PROFILE: Swede Wilson was born in Beaver City, Nebraska. He moved with his family to Newkirk, Oklahoma in 1900 when he was 5 years old. Swede retired from racing in the early 1970’s and today resides in Palm Beach, Florida.

HISTORY: One day in 1912, while outside the restaurant where he worked Swede and his brother, Fats, found a stray greyhound. “I’ve had greyhounds from that day on,” says Swede. Swede’s career as a kennel owner began in 1921 at a 30 day meet in East St. Louis. He ran his kennel for 50 years. Swede’s first kennels included some of the best greyhounds of the period; however, there were many lean years in the sport for Swede. “You have to love the sport to stay in it this long,” he once said. “I went without something to eat many a day, but still stayed with it.” His persistence paid off in the 1960’s when he leased Westy Whizzer, one of racing’s all time greats. Swede finally had his champion, and shortly after Whizzer retired, Swede called it a career.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Swede handled Westy Whizzer to 107 career victories and three All-America awards, to become one of the sport’s greatest campaigners.