PROFILE: Robert John “Bob” Black was born in 1927 the son of William “Pop” and Helen Black. He was reared near Taunton, Massachusetts on a dairy farm where his parents rented out the barn for greyhound kennels and their home to owners and trainers when a racetrack opened nearby. At the age of nine, Bob got his first job cooling out the greyhounds.

HISTORY: After being exposed to the stories of the greyhound owners and trainers who stayed at his home in the late 1930’s, Bob Black knew he wanted to be in the greyhound business. When his older brother Billy became a greyhound trainer, Bob became his helper. His first official job as a trainer was for the Little Red Highhouse. He raced greyhounds at a dozen racetracks throughout the country before partnering with his father to purchase the Fred Whitehead greyhound farm near Chanute, in southeast Kansas. The two then operated B & B Greyhound Kennels.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Black trained such outstanding greyhounds as MOUNTAIN TIME, RAPID ROBIN, BIG KICK and VALUED. B & B Kennels produced COST BUSTER, who won the 1961 Derby Stakes and the first St. Petersburg Countdown at St. Petersburg Kennel Club. Two other well known greyhounds from the kennel were VILAS SAND and COLOR SMART, who won the first Wonderland Derby. The Black’s purchased Hall of Famer TELL YOU WHY* who became the number one stud greyhound in the nation. Black served on the National Greyhound Association Committee for six years and held the office of vice-president. He considered his most significant contribution to have been the development of the NGA auction.