2023 Inductee – “Trakker”

Owner/Handler: Gary Busboom
342 Champion Points
Legendary Status Champion
17x Champion
2 Major Championships

If there was ever a dog that earned honor for being inducted into the BDC Hall of Fame not only talent and wins in the field but for personality, charm and ability to make himself known by everyone around it was Good Ol’Tracker. There isn’t a player that competed during his lifetime that doesn’t have their personal Trakker memory which usually involved something out of the norm. His life was filled with the constant ability to keep his family on their toes in many mishaps, victories and chaos in all the best ways. He was a true family dog; protective when needed, caring to those he loved and always a handful.
In late fall 2006 ; the local pound called the Busboom family as the had a young GSP that has been adopted out three times previously and promptly returned each time, if they didn’t find a home he would be euthanized. We took him in and it was just the beginning of learning what a handful this amazing dog would be. After the first few months he jumped over the 6 foot fence, an additional 3 renovations 10 feet high that we were able to keep him in. It was apparent we needed a useful outlet for his energy. Chasing wild chukar in the Nevada mountains wasn’t enough for Trakker, as he would take off to more challenging pray, Bobcats! He would shoulder check them to roll down the mountain. A true adrenaline junkie always looking for a new thrill.

December the same year, Boomer took this opportunity to enter this renegade in his first dog trial, with no formal training he won the puppy division and a star was born. Throughout his long career hea was a fierce competitor, as Boomer and Trakker often butted heads they each saw how to compete differently and Trakker’s stubbornness would never accept his role as just “the dog.” Over the years Trakker became the go-to on taking new players and giving them the confidence and training to succeed as players. After a few years of competing around the country with Boomer and Ralph Hamman in doubles, Ralph developed as a talented player with Trakker by his side earning the Amateur Player of the Year. This is one of the last two rookie players Trakker is a part of getting to the championships. His future from there will be the unbreakable bond between a dog and his girl with many wins, losses and KFC chicken buckets after every tournament.

Holly and Trakker set out for Kansas in her first tournament ever, a scared, very nervous player, never been in a field trial before only a spectator and some clay pigeons in the weeks before, Trakker had to take the reins. His love to catch birds and do his own thing no matter the consequences Boomer put into place took a back seat this first day with his new partner. Trakker knew to be Holly’s rock. He held his gate bird with such patience as Holly of course missed, crying of disappointment, Trakker knew he had to pull thru. As she cried, Trakker went on his own just picking up the remaining birds and handing them to her to finish the run. It was a horrible score on paper but it gave a new player the confidence to keep going and a great partnership was born.
Trakker was something truly special. His greatest contribution to this game and the world was not his lifetime points left behind, since he spent most of his career with new players just learning the game unfortunately a lot of missed shots and bad runs were involved to no fault of his own. This dog’s performance and personality are his legacy. Eating Holly’s wedding cake, helping himself to Thanksgiving dinner when you weren’t looking and playing with a young Nova resulting in his ears being stitched to the top of his head. He had roughly 10 retirement parties since his family thought he was too old to compete, but each year he just wouldn’t give up. He finished his last full season still winning at age 13 just before passing away a few month later that summer.

Today, March 9, 2023 Trakker enters the BDC Hall of Fame with 17 Championships, 342 career Champion points and 2 Major Championships. Trakker’s impact on those he loved is unmatched, he is the first true rescue dog to be inducted into the BDC Hall of Fame. No papers, no history, no genealogy, just a dog with a spirit you could only adore and never contain.