PROFILE: Henry Bartley was born in the Texas plains town of Tahoka and was reared in Waco, Texas. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Theatre and was on the first landing by U.S. troops on Luzon. He married the former Ellen Clark of Memphis.

HISTORY: When Henry Bartley was 20 years old, his uncle invited him to see greyhounds run. After that first encounter, his love for the sport grew and he acquired his first “cold blood” greyhound. One that had no papers and was not registered. He raced him in the open fields. Just a few months after his discharge from the army, he got a job as a helper at Wonderland. His employer gave him his Orlando booking in 1947 and he went to Florida with 18 pups and two daily double dogs. In 1948 he worked as a trainer at Palm Beach and later had a booking there for many years. He acquired a five acre track nearby and bred his own greyhounds for a time. He was one of four kennel owners who began racing at Southland in 1956, the first year of operation.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Bartley’s most outstanding greyhound at southland was MONALEE MOLLY, an Irish imported racer. She led all other greyhounds at Southland for wins in 1972, posting a 35-20-8-5 record. Another of his greyhounds, CLYDES JET, led in wins in the 1965 season with a 32-11-1-4 record. He also won three Derby’s in a row. In 1966, FULL REPORT broke in at West Memphis and took five of his first 10 starts, including a Grade A triumph on closing night. Other greats were, YOU’RE ON, HIT THE SPOT, CLEANUP MAN, DORELLA and ORBIT ANNIE.