasn’t entered, we partici- their foundation stock. Among our breeding stock in both salukis pated in the gallery for a couple

www.performancesighthoundjournal.com 61 THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL the ring was the same saluki in the field. It was that way in the UK as well. The saluki standard has done its job and the breeders have tested their dogs in the field. It suddenly dawned on me as if in a roll reversal, the saluki is not the underdog here. The swiftest of all canines, the greyhound was at a distinct disadvantage as far as the dual purpose coursing grey- hound. Many of the show people in greyhounds shun the functional hound. In salukis, they value the testing in open field. It seems the underdog changed from salukis to the greyhounds. My introduction to a sight- Fanny, Best in Show at Santa Barbara, 1981. hound was a greyhound that I met Breeder/owner/handled by George Bell. at the crafts fair. The primary of hours. On the way back to the in Show’s. All of the US record function discussed by the owner cars, she coursed a hare and was holders from Bachrach to present was not dog shows or racing grey- soiled to the point I had to bath are progeny down from Lobo and hounds. It was the coursing hound. her at the motel before returning Vida, our coursing salukis. Those With perhaps an unfortunate twist to the group. She won the group were the show years. of fate, there were no influential and then took Best in Show under During this 24-year period show breeders such as Lyle Gillete Mrs. Tom Stephenson. To Fanny, we used our travel time to attend in Borzoi and Winafred Lucas it was as if it “was all in a day’s coursing meetings in the UK and with her salukis to help influence work.” were privileged to see and video- show greyhounds in the participa- The US record for Best in tape salukis, scottish deerhounds tion of open field coursing. Shows in salukis was held in the and greyhounds in events such as Greyhounds were at one mid 70’s by Mimi Carlyle’s saluki the Waterloo Cup and the Dava time hunters of all sorts of game, named Cancer. Bachrach broke cup in Scotland. We judged dog but when they migrated to the Cancer’s record and his owner shows literally around the world, British Isles with the European sent us a telegram on July 10, but when we sold the family busi- brown hare as their quarry over 1979 stating: ness in 2000, it was our dream 1500 years ago, the breed was “Congratulations. I cried to return to Alpaugh and pick up developed into a coursing hound at both the excitement and the de- where we left off nearly a quarter for hares. Greyhounds have been feat. It’s a great moment, I know. century earlier. bred and developed for many Very best wishes and thanks, I noticed your emphasis thousands of dog generations as Mimi.” changing from salukis to grey- the English Coursing Greyhound. Bachrach’s BIS record fell hounds when you and Sally came The greyhound was developed for to his daughter Fanny. Fanny’s back to Alpaugh in 2000. speed on the rolling countryside record was beaten by Lobo’s While I love the saluki, and the breeders wanted work on grandson, Karim; then only to I discovered at some point after the hare that would be would be in be beaten by Jackie Harrington’s returning to Alpaugh that I still view of the thousands of specta- Krystl. Krystl’s record was tied favored the underdog. But who tors. The fields were smaller com- by the Blacks’ Treasure at 30 Best was the underdog? The saluki in pared to the plains in America and

62 www.performancesighthoundjournal.com THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL the breeders and enthusiasts in the and Half, an AKC dog, or a racing UK didn’t want the action on the greyhound. It is pink, yellow and other side of the hills and so speed blue and how much work they do was paramount. Now with the on the hare. It shouldn’t matter if advent of dog shows and racing, it is early work or late work, work for the most part they are bred for is work and work wins the course. racing and a few for the show ring In the ring, we have the standard and fewer still for coursing here in to judge the exhibits against. My the US. It wasn’t that many years breed winner in the ring may not ago all greyhounds were bred only be the winner in the field because to course hares. in the field we judge on how well Sally and I decided that the hound performs and in the ring, our greyhounds needed their own we judge on how well the exhibit kennel name and so it was an easy conforms to the standard. It’s the Mocha winning her first Hunt. call. Our greyhound kennel name same when picking winners in Judge Tom Handzus with would be in honor of our first show/ the whelping box; we can see the George and Sally in 2003. coursing greyhound Huntington. conformation of the dog that most show ring. Our dogs did OK back And so our kennel name would be closely meets the standard for that in Alpaugh, but it wasn’t like the Huntington Greyhounds. breed. But to pick the best cours- first time here. Before our return ing dog in the whelping box is at to Alpaugh, Sally had her eye on When judging greyhounds, do best a coin flip. a young dog named Darius who you feel the Half and Half is bet- Because a greyhound is a went back in his pedigree several ter than the AKC show dog? Half and Half, that does not mean times to Bachrach. She declared I If I am judging in the open that it is any better than a pure have found the sire for our Baby. field we have a criterion by which show dog or an NGA racer. It’s A couple of years later Darius went we will keep score and the best the individual specimen that is on to become the highest scoring score is the winner in scored tri- being judged by whatever crite- saluki of all time in it’s 40 + year os. In brace elimination scoring ria. One of my greatest coursing history of organized coursing in there is a winner and a loser and greyhounds is over 80 % show the US. The use of Darius for the winner moves on without a and less than 20% NGA but she is both coursing and show improved score to the next round. It mat- still a Half and Half. It so happens our salukis running ability in one ters not if you are judging a Half that many Half and Halfs with the generation, and the litter was back combination of show and racing in contention as being one of the blood seem to do pretty well in top saluki litters in the field. In the field. the 2003/2004 season, salukis from our litter had 3 of the 5 top So I was living in Alpaugh when saluki placements in the Grand you and Sally returned in the Course breed portion that year. In year 2000. Was it the same com- fact my next litter will be out of ing back home? a saluki bitch from that breeding, Ah hem…When we came Bel S’mbran Dark Lady Rose. to Alpaugh in the early 70’s, we In greyhounds, I co-owned, hit the ground running. Our sa- showed and coursed a bitch from lukis were selected for coursing Ann Standing’s breeding down more than anything else. When from Venti, Huntington’s sister. we returned to Alpaugh in the I will be forever indebted to Ann year 2000 our dogs had been bred for sharing Mocha with us here in Mocha, Judge Robert Frost. for 24 years to compete in the Alpaugh. Mocha finished quick- www.performancesighthoundjournal.com 63 THE PERFORMANCE SIGHTHOUND JOURNAL the hunt was cancelled due to the cheetah that piqued your fasci- animal rights challenge NOFCA nation more than one half cen- suffered this past spring. I have tury ago. many exciting prospects coming up in greyhounds and salukis. Ruby was Best Bred-by of either sex at the national specialty judged by Frank Sabella and has remained in the top ten of show Ruby, hound group placement. greyhounds for the past 2 years. ly in the ring, even had a Hound Ruby’s brother Ch. Windwood Group 2. She won her first two Huntington Barista, (Winston) hunts entered, both with unas- with a great many field titles was sisted kills and with 80 points to- Best of Winners, BOS and won the ward her coursing championship 5 point major the day after the na- of 100 points; she was on her way tional specialty in Lompoc. Ann to being one of the top OFC grey- has 2 from this litter, Cappuccino hounds of the year. and Verona that are making their Mocha was 19/32nds mark in the Canadian show ring show/racing combination of Half and are cleaning up at Canadian and Half. She was bred to a pure lure coursing. Sally with Huntington. AKC show dog from Huzzah Julia, you have known Greyhounds making this litter Sally for a great many years. more than 80 % show blood to less Before you ask me about her, this than 20 % racing stock. Mocha’s is the part of this interview I don’t pups were the Coffee litter and wish to talk about, except to say at just 3 years of age, 3 are show that Sally passed away May 13, champions so far in the US and 2005 and missed out on much of more in Canada. The coursing what we wanted to do in Alpaugh. community wasn’t much inter- Needless to say, that half of our ested in this breeding and so most team is greatly missed and Sally of the greyhounds were placed still encourages me to press on. in show or lure coursing homes. Mocha was considered a show Thank you George for sharing greyhound by many coursing folk your involvement and passion and was bred to 100 % show dog in the sport of performance and that was a real turn-off. salukis and greyhounds. I can One of the pups, Ruby (Ch. only imagine how delighted Windwood Huntington Arabica Sally would be with this recap CC, CM), that I co-own with Ann, of your joint efforts and enjoy- remained here in Alpaugh and has ment in sighthounds. The two been a huge surprise to the cours- of you epitomized a love affair ing folks and show community with storybook successes. I’m as well. She placed 5th overall sure she is smiling from above. in the 2004/2005 Grand Course This is quite a legacy the despite a 5-point preslip penalty. two of you contributed to both Ruby qualified for the 2005/2006 breeds. May your odyssey con- Grand Course but unfortunately tinue ... perhaps full circle to the 64 www.performancesighthoundjournal.com