Tom Button has a map of Queensland and from his state-of-the-art private training facility in the state’s south at Fenwick Farm in the Gold Coast hinterland and his satellite stable at Townsville in the north, there is almost no racetrack that’s off limits.

That’s without taking into consideration NSW being on his doorstep and interstate races are a more enticing option for the talented horseman now that he’s relocated to the private training facility which is close proximity to the Gold Coast Turf Club, the metropolitan racecourses of Brisbane and provincial tracks in South East Queensland.

A five-time Rockhampton premiership-winning trainer, Button was a jockey in his mid to late teens until weight got the better of him, which led to stint in the Army before taking out his licence in the Beef Capital of Queensland.

An ambitious young trainer, Button then chased bigger horizons, relocating to the Sunshine Coast before his move to the state-of-the-art Fenwick Farm.

“It is just a really good facility. It gives horses every chance to race to the best of their ability,”
Button says.

“I feel like it’s a good opportunity to attract more quality horses to the stable considering the fact that I can give them everything they need to from water walkers to grass tracks. This is the next step on to bigger and better.”

Button has the option to take them into the Gold Coast for fast work.

“We don’t have to take them into the Gold Coast as we’ve got the grass track here at Fenwick Farm, but for some horses, it is good to get them away from the farm to give them a hit out and away from home.”

Born into a racing family – Button’s father was a trainer – and he is excited about the stable’s
prospects.

“We started out with three horses in Rocky and built that into a premiership-winning stable in a
couple of years – we won five on the trot – and then I wanted to challenge myself by coming down to a bigger area and attract better horses and I think we’ve been steadily improving the stock and the results are starting to come,” he said.

“Then I have the satellite stable in Townsville to accommodate those horses who are not quite good enough for down here in the South East. We can send them up there to aim at those QTIS races, which are worth quite good money and it gives a nice return to the owners.”