Ben Collins

Where it all began - Rookies Fantasy (Rodney) my first ever runner 2nd April 2009. This was after a young naive me purchasing him and a bitch (Rookies Hawk - Cassie) at 12 weeks old and rearing them through until about 13 months in the back garden (!). This boy was a cracker - I picked him on his breeding off of data - Premier Fantasy x Gunboat Karen. The shrewdest of you out there will recognise this turned out to being the same breeding as the machine Barefoot Bolt. Seeing him get to the track was incredible, I actually documented the whole journey on a poker forum at the time and often go back to read it even now. He had a big following as you can hear from the roar that went up as he turned too close down the back and we knew the boy was ready to pounce around the @Oxford_Stadium 450m trip. Absolutely loved this boy, he went on to win his first three races but unfortunately his career got cut short on 12th September 2009 due to a hock injury after he actually led round in top grade. It was devastating but I’ll never forget this lad and the joy he brought to me, my family and friends - phenomenal boy who loved everything he did and everyone he met. The love, the anticipation, emotion, excitement and the buzz on the video captured forever and always one we revisit. Love you Rodders ❤️

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Andy Burnham says he has offered our support to Spain. How can we possibly help them with Ceuta’s migrant crisis when our own borders are wide open?

Lovely quote at the end; “A racing greyhound is actually the happiest animal you will ever see…” Sam Neill. Absolutely true.

Agreed, nor should the UK & IRE. Sign the petition to challenge the ban in Wales @racingblogger and give it a share! petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/2469…

lol wtf !!

Decent first look from Danno at Monmore this evening.

@moranlaciejoan Yeaaaah! The drama continues 😂

15 hours on a mission, and now gone 3 hours since the last update/shoutout as he was nearing the border. Absolute theatre this season. This may be the last time we ever see or hear from Dannyboy83. Feel numb just thinking about it. FREE DANNY Be safe be lucky

@Kooshykooooooo Fuck, gutted! 😂

@TheOracleBen I am in Pattaya in 3 weeks gutted I have missed him 🤣

@Kooshykooooooo Ahaha yeah fucking pmsl at that 🤣🤣

@TheOracleBen Luca is on fragil rock now as he never told him the bus journey was that long

@Kooshykooooooo lol oh yeah be plenty more dramas yet 🤣

@TheOracleBen I will give him 2 days in Brazil before the next drama ....probably be a drama on the flight over there ....Nearly got arrested in India for smoking in the toilets on the plane

@Kooshykooooooo You called it! HE MADE IT! Brazil season 2 here we come!

@TheOracleBen Said been on bus for 6 hours and another 6 hours to go thats the Loas border ....Malaysia is about 20 hours by bus Loas is normally between 11 and 13 hours

@Kooshykooooooo Hmmm, plenty rumours on where. Malaysia is possible too I think. Either way the silence is pretty deafening, reckon he’s been lifted.

@TheOracleBen That bus route is to Laos border ...if he gets caught up north he is fucked ...least in Bangkok there is a resemblance of a professional police force ....In the north its just complete lunacy ....his saving grace is they probably won't kill him because its all over social media

500 mostly male migrants have crossed the Channel today alone. We don't know who they are, we don't know what their intentions are. Not to sound like a broken record, but why on earth is our government not treating this as a national security emergency?

CENTENARY MEMORIES 💭 We love listening to your greatest memories from 100 years of greyhound racing 🤩 It's what makes this sport so special ❤️ 👇 #NewcastleDogs 🐾

@TonyHawes4 @aspin_394 No bite Tony

Zero contact, zero claims, zero points, zero issues. An extra years no claims. Let’s double the price on car insurance ✅ Pisstake. ‘Auto renew’ feature will not be happening.

@emma64979643 @HoundsandAlz @TotallyBetting @PetplanUK Yeah I get where you’re coming from and I guess with only one you may well just carry on doing it. I’d not be able to justify £600 a month on the what if for an insurance company. I’d rather sell a kidney if and when needed if it came to it.

@TheOracleBen @HoundsandAlz @TotallyBetting @PetplanUK No but it’s a safety net, when . I had previously dog never used it til he got older then did a direct claim for the thousands it cost for his treatment. Dames if so it don’t , knowing my luck I’d cancel it them he’s get sick

@PetplanUK are you deliberately pricing people out of insurance? Only £168 a month for a fit healthy greyhound is a bit excessive and is becoming cost prohibiting

@emma64979643 @HoundsandAlz @TotallyBetting @PetplanUK We’ve never had pet insurance as early days never could get it then haven’t bothered since. You’d be better off putting that £120 aside every month yourself surely? Have you utilised anything over 2k in any year you’ve had Ronnie?

@HoundsandAlz @TotallyBetting @PetplanUK That’s the issue they know we wouldn’t leave them without cover. The vet industry has just had to make changes to pricing after a view… it’s now time to hold the insurance industry to account across the board ie car insurance too

@aspin_394 I did wonder how long it might take you… 😂

@TheOracleBen You’ll be able to add it onto your UW account soon😉