Duckworth Revelling in Training Responsibility

It wasn’t until he stepped away from horses altogether that Ben Duckworth came to realise where his true passion lay. According to Racing NSW’s December magazine, for a few years, the now 26-year-old traded bridles for building sites, focused on a future in construction rather than continuing the family legacy at Fairview Park Stud in the Hawkesbury. His mother Linda manages the property, while his father Ian is a respected equine vet, but Duckworth had initially pursued a different path. Despite growing up attending yearling sales and race meetings, the industry took a back seat during his school years. “I wasn’t that involved in the horse industry,” he admits. “I was focused on my rugby and whatever sport I could get myself involved in.” Still, that early exposure left a lasting impression. “As long as I can remember I was going to the races – that’s probably where I got the bug.” Competitive by nature, Duckworth eventually gravitated back towards racing during his time at UNSW, where he studied Construction Management and Property. Living near Randwick rekindled the connection. “I found myself looking out towards the racetrack,” he said. “I maintained my interest in the racing side more than the breeding or farming side.” His break came in 2019 with a job for Mark Newnham at Randwick. The stable gig fit neatly around his rugby commitments with Randwick Rugby Club and gave him the foothold he needed. When Covid hit, he returned home to Fairview Park before setting off on a year-long educational stint with the Mitchells at Yarraman Park. That overseas stint included learning stops in the UK, Ireland and France – a period that cemented his ambition to one day train in his own right. It was back at Fairview that he reached out to Michael Freedman, keen to start from the ground up. A stablehand position soon turned into a foreman’s role at Freedman’s Randwick base, where about 55 horses are in work. “I always knew I wanted to get back into racing,” he said. “Michael’s given me a great opportunity and been a great mentor. The team here is fantastic. Wajid Ali, the other foreman, is a great horseman and his attention to detail has really helped me.” Duckworth joined at the right time, with the stable enjoying a banner 12 months thanks to Golden Slipper winner Marhoona and Flight Stakes heroine Apocalyptic. “You pinch yourself that you get to work with that level of horse,” he said. While a future as a trainer is firmly in his sights, he knows there’s no rush. “I’m really enjoying the responsibility and learning more about programming. Every trainer has their own take and I feel like I’ve found my feet here with Michael.”