Greyhounds Kept in Mint Condition
Greyhound
racer Ian Fitton made a mint after two of his dogs sprinted to victory after a
rub down with peppermint cream. Ian, 57, only bought two-year old Sapphire a few
months ago from Ireland. In a race at the Westhoughton track, Lancashire, where
she was ranked as an outsider, she romped home in style sprinting 280 yards in
just 15.35 seconds.
Her victory came hot on the heels of a similar win by another of Ian's dogs called
Donald Duck. Ian, of Liac Avenue, who says he got excellent odds, puts it all
down to Dynamint - a new massage rub normally used by footballers, athletes and
horse riders.
"I'd heard about it from a friend" said Ian, "I thought I would
give it a try so I used it as part of grooming before the race. I always knew
Sapphire would run well because her brother Hurry Ken Floyd is one of the stars
at Belle Vue, but she came out of the trap like greased lightning. She ran so
fast that at one point I thought she was going to overtake the hare." It
was her first win in only her third race. Now Ian is a well-known face on the
"Flapper" tracks of Ellesmere Port, Westhoughton and St. Helens and
says that his pals are lining up to buy the peppermint product.
Dynamint, which contains only natural ingredients, including peppermint oil, eucalyptus
and no chemicals, is made by animal health care company Marabou of Preston, who
have been in business for almost one hundred years.
Director Dr. Howard Marginson said "We know it works on race horses and racing
camels, so it doesn't surprise me in the least to hear that greyhounds love it".
Meanwhile Ian, who spent ten years as a professional jockey riding for stables
in Yorkshire, has even tried it on himself to help relieve arthritic pain in his
knees and elbows. "It definitely seems to do the job," said Ian, "but
I am not planning to out race my greyhounds just yet!"
