"I've never heard a Greyhound or any sighthound ever complain about the score the judge gave them."Dean Wright on the joy a Greyhound or sighthound gets from lure coursing

Show Notes

Dean Wright knows what drives a Greyhound or other sighthound to give chase at a lure coursing meeting. He's been lure coursing with the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) since the 1970s. He currently serves as president of the organization, which will celebrate 50 years of existence in 2022.

Dean's love affair with the sport of lure coursing began with Ibizan Hounds in the 1970s. In that same decade, he would field his first Greyhound in ASFA trials -- a dog named after the famous STAR WARS droid, R2-D2. One of his best Greyhounds to participate in the sport was Fantasy, a compact and muscular Greyhound raised to course since she was a puppy.

In 2022, Dean will complete his term as ASFA president. Though entries in the sport were waning in recent years, the COVID pandemic has spurred new interest in getting outdoors and participating in lure coursing meetings. AFSA clubs will need to educate new, young volunteers and competitors about the sport so that it may continue to thrive.

In this episode, host John Parker and Dean explore the history of ASFA and lure coursing in America. They discuss the format of the meetings and the merits upon which each Greyhound and sighthound breed are judged during competition. They also explore the future of ASFA and the need for clubs to reach out to young competitors and their sighthounds.

Links

American Sighthound Field Association (Website)How to Get Started in Lure Coursing (Website via the Southeastern Greyhound Club)