Participants share their stories on mental health

Harness racing provides a valuable escape but also challenges according to participants, who offered great insights into dealing with mental health hurdles in today’s edition of Trots Life.

Reinsmen Stevie Blacker and Mark Yole and stablehand Tylan Brooks joined host Toby McKinnon today to share their stories, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges in the sport and their advocacy to help others.

Blacker told listeners he had been dealing with “some pretty big issues” before a casual invite helped him back on to a level footing.

“It was harness racing and Jimmy Moloney in particular who grabbed me and told me to come down to Matty (Craven’s) and jog some horses,” Blacker said. “Realistically that’s probably the catalyst for my life turning around.

“When I was jogging a horse I didn’t have a phone, no one could (contact) me and the only thing I had to worry about was the horse.

“That became a happy place. Matty’s tracks is a bush track and you can get lost their for hours. It’s amazing how calming that bush track is for horses but also for humans as well. It’s therapeutic for the mind.”

Blacker’s since transformed that passion into trots ownership as well as being a stablehand for trainer Aaron Dunn and driving, having notched four winners in a tick over 12 months.

“The people in the game are sensational,” he said. “My background’s very different to most participants, I worked in the corporate world for a long time, but when the wheel’s were falling off I remember talking to a guy who said if you can find something that you love for a job then you never actually do a day’s work.

“That’s not essentially true, because there’s a lot of hard work (in harness racing, but) I think everyone in the industry has that camaraderie. Everyone’s fierce competitors out on the track, but when we come off we are all mates and are there to help everyone through. I think that’s a great thing about the industry.”

CATCH UP ON STEVIE BLACKER’S INTERVIEW:

Yole spoke further to the day-to-day toll the industry could have on participants when he joined today’s edition of Trots Life, which streams weekdays from 11am-1pm on SENTrack.

“I went straight full-time into harness racing (from school),” he said. “I had a lot of struggles between 18 and 25, and I still do today, mostly … due to the fact I was relying on harness racing for an income and it was very tough when you pretty much dedicate your whole life to something and judge your self worth on how many winners you are driving or training. It was a real battle for me.

“I was having panic attacks and anxiety attacks leading up to race meetings, it wasn’t until I saw a counsellor to really understand what was going on, that I learned how to with it.

“If I could give any advice to anybody, it’s don’t be ashamed that you have something going on – whether it’s depression or anxiety – it’s just part of life.”

CATCH UP ON MARK YOLE’S INTERVIEW:

Listeners also heard from Tylan Brooks, a stablehand for Matt Craven and then Darren Cole, who has gotten behind the Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health movement, which is raising much-needed funds for mental health research.

“Being through it personally, and having mates and family go through it, it really struck home so I thought with everything going on with (COVID-19) what better time?”

CATCH UP ON TYLAN BROOK’S INTERVIEW:

Harness Racing Victoria participants and their families can access the Industry Assistance Program, which offers confidential coaching and support. For details click here.

Beyond Blue (1300 224 636) and Lifeline Australia (13 11 14) also provide vital services for those needing support.