The rugby league and greyhound worlds are mourning the death on Monday of Peter "Ace'' McDonald, who passed away four days short of his 66th birthday.
McDonald was a genuine rugby league legend, especially in rural NSW, and was the father of Rodney and Wesley McDonald, for over two decades among country greyhound racing's most successful trainers.
Rodney, based at Cowra, and Wesley and his wife Kylie, who train at Springside, near ORANGE, have between them trainer 935 winners since 2000.
Wesley and Kylie's greyhounds usually contain the "Fusion'' suffix while Rodney favours the "Dana'' prefix for most of his dogs.
Rodney, 46, and Wesley, 42, acquired their enthusiasm for greyhound racing through attending country race meetings when Peter McDonald worked as a bookmaker's clerk.
"Dad was an accountant and in those days, before computerised ticketing, bookmakers needed someone with a good head for figures to work for them as clerks,'' Wesley said.
"So our father worked at not only greyhound but also harness racing and thoroughbred meetings all over the central west of NSW.
"When we were kids he always let Rodney and I tag along with him and we loved it.''
Rodney, who trained Dana Beatrice to win the 2009 Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park, said: "Peter's father John McDonald, my grandfather, was a greyhound trainer so my dad always had a love for that sport.
"Even Peter's grandparents were involved in greyhound racing, that's how long his connection to the dogs goes back.''
Peter McDonald's contribution to the world of rugby league has long been recognised as he had been made a life member of the Cowra Magpies club, Group 10, Western Division, the Country Rugby League and the NSW Rugby League.
A spokesperson for the Cowra Magpies club described McDonald as "the life blood not only of Cowra but also the Group 10, Western Rams and Country Rugby League organisations.''
GRNSW wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Peter "Ace'' McDonald.
