Recently relocating to Townsville, trainer Tom Button won five premierships at his former Callaghan Park (Rockhampton) base and is already making his mark with a steady stream of winners. Let’s find out more about him…
Do you come from a racing family?
Yes, my father was a trainer.
What is your first racing memory?
Going to the races at Tamworth with my father.
Who is your favourite horse and why?
The Tax Accountant – he was a character who always gave you his best.
Who is the best horse you’ve been involved with?
I rode Chief De Beers a couple times and enjoyed that!
And the best horse you have seen?
Black Caviar.
Do you have any promising young horses for racing fans to look out for?
Heart Of Vienna and Bianca Mia are two young horses with more wins ahead.
Who do you admire most in racing?
My owners, who invest time and money into racing which keeps the game rolling.
Who is your ‘what if’ horse?
Lesotho Diamond – a very good galloper who had terrible legs. Couldn’t train her at all but she still won two (and twice second) from five starts.
What is one change/improvement you’d love to see in racing?
Affordability to owners – through increase of prize money or the decrease of fees like nominations/acceptances and scratching fees. We need more owners to equate to more horses in regional Queensland.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced in racing?
The race called called my horse looping them at the 600m one day when he hadn’t left the gates at all!
Do you have any racing superstitions?
I wear my baggie reg (hat) when I need a win the most!
What is your favourite racing moment/biggest thrill?
Heartbreak Harry winning the 2017 Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville.
If you could time travel into a past racing moment what would it be?
Phar Lap – Melbourne Cup week.
Which horse of the past would you most like to have trained?
Phar Lap.
Which horse of the present would you most like to have in your stable?
Ka Ying Rising.
What is your favourite pastime outside of racing?
Golf.
What is your favourite movie?
Jerry Maguire.
Best concert you’ve seen?
Ed Sheeran.
Imaginary dinner, you can invite three racing people, three outside of racing (alive or dead), who are they?
Greg Norman, Billy Slater, Wally Lewis, Tony Haydon, David Jones and Jeff Button.
What slogan summarizes your outlook on life?
Don’t sweat the small things.
Favourite food?
Breakfast.
Favourite racecourse?
Sunshine Coast.
If you weren’t a racehorse trainer what would you be doing?
Something horse related.
