Adopting Happiness: Mitch Beer

Ryan Papenhuyzen is fast. Very fast. But he couldn’t match the speed of Kembla thoroughbred trainer Mitch Beer when the message went out that their greyhound Nangar Larry was being retired and rehomed as a pet.

“Before any of the owners had a chance, Mitch has jumped in and said he would take Larry,” Ryan recalled. 

“It was a great thrill to be a part of Larry with a great ownership group, and it’s so good to see Mitch now has Larry and they’re having lots of fun out at the farm.”

For his take on how it played out, Mitch added: “Racehorse trainers mate … when we see an opportunity, we take it, especially when it's free.”

Timing was everything. Just a month earlier, Mitch’s German Shepherd had passed away. 

“The place was a bit empty, so after hearing from Andy (Lord, Nangar Larry’s trainer) I just thought, why not? And you know what, it's been amazing. He's been unreal,” said Mitch.

“He's taken over, has his own spot on the bed, he's got two different sets of pyjamas, but he’s not a big fan of getting up early. That's the only thing he has struggled with. 

“The alarm goes off at 3am, he lifts his head, some mornings he goes out for a pee, other mornings he doesn't even bother, but no he's definitely not an early riser.”

Mitch and Ryan were among the syndicate of owners of Nangar Larry, who enjoyed a very successful racing career, winning 28 races, including victory in the 2024 Group 2 Ladbrokes Bulli Gold Cup Final.

“It’s good to see them racing and winning, and it’s a great thrill, but it's just as nice to see them find a great home after it” said Ryan.

Larry is loving life at Mitch’s, and Mitch is loving life with Larry around the stables. Larry has taken to his new life, and he and Mitch’s thoroughbreds get on “pretty well.” 

“He's totally fine with it. They have their moments when they realise that they're a horse and he's a dog, but it’s all good.

“I never thought about owning a greyhound, and I look at it now and I can't believe I haven't had one before. They are so low maintenance, they're so easy, he just loves to sleep, loves to feed, and that's about it. So he's a man of my heart.

“I've become almost an official ambassador of getting a greyhound since I've got him. Honestly, if you've got kids they are great with them, they're better sort of house dogs or apartment dogs than most breeds. 

“You would think that living in an apartment or living in the city, the last thing you should get is a greyhound, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. People just assume they need big, wide, open spaces to run around all day. They don’t.

“Being a busy person, I would never take on a puppy, I don't have time for that, so to have a dog that's like, a ready-made pet, it’s unreal.

“It’s like buying a tried horse … it’s already educated. They know what they're doing. All the hard work's been done for you.”

For those who might be considering a new family pet, you can find out this weekend why Mitch speaks in such glowing terms about greyhounds.

To celebrate Greyhound National Adoption Day, we are staging events all around the State this weekend, including one at Petstock Kembla Grange tomorrow (April 26), come and meet a few of these gentle souls, it might just change your life.

👉 Click here for all the details of the event at Kembla Grange & don't forget to register for the Dogalogue 

👉 Apply to adopt here