Rory Atkins made a promising AFL debut in Showdown XXXIX, but football isn’t his only interest.
Atkins, 21, spends one day a week working with horse trainer Travis Doudle at his racing stable in Morphettville. Horse racing is in the wingman’s blood. His father, Ken, is related to prominent Victorian trainer, Mick Price.
“I’ve always been involved with horses,” Atkins said on The Crows Show.
“My Dad’s cousin is Mick Price. Mick trains out of Melbourne and is a decent horse trainer. I’ve always been at the races, but never worked with horses this closely.”
Watch the full segment on Episode 16 of The Crows Show above
Atkins arrives at the stables before sunrise. He helps clean up after the horses, and changes their feed and water. The young Crow also prepares the horses for work and leads them to the track at Morphettville Race Course. He’s even been involved on race day.
Atkins said he was keen to pursue a hobby away from football.
“I was driving past here (Morphettville) one day, and I said to Emma Bahr our Player Development Manager that I’d love to do that and she got me involved,” he said.
“I come down here at about 5:30am on my day off and hang out with these fellas (horses) and Trav. I’ve been here about three months now and I love it.”
