R.H. Walters

While practicing law in Chicago, R.H. Walters was introduced to Greyhounds when he was doing legal work for F.B. “Happy” Stutz. Later, when on vacation in Florida, he became even more interested in the Greyhound industry. Walters began raising Greyhounds as a hobby when he moved to Texas after being discharged from the Armed Service in the 1940s. In 1959, he gave up his law practice to devote himself to his Greyhound farm on a full-time basis and formed a partnership whereby Walters provided Stutz with racing Greyhounds for the track.

On the Walters farm near Fort Worth, puppies received special care and attention, which Walters believed was important to nurturing healthy Greyhounds. “We keep the pups healthy all the way through puppy hood,” he said in 1975 in an article published in the Greyhound Review magazine, “and this cannot be over-emphasized…We like to give our pups a consistent diet – feed the younger pups four times a day and the older dogs two times a day.”

He also established a breeding program he hoped would produce one special, undisputed champion. “You know, we haven't had one super great one yet,” Walters said in the 1975 Review , “we're always second to those Greyhounds. We ran second to Fern Nature in her day. When we had Mahomet, we had to settle for second to Real Huntsman. In the marathons, we had to run second to Rocking Ship.” Fern Nature, Real Huntsman and Rocking Ship have all been inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame as some of the greatest Greyhounds in the history of the industry.

Success finally came in the form of a black beauty named Unruly, inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame in 1988. Unfortunately, Walters was unable to celebrate his greatest achievement because he died in 1979, just a few months after Unruly was born. Under the direction of Walters' wife, Mildred, and son, Richard Jr., who carried on the family business, Unruly became the youngest Greyhound ever to run in the Timberline Stake in Denver. He was the National Greyhound Association's Flashy Sir Award winner in 1981, and was named captain of the 1981 All-America team and a member of the 1982 team. After retiring from the track, Unruly wasn't finished; he was recognized as the top sire in America in 1987, and his name lives on in the pedigrees of today's stock.

Besides Unruly, the Walters' farm was home to six other All-Americans: Velos in 1964, Carbano and Bahama Lure both in 1972, Fabulous in 1976, Kingsford in 1981, and Allegis in 1989. Other outstanding racers and producers Walters had a hand in creating were Comstat, Busby, Columba, Basic Black, Sultry Sister, Valjean, Outstanding, Luckless, Ambience, Tolerate, Balinese, Discount, Modest, Odd Sister, Momento, Flume, Ragamuffin, Grade A, Progresso, Pitchy, Mahamet, Haiku, Gogethemoney, Reluctant, Flamingo, Monotony, Mostest, Contribe, Wishnow, Tical, Avenger, Prevalent, Tireless, Night Sounds, Confused, Fortunata, Royal Gunner, Suburban, Energize, Sullen and Good Cause.