By Jordan Gerrans
Despite being right in the middle of the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, Ben Thompson does not miss a beat with his first love.
Asked about his father’s star greyhound – Equalizer – Thompson can quickly rattle off the dog's recent form, what box he jumped from, the time he won in and everything else in-between.
During a stellar winter on a personal level, the 24-year-old still has time for his beloved dogs.
“Without doubt, they are my biggest outlet away from thoroughbreds, although it is still racing, it is different and unique in their own right,” Thompson said.
“My career and my partner Stephanie’s career – that is my parents' biggest interest outside of greyhounds and on the other hand, our biggest interest outside of our riding is following the dogs.
“If I had a day off while I was in Victoria or I was suspended from riding, my parents would get me down there working with the dogs and after a few days I missed the thoroughbreds.
“The dogs are great; they are a beautiful animal.”
Ben’s father Jason is one of the leading greyhound trainers in Australia, a multiple-Melbourne and Brisbane Cup champion.
The now Sunshine State-based gun hoop grew up around the greyhounds, and describes them as his main hobby as a youngster, having handled countless dogs on race day – including a Brisbane Cup – and is an avid follower of the code.
While he loved handling and being around the dogs on a more regular basis earlier in his life when based in Victoria, Ben says he never considered following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a trainer.
According to Jason, the family's involvement in different codes of racing provides them outlets outside of their respective jobs on a day-to-day basis.
“It works both ways, when you are involved in racing, it is our living and it is Ben’s living and it is not hard to then for us to follow his racing code and vice versa with the dogs,” Jason said.
“His riding is a good outlet for us, we get to sit back and watch him, and he can watch the dogs these days as he had a much bigger involvement while living and working in Victoria.”
For the second year in a row, Jason has remained in Victoria with borders stopping his chances of watching his greyhound in person win a big feature race over the winter.
He was forced to watch on TV last year as Black Opium won the 2020 race and will have to do the same again this week as Equalizer chases the Group 1 Cup – potentially Thompson’s fourth of his career.
Like he did last year, the smart Thompson dog has resided with champion local trainer Tony Brett – a partnership that the Victorian trainer says has worked wonders.