Alfie Hayes, who trained Travel Rev, the champion stayer of the early 1970s, has passed away, aged 82.
Hayes, who trained out of a backyard at Malabar in Sydney's eastern suburbs, trained Travel Rev for Fred Smith of Wilberforce.
Travel Rev is widely considered the greatest long-distance greyhound to race over the 800 yards (732m) trip at Harold Park.
The dog was so superior to his contemporaries that trainers of rival greyhounds began marking their nomination forms "not to be drawn against Travel Rev.''
The GBOTA decided to construct a special handicap box for the champion, forcing him to concede his rivals a start in order to encourage opposition trainers to race against him.
Ultimately the handicap start was not required, as Travel Rev retired after winning every major Harold Park long-distance race on the calendar, many by huge margins and often after coming from the back of the field.
