Guthrie (68) was recognised for his tireless contribution to the Otago Greyhound Racing Club when he was named the inaugural ''industry champion'' at the New Zealand association awards in Christchurch earlier this month.
The award came down to two nominees - Guthrie and southern photographer Dave Robbie, who puts in untold hours taking photos between Christchurch and Invercargill.
''I was pretty chuffed,'' Guthrie said.
''I thought Dave would have got it.
''But it's quite nerve-racking when you have got to go up and speak in front of all of those people, too.''
Guthrie became involved in greyhounds more than 15 years ago through two avenues - he was running the Paws Inn boarding kennels in Port Chalmers and his nephew Scott Guthrie was training a few dogs.
''I had racehorses - trotters and pacers - but I had always been mad keen on greyhounds. My nephew had some really good greyhounds before I got involved so I thought `I might get one with you','' he said.
Guthrie ended up with three dogs with his nephew, although none of them realised any potential, for various reasons.
''I thought I might spend a bit of money so I started to buy heaps of them.''
Guthrie placed the dogs with a wide range of trainers and then decided to try beach training the dogs himself, taking them over the hill to a beach near Purakaunui.
After selling the kennels, Guthrie has continued his training from his lifestyle block near Momona, although he is yet to find a genuine star among his litters.
''I've never had any top-liners - I've had some c4 dogs that have won 12 races and a few like that, but never an absolute star,'' he said.
''The ones I've bred over the years I've always sold or got rid of the one that became a c5 dog - that's happened three times so far.''
He has high hopes for a litter of 11 pups out of his best dog, Morning Watch.
''She broke a hock in training, but she was a damn good dog, running second to Jinjarango and Know Peace.
''She only won six races but her bloodlines are spot on.''
Guthrie spent time in the navy and at Port Otago before starting the boarding kennels, and his nautical talents still come in handy when he prepares the lure for each meeting at Forbury Park.
He buys sheepskins and cuts them up before making them into a lure around a piece of 100-year-old sailing ship rope - just one of many jobs Guthrie has completed for the club over the past 15 years, including the past six years as president.
''Even if I got out of dogs, I'd still be part of the club. It's hard to find club people - young people is what you want, ideally. Even to retain the people we've got is not easy.''
But there's the small matter of finding a champion dog that also convinces Guthrie to keep turning up.
''Trying to find that elusive, really good dog - that keeps me going.''
Ozark's Daughter almost made Guthrie's day at Forbury Park yesterday, running a solid second placing in race 2, a maiden sprint.
