Racing flows rich in Emma Avdulla’s veins.

Her father, Peter, was a prominent ‘satchel swinger’ until selling his bookmakers licence in 2015.

And her brother, Brenton, is a leading NSW ‘hoop’ who has ridden 13 Group 1 winners – including two Golden Slippers, a Black Caviar Lightning, an All Aged Stakes, and an Epsom Handicap.

The astute jockey was also in the saddle when Lasqueti Spirit won the 2016 VRC Crown Oaks at Flemington – at $101!

However, Emma, 39, who works in hospitality at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club, has also been enjoying her sporting ‘moment in the sun’.

“There would be dogs that would never have made it to the racetrack only for coursing… I love coursing!”

Excuse the Andy Warhol inspired reference, but Emma is having her own “16 seconds of fame” as the first female ‘drag lure’ driver at the Waterloo Cup – the ‘holy grail’ of coursing – in the event’s rich 150-year history.

The multi-talented Emma has also followed in the footsteps of pioneering female racecaller Victoria Shaw. She’s been occasionally calling meetings at Lang Lang.

“I’ve been around horse racing tracks since I could walk,” Emma said. “Dad worked for the late Allen Cleary as a penciller until he got his own licence as a 23-year-old.

“And I worked with dad as a bookies clerk until he sold his licence. He fielded at almost every racetrack in Victoria including Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley.”

Now residing in Bentleigh, Emma told of the unusual, albeit heart-warming, catalyst behind her introduction to greyhounds – particularly coursing.

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“When I was living in Chelsea, I was by myself in a two-bedroom unit. I decided I wanted a dog of my own to keep me company.

“I started Googling and everything kept coming up ‘Greyhounds’. So, I adopted a greyhound whose pet name was “Jax”.

“When ‘my boy’ passed away, I got involved in a few greyhound-related Facebook groups and came across Mel and Sean Lithgow. I fostered a couple of their dogs, and we became good friends.

“Eventually, I applied for an attendant’s licence and started helping the Lithgows with walking and feeding their dogs – and learning more and more about greyhound racing. I also became friendly with the people at Lang Lang Coursing Club, including John Clay and Peter Craig.

“I started off at Lang Lang in the catching pen prior to getting the starter’s job. Later, they asked if I wanted to drive the lure. I feel like I took to it ‘like a duck to water’.”

A coursing ‘jack-of-all trades’, Emma says she has “a new-found respect for racecallers” after twice calling meetings at Lang Lang.

“It’s not an easy job. Victoria Shaw is a marvel and an inspiration. She has broken through a male bastion.”

Emma has developed into a coursing devotee and is attracted to the “great community spirit”.

“First and foremost, coursing is a huge help for dogs – especially young greyhounds. It’s learning about the head-to-head format and competing in a straight line, and it helps their focus.

“After adopting a greyhound, they became my ‘top dog’. And getting into coursing has been a natural progression. The people are friendly and always willing to help.”

Emma added that she “loves both codes”. “However, I’m not involved in thoroughbreds now but still have an interest in watching my brother. I want him, and the greyhounds, to get around safely. Anything else is a bonus.”

No grand plans are on the horizon for Emma in our great sport. But if there is an ‘ultimate dream’ she says, “I just want the sport to continue, especially coursing”.

There would be dogs that would never have made it to the racetrack only for coursing… I love coursing!”

Which leads us to the climax of the sesquicentennial Waterloo Cup at Lang Lang on Sunday.

Only six greyhounds remain in a quest for a $15,900 winner’s purse and honour of becoming the 150^th winner of the coursing classic.

Here are the matches for what promises to be a memorable and historic day:

NB. The winner of the third match (Swinton v Neverland King) gets a Bye in the second last round (i.e. automatically makes it through to the final). However, the winner of Swinton v Neverland King is required to run a second time before the final on their own (basically a solo trial).

Swinton (16.19sec) broke the Lang Lang track record in his first course on Week 1.

NCAV president Peter Craig, who trains Funny Old Fellow, is attempting back-to-back Waterloo Cup wins. He saluted last year with He’s No Slouch – a litter brother of megastar, Wow She’s Fast.

And in an amazing training effort, the Lithgows – joint NCAV secretary’s – will have three May ’21 Aussie Infrared x Gotham Queen littermates vying for the Waterloo Cup.

Pawnote: Ironically, Emma Avdulla was a part-owner of Dream Wizard and Gotham Duke – both Mar ’18 Walk Hard x Gotham Queen (who won the Coursing Bitch of the Year award in three successive years).