A UGR Interview - Tom Ferris

By: Clint Locklear

 

Tom Ferris candidly admitted, "There were three or four times when I said to God, 'Show me a sign whether or not you want me to stay in this business.'"

 

Those were some of the older days. Back when Wheeling was paying $30 a point and you needed a stakes win to get your nose above water. Ferris was lucky enough on a few occasions to keep afloat.

 

Now twenty-five years after Tom Ferris began in the business as a kennel operator, his answer to stay or not stay couldn't be any clearer.

 

The love affair started with the days of Blutarsky in the '80s, one of his first dogs who went on to become a stakes competitor at Raynham. Years later came a star studded kennel roster filled with  AMF Ex President, Greys Royalcrown, Greys Calibrator and a host of others. Race fans, track regulars and locals have long noticed A Ray Kennel's model of elite consistency at Wheeling. Now that circle of notoriety has widened, we're all aware now.

 

Tom Ferris and his greyhounds have managed national recognition while racing towards an even higher level. Stocked with the likes of Counselor (a National and Southland fan favorite) PJ Refined (fresh off a victory in Razorback Course Championship at Southland Park) and the ultra-exciting AMF Sleekstrangr (based at Ferris's Wheeling kennel) is creating the type of buzz that comes along only once in a great while.

 

A Ray Kennel’s AMF Spamwich captured the $25,000 George Kellas Memorial Sprint Stakes at Wheeling Island in early July. Joining the champion in the winner’s circle are, front row from left, kennel operator and Spamwich’s owner Tom Ferris, accepting the trophy from Sherri Kellas; Max and Lydia Kellas; Jason Varner; leadout Kim McHugh; Tommy Corey; and assistant racing secretary Lacee Kunik. Back row from left, racing secretary Chris Yahn; Tara Sands; Denise Corey; trainer Joe Palmer; and Gary Richards. (Photo by Keith Stewart, K.A. Stewart Photography)

 

Before this story moves too far ahead of itself, lets backtrack to a young Tom Ferris, born in Pennsylvania but residing in Ohio close to the panhandle of West Virginia. His introduction to racing came from his family who had small ownership interests in moderate racehorses at Old Waterford Park (present day Mountaineer). When asked to go one evening, the nine year old jumped at the chance. It would become a regular outing and along with that, a passion for racing that would last a lifetime.

 

Ferris attended prestigious Vanderbilt University and finished law school at Ohio State University but interestingly enough took a year off with the blessings of his parents to play Bridge for a year. He would later that year become a Life Master at the age of 25. His love for cards and competition would eventually take him to the Las Vegas WSOP.

 

Once graduating and now working for the state auditor's office in 1984, he and some friends heard of a dog track in Wheeling and made plans to go. This was the only viable option in the area to try one's gambling luck because as Tom said, “the horse tracks around Columbus really stunk!”. The atmosphere was electric. The track would bring in busloads from nearby major cities and the handles, camaraderie and atmosphere made for an exhilarating night out. Ferris enjoyed the action as a gambler and after studying and figuring out the game, he became a decent handicapper.

 

Most tracks during the early mid 80s sold greyhound related literature on their news stands next to the program sales. Ferris would regularly pick up greyhound literature and monthly copies of the Greyhound Review and digest as much as be could, eager to know more.

 

It wasn't long before he purchased his first greyhound from a fellow named Smith Benners, a man he admires and gives much credit to. This was during the time the NGA Review contained an extensive classified section and Benners was running an ad at the time. When Ferris inquired about the sale, Benners was more than helpful and showed genuine interest in helping newcomers.

 

Tom would buy his first few greyhounds with longtime friend and bridge partner Conley Ray Blackburn. They begin to pursue this new venture with a certain amount of seriousness. Once they bought a few greyhounds on their own, they decided to have them raised and trained in Keota Oklahoma.  The people who they boarded their dogs with were Lois Smith and Walter Choate.They made trips to Oklahoma visiting ; watching, listening and learning all they could. Walter took them to various farms in the area; Bill Woodall, Mitchell Ballard and Phil Harris among others. Conley and Tom watched and learned all they could. Tom loved to watch everybody school their dogs at Bill Woodall’s track.

 

"I just loved Bill Woodall…I just thought he was brilliant," stated Ferris. "He knew everybody’s dogs and mixed and matched the races so they would be competitive. In those days, Keota was the haven of some of the best greyhounds in the country and Bill played a prominent role in everybody’s success.  It was then that I realized that I would grow a passion for this business. I was always an animal lover. But I realized that there was more than luck to Bill’s and his friend’s

success. I was intrigued.”

 

While stopping by Southland on one of their trips to Keota, Ferris and Blackburn also met with Clarence and Dolores Connick, continuing their quest for knowledge. It was in one meeting at Earl’s Cafe  that the Connicks suggested Blackburn come down for the Hollywood meet to work the dogs with him.. The answer was a no brainer and Blackburn took them up on their offer. Blackburn would work as a helper with them during the 1988-1989 Hollywood meet and would assume at trainer’s position with Jim Johnson’s kennel at Tri-State in the early summer of 1989.

 

Not long after assuming the trainer’s job in Tri-State, a tragic occurrence happened on November 17th, 1989 when Conley was sadly killed by a drunk driver driving home from the racetrack that evening. To this day it still affects Tom Ferris who after this tragic incident debated whether to continue in the dog business, especially considering Blackburn may have been the more passionate of the two during the early stages of their venture. The allure for them both was the excitement of watching their own greyhound race and the people they met. It was pure fun at the time, a hobby of sorts. Ferris, who says that because of Conley’s initial passion for the sport that got him involved, continues to honor him by way of his kennel name. A, short for Tom's middle name and Ray, which was Blackburn's middle name, Hence: A Ray. The name was in existence as a Partnership before his untimely passing but Ferris never gave thought to changing it. “I know that Conley will never be forgotten because he really got me involved in this sport. Now, after all these years, I know that this business was my destiny, my passion, and my joy.”

 

In April of 1990, six months after the tragedy, Ferris made the decision to continue on and bought out Pauline O'Donnell's Tri State kennel which they were looking to sell. This would be his first booking (he'd later sell in 2009). Ferris made the trip to the O'Donnell house to close the deal and officially meet two of the iconic people in the greyhound industry. During his three day stay, he quickly realized their knowledge was extensive. "Three days wasn't enough, I really needed to stay a month. Barney would be up at 4am every morning… relentless, hard working guy," remembers Ferris. When asked about Pauline, long known as a shrewd and successful business woman, he complimented her wit and fortitude by stating, "Pauline knew the business side of things and knew how to get things done. They were the perfect complement to each other.

 

In the spring of 1990, he had long since left the comforts of this position as an attorney for the Auditor of State’s office. He came home a few years earlier to work in his family’s business which was strip mining coal. From state attorney to coal miner to potential dog man, Ferris was making a life changing commitment to kennel ownership and management. It was a major move that forfeited stability, benefits and pensions. A passion for the sport, the dogs, the competition and confidence to succeed far outweighed the uncertainty and doubt. “ I have always been a gambler by nature. I never felt that being an attorney or coal miner was really going to be my ultimate passion. So I decided to search elsewhere for that quest for my passion in life.”

 

He would later add a kennel at Jefferson County in 1991 that lasted a year or so. "It was a place to break in pups and I hired a guy out of retirement. They paid about $20 at the time". In 1992, he partnered in a Mobile kennel.  About six months later, once I was accepted for a kennel at Wheeling Downs for September of 1992, Tom gave up his half interest in that booking and took a few dogs and leased a bunch and started his new booking at Wheeling.

 

This was not the Wheeling of present, but the pre slots Wheeling. Many at the time didn't express much interest in being there because points were roughly $30 a point.  To this day, Ferris's A Ray Kennel and Lester Raines are the only holdovers from the 1992 roster. “Wheeling was the place where it all started for me. That’s where my initial love of the sport started; by gambling on the dogs there. So, naturally, I wanted to be kennelled there.”

 

Tom with Wheeling Island superstar AMF Sleekstrangr.

 

As for Ferris, an Ohio native that kept his home about 90 minutes north of the racetrack, this was ideal for him. The present kennel is about seventy minute commute that he makes on a daily basis, rarely missing time away from the kennel or home. He has always been a hands on guy. He acknowledges his team in the kennel by stating the importance of solid, dependable individuals who share a love for the dogs. Tom recalls the early days at Wheeling as the best years of his long tenure.

 

"The most fun I had was when I first started there. The kennels were still at the race track (since moved to Beech Bottom, a 15 mile trek). Many of us would watch the races together and talk. Everybody was more of a family then. I knew everybody's name and now I couldn't tell you… I don't know the people like I used to".

 

When the kennel compound was adjacent to the track, trainers, helpers and owners were there for the races… "Tropicana Restaurant, everybody would eat there (during the morning break)".When prompted about the old town of Wheeling Ferris replied, "Wheeling was an open town back in the old days… always has had a gambling mentality… the mafia ran the town and nobody got messed with… gambling is still in many people’s blood here."

 

FUTURE VISION

"I don't want to change anything I do. When you stop breeding, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy for yourself because you've stopped the line", he says referring to a breeder's' bloodlines and/or future prospects. He continues by stating, "You have to keep putting in to make it work.

 

WGBOA

Many of those involved in the greyhound business are aware of the controversial story concerning the failed "buyout" proposal in West Virginia.

 

Ferris is an Ohio native  and that  limits his ability to deal with legislatures. He does remain aware of issues surrounding racing in the state of West Virginia and is involved as much as can be.

 

Speaking on the sensitive subject of WV racing and politics, "they probably said disparaging things about me being some carpetbagger coming in to the state and taking the money out of state. But a lot of it stays here. But I did not come here when the money was good. I came here when the money was bad. I always considered the Wheeling area a second home to me. So I get a little upset when people say bad things about me. I had paid my dues and have worked hard at it and loved every bit of it! But for the most part the people who wanted the “buyout” I have known for a long time. I think these people believe there is no way out of the inevitability of the end of greyhound racing in West Virginia.  I just cannot accept that. I have always been a fighter and a survivor. I just feel there is a better way to approach whatever is coming.”

 

AUCTION

Ferris remarked that egos run high at these meets and people regularly make bids to stop the competition in their tracks. "It's a poker game. If one likes a dog at 10k and the bidding starts at 3, one may quickly raise to 7k to purely intimidate while still maintaining under the presumed value of the dog. It’s a fun game, but it is much harder to make a profit on these buys than before. The other bidders are much bolder than before. They are a lot more like me!!”

 

BREEDING

Although not entirely a  homebred operation, Tom does breeds females and employs some of the best in the business to whelp, raise and finish. Tom is plenty busy with managing the kennel at Wheeling so he has the pleasure of primarily using Jay Rangel, one of the hottest breeders and trainers in the business. He also boards greyhounds with Brad and Paula Sholtz, Ursula O’Donnell, Steve Boyd, and Mick Hymes.

 

Ferris has developed a keen ability for matings and choosing the right bloodlines. Pj Refined was purchased at auction, while AMF Bad Bounce is a homebred. They are out of the same bitch Grey's Ricochet. Tom bought a handful of Greymeadows bloodlines through the NGA race auction that has done nothing but improve Ferris's quality. He also credits the purchase of Bonex, from the famous Beckner line, that has  produced many solid litters, top to bottom, most notably AMF Ex President.

 

Ferris has quietly built a strong group of females through purchases (public or private) from some of the best in the business including David Peck, Julie Ward and Jeff Cole among others. Many of his broods are beginning to carry his prefix that are producing pups competing at the same high level.

 

CONCLUSION

It's refreshing to hear a tale of a man who followed his passion rather than trudge through life.

 

"There's no other job I'd drive 70 miles to every work every morning. I just love being out there with the dogs, just makes it all worth while. I compete against myself. I want every dog to be the best he can be and that fuels every competitive part of me.”

It may not be long before he has more than himself to compete against if his

quality of stock continues its winning ways. Openings for Southland Park occur

almost yearly if not every other year and the A Ray Kennel may soon be facing

his toughest competition.

 

(Note: A small sampling of Keith Stewart’s photographs of greyhounds is available for viewing at his website, www.kastewartphoto.com    If any greyhound owners are interested in photographs of their racers in action at Wheeling Island, please call Keith at 740-232-8210 or email him at stewka904@yahoo.com    Feel free to contact Stan Pawloski, at sjpawloski@yahoo.com  if anyone has any questions or interest, I will forward any requests on to Keith Stewart.