Anita Watts feels the love in greyhound racing

By Jordan Gerrans

Anita Watts is living out her dream role within the racing industry in Queensland.

Watts hails from Tasmania and grew up on a farm around dogs, cats and cattle, among other animals.

So, to be able to have a full-time gig in the greyhound industry for almost two decades, she recognises not many people are as lucky as she is to work around their passion.

As a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community, Watts is of the belief that there is more to be done for those within racing to feel safe and included.

While Watts has not faced any direct homophobia, the greyhound lover says ‘casual language’ that is offensive and hurtful to others is an area that continuously needs to be worked on.

Sitting to be interviewed as part of Racing Queensland’s Racing with Pride series, Watts referenced harmful ‘casual language’ as a learning opportunity for participants in the industry to learn from after watching the series.

“Hopefully people can watch what they say more of the time,” Watts said.

“People might not even think about it and use words like queer, which might impact someone around them.

“People need to be careful about what they say.”

Watts has worked for Greenbank trainer Rob Essex for the past 17 years as well as training on her own for a period of time.

When at the track, Watts does not make a song and dance about her sexuality, but will often have a rainbow colour in her hair or a rainbow key chain.

As there is an older demographic amongst participants in the dog game, Watts chooses to keep her private life to herself and will not take a partner to the track.

“I do not go around telling people, I do not push it in people’s faces,” she said.

“There are a few people in the industry around my age that I have told them about it and there is others that presume.

“Those people are good as gold about it.”

Watts recalls instances in her time in the sport where she has been asked about a potential husband or having children by older participants, which she did not feel comfortable with.

For veteran trainer Essex, he would be lost without his ‘assistant trainer’.

After suffering a back injury around five years ago, Essex has handed over many of the physical responsibilities in his kennel to his trusted off-sider.

“Anita is worth her weight in gold,” Essex said.

“To be perfectly honest, she does everything around my kennel.

“She looks after this property as if it was her own, I never have to tell her about anything, she knows it all. Greyhound racing is her life.”

Watts has not had a greyhound face the starter in her own name since 2017 but her boss has backed her to make an impact in the training ranks when she does decide to return to preparing her own kennel.

“Anita is passionate about the dogs and knows them inside and out,” Essex said.

“She is very good with the dogs and does her job well.”

Anita is the daughter of one of Tasmania's most experienced greyhound trainers in Russell Watts.

Russell is a mate of Essex’s, which led to Anita moving north after she finished high school to take a role in the kennel.

She grew up around the game, helping her father out around his kennel before progressing to catching dogs when she wasn’t at school as she got older.

“I always loved working with dogs,” she said.

“It is good to get out to see what they can do on the track and what you can do with them.

“And, in turn, what they can do for you.”

Watts cherishes her job.

“It is hard to find a full-time job in this industry, doing something for a job that you love doing,” Watts said.

“A lot of people in greyhounds can only get casual and part-time roles and then still need to work a day job, as well.

“I am lucky to come home to the dogs and do it for a job.”

While Watts notes ‘casual language’ is something the industry can improve on, she says the LGBTIQ+ community should feel safe within greyhound racing.

“Generally it is pretty good but you do hear the off comment every now and again, which is a little bit off-putting,” Watts said.

“In today’s day and age, it is starting to become more common and it is something you see every day and people are starting to get more used to it. It is getting a lot better.”