A Kent family which has cared for scores of champion racing greyhounds for seven decades is looking to the future after introducing a fourth generation to one of Britain’s top pastimes.
The O’Sullivans celebrated their first winner at Crayford Stadium in 1955 and have won major Category One competitions including the Grand National, Golden Jacket and Gold Collar.
It’s all been achieved from the family’s Hazlewood Kennels home adjacent to Brands Hatch which was converted into a world-class training facility featuring a schooling track and swimming pool by great-grandfather Terry O’Sullivan – who passed away in 2025 – after it previously operated as a pig farm.
Terry’s son, Barry O’Sullivan, took over the license shortly after the refurbishment and has raised daughters Rosie and Chloe plus sons Thomas and Sean while managing the kennel which houses more than 100 greyhounds and employs 10 members of staff.
Rosie has worked for her father as a kennel hand for almost a decade.
And now the 24-year-old is introducing her two-year-old twins – Abram and Ambrose – to the sport which has hooked her family since the 1950s.
“Greyhound racing is all we’ve ever known,” said Barry.
“We love the greyhounds and the sport in equal measure, and in our 70 years of training there have been a huge number of ups and downs.
“I remember McCarthys Duke winning the Golden Jubilee final at Swindon on Sky Sports when Jeff Stelling used to head up coverage. We’ve won the Grand National, Springbok and the Golden Jacket – all wonderful memories.
“Times have changed and we tend to focus more on our responsibilities at Central Park these days.
“Rosie and the twins are obsessed, so it’s safe to say the kennel is in safe hands.
O’Sullivans and their champion winning greyhoundShaun Reynolds celebrates with the ‘greyhound-mad’ O’Sullivan family
“And we still love to open our doors on Sundays to the public who use our schooling track to run Salukis and other sighthound breeds. It’s one of only two days in the week where we don’t race, so we need to keep busy somehow!”
Today, the O’Sullivans race five times every week with most runners taking to the track at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne.
Despite only turning two, Abram and Ambrose are already getting to grips with the core jobs carried out each day at the kennels such as cleaning, walks, feeding and health checks.
Rosie hopes one day her twins will follow in her footprints and keep the family tradition going.
“My future is in greyhound racing,” said Rosie.
“I remember going to Crayford as a toddler, and then all those years later coating up one of our runners – Boom- town Vic in trap two – when I first got my license.
“The track had paraders in those days, so it was different to now.
“Even though they’re only two, the twins are so involved with what we do at the kennels. They love being hands on with cleaning, and we have started to introduce them to holding greyhounds too.
“Wednesdays and Sundays are their favourite days as those are the two days in the week we don’t race. They’ll be at the front door raring to go!
“Greyhounds are such a placid breed and perfect around children. And I hope their interest in the sport does continue because it’s provided a living and a lifestyle to our family for generations.”
Racegoers can watch the family’s greyhounds in action at Central Park every Tuesday and Saturday evening. Further details are available online via www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk.
