So when Big Thunder surged his way into the Ladbrokes Country Classic sEmi-finals last Friday night, trainer Helen Rylands certainly welcomed the tEmporary distraction.
“It was sensational. I was in the catching pen and you can’t see much from there so as they came past and he was six lengths in front, I thought “holy s***”,” Rylands laughed.
“His kennel name is Thunder and his racing name is Big Thunder so I was trying not to yell out in case he pulled up. I just had to wait until he got to the post before screaming out. It was a fantastic run.”
His biggest race victory exciting enough to totally encapsulate the mind of Rylands whose been doing it tough since her husband, Brian, passed away almost four years ago.
“My husband was a bookmaker at the Richmond club for almost 50 years and he passed away on March 19, 2020 from bile cancer,” Rylands said.
Helen Rylands (L) with Big Thunder, part-owner Pauline Ross (C) and son John (R) at Richmond Race Club on Friday
“He died at the beginning of the covid lockdowns so instead of having a big funeral at Richmond, we ended up with eight people plus the bugle player and the funeral celebrant because we weren’t allowed anymore in.”
“And you don’t easily overcome something like that, it’s very hard. I worked with him from the time I was 18, I was around him my whole life, then he’s gone. It’s very depressing to be honest and I’ve had lots of counselling and therapy to try and help,” Rylands added.
The former director of the Richmond Race Club determined to get her mental health back on track, with the Ladbrokes Country Classic quest of Big Thunder keeping her mind busy.
“My son John bought the dog and he does most of the preparation and the training but I’ll put him on the walking machine of an afternoon, I help with the feeds, I catch at the track and I let him out of a morning and night. It keeps me away from thinking about my troubles,” Rylands adds.
“John enjoys the greyhounds and helps his mental health as well. I think a lot of people in this sport find purpose in taking care of their animals and it’s a really good outlet for people who are looking for purpose in their life.”
The routine and social aspect of greyhound racing can be of enormous benefit to participants mental and physical health
And away from the dogs, the 72-year-old has also found respite in another form of entertainment.
“I play Texas Hold ‘Em four or five times a week at places like Panthers or the Gale and Rowing clubs,” Rylands admits.
“It’s only a small buy in environment but it’s always very busy and it gives me something to do. I’ve made a lot of friends and it stops me feeling depressed.”
“A game can go for a few hours, and you don’t have to think about the problEms in life as much. I used to play tennis twice a week but I got diagnosed with polymyalgia which is a form of arthritis that ruined my shoulders. Once I couldn’t lift thEm above my head without pain, I had to find something else to do.”
Rylands now readying herself for a tilt at the sEmi-finals of the $125,000 feature and likening Big Thunder’s Box 1 draw to “having at least pocket queens”.
“Mind you I’ve been beaten by a pocket queen plenty of times before,” she laughs.
“But Box 1 is always some help in big races. He does use a bit of the track but he was suited by Box 2 at Richmond last start. It also depends on the dogs around him and rEmEmber, he hasn’t been to Dubbo before. He’s come through as a fifth-grade dog and now he’s up against some really good ones.”
