NGA SPRING MEET AND AUCTION

The annual National Greyhound Association Spring and Fall Meets in Abilene, Kan. showcase the latest crop of greyhounds being prepared to run at tracks across the U.S. The week-long gathering brings breeders, kennel owners, vendors and enthusiasts to assess 12-to-15 month old puppies based on their bloodlines and performances in races. After the races, the speedsters are then auctioned. The 2008 spring auction netted $1.3 million; the average price for a nascent racer was $7,400. The talk is all greyhound at this event – from trading best techniques for training, the best upcoming dogs to the state of the industry. But it also is a reunion of friendships, family and trading war stories.