| More from the Greyhound Star Terry Corden one of the most significant figures in the greyhound industry in the last four decades died on Saturday afternoon following a lengthy battle with cancer. A former miner and milkman, Terry originally trained a few runners on the flaps. He became assistant racing manager at Derby and then in 1982 he took over the running of Sheffield. In 1984 he bought the freehold for the track at Derby, which was located at a former prison, for 300,000, and sold it four years later for seven figures. He used cash from that transaction to buy the lease at Nottingham which was teetering on closure. It was a great move for both sides. In many years holding the reigns at Colwick Park, and after, Terrys opinion was one of the most widely sought after by his fellow promoters. Yet he enjoyed greyhound racing as much as owner trainer who entered the Nottingham paddock or punter who came through the turnstiles. Terry was one of THE great enthusiasts of the industry: owner, trainer, breeder, racing manager and promoter. My last conversation with him was at Sheffield back in September where he had Tynwald Baz running in the Steel City Cup Final. I said: I bet you havent been able to stop thinking about this race all day He smiled and replied: What makes you think I slept? It was a privilege to have known him. Floyd Amphlett, Editor Paschal Taggart said: Terry was a remarkable doggie man and a very close friend. I really got to know Terry when he organised our hugely successful trip to America and Australia. They were quite big affairs, 40-50 people, but were planned meticulously and were extremely enjoyable. Terry was a very strong minded individual which means he would sometimes clash with people, as happened at Clonmel. But thats how it is with strong minded people. But he had huge intellect and a great passion for racing and coursing. And Nottingham is of course a great testament to his abilities. His passing is a huge loss to greyhound racing. I think of Terry alongside the likes of Patsy Byrne and Seamus Graham legends of greyhound racing. How do you replace people of that calibre? Nick Savva said: I have known Terry all the way back to his time at Derby where I was a regular visitor. Later on, I had a runner for him, Droopys Merson, and got to know his family a lot better. Really nice people. I always liked Terrys approach as a promoter because he was approachable. Just one example was when he adopted the Irish model of automatic deductions from prize money for trainers. That would have been typical of Terry, he was an absolute greyhound man, I wish there were more like him. Former racing manager Tony Smith said: I first met Terry in 1974 when he was Racing Manager at Derby. He would occasionally travel over to Willenhall where I was RM to see some of his Derby dogs (Derby as in his track at the old prison and not Derby dogs as in Ballinderry Ash class). He would always come to see them trial as well. One of his trainers Pat Murphy was a regular who ran dogs at Willenhall. We once sent dogs over for an inter track at Derby, and I can honestly say that my visit there was the only time Ive ever been in prison. Terry even in those days, was getting involved in taking over the catering there etc. and eventually his vision of what he wanted to achieve (and did) was to have/own his own track. It started with Derby and went on to bigger and better things. I think what he achieved was truly amazing, not just in the UK but in Ireland as well, and hes also left a legacy with his children Nathan and Rachel achieving great things in the sport as well. Its been many years since I last saw Terry, but wherever it was be it the UK or Ireland, he was always jovial and kind. Michael Fortune mentions in his column about the opportunities Terry gave others by organizing trips abroad, and I think that sums up what type of a decent man he was, to encourage and promote the sport he loved. Shame he never fulfilled his coursing dream, but the impact he had on the sport in general has been massive. Hell certainly be a sad loss to the sport. Former Ladbrokes Head of Racing Gordon Bissett said: First and foremost, Terry was a gentleman. He was entirely comfortable in anybodys company, be it standing in muddy boots watching coursing, or in black tie at a Derby Final. He very much made his own path in life. He was well travelled and very knowledgeable. We did various trips across America starting off in Boston and going through to Abilene and visiting various greyhound tracks on the way to the meets. Everybody knew Terry. Sadly, towards the end they became golfing trips because all the tracks had shut down. As a person, Terry was very determined. He would listen to anyones opinion, but he would always make his own mind up and nothing would sway from that. Even if he didnt get his own way, I never saw him throw a tantrum. I also admired his attitude to winning and losing. It was the same. I remember one of his bitches being beaten in the Coursing Oaks Final. Many in the crowd thought she had won it. Terry accepted the defeat in good grace, shook the hand of the winner and wished him the best. Despite his achievements, Terry never boasted and wouldnt talk about himself. But he was particularly proud of his family and what they had achieved. My thoughts are with Rachel, Nathan and Joan. It is a very sad day
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