Henness Heartbroken Following Banga's Passing

RAY Henness has had to say goodbye to kennel favourite Banga after he was put to sleep following a brief battle with illness on Tuesday night.

HEARTBROKEN trainer Ray Henness has had to say goodbye to kennel favourite Banga after the group rated stayer was put to sleep following a brief battle with illness on Tuesday night.

"It just all happened so sudden … it's still very raw," said an emotional Henness.

"He started getting crook on Monday; they think it was an infection that travelled into his lungs but they can't be totally sure.

"From Monday he got moved to three different vets because he was getting worse and in the end I took him to Southpaws Specialty Surgery at Moorabbin.

"I was on the way to Geelong on Tuesday with four dogs when I got the call that he needed to be moved so I scratched the dogs picked him up and headed straight there."

Winner at seven of his 27 starts, Banga, a son of Goodesy and Flaming Shiraz, was last seen unleashing his trademark whirlwind finish when running second to Here's Tears on Sandown Cup night.

His devastating run homes quite a familiar sight in his seven racetrack wins.

"I've been in dogs 20 years but this has hit me harder than anything else," Henness said.

"He was my favourite. Was right from three months of age, there was just something about him. Everything you did with him was a pleasure; just a beautifully natured dog. He was my mate."

On Tuesday night, Henness, who heads up the successful Lindray Park establishment, was told by specialist vets Banga was in a bad way.

"There were no guarantees but they said they might be able to save him but it would cost $15,000 but he would never race again," Henness said.

"I would have spent the money in a heartbeat if he could have raced again but they would have had to remove a lung as well and they couldn't guarantee a quality of life."

With 60 greyhounds in his care, Henness is well aware that the show must go on, not that it makes things any easier.

"It can be a bloody tough gig sometimes," he added.

"The plan was for him to be racing in a 760 metre race at Wagga this Sunday for $7,000 which would have been right up his alley.

"He was a freak on the trial track and in my opinion the strongest dog in the country. His run home times over the 700 were ridiculous.

"The amount of well wishes I've had has been unbelievable. I reckon I've had over 300 messages on my phone from people right around the country. It's meant a lot."




 

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