There would be few people in Victorian harness racing who haven’t shared a philosophical chat, a laugh, or a moment of quiet wisdom with the much-loved Charlton horseman Joey Thompson, who has sadly passed after an extended illness.
Thompson’s gentle nature, sharp mind and ever-present sense of humour made him one of the sport’s most endearing and respected characters – the sort of bloke whose company was as grounding as it was motivational.
A proud Charlton identity, Joey’s life was woven into the fabric of the sport he adored.
Following in the footsteps of his father, the legendary horseman Jack “Bushy” Thompson, Joey was literally born into the game.
Bushy taught his son horsemanship when he was barely a teenager, and Joey never strayed far from the calling. He later named his property “Bushy Lodge” in honour of the man who shaped his life, his horsemanship and his values.
Joey trained his first standout pacer, Imprimartar, at age 24 – a horse that became one of Victoria’s stars of the early 1990s, winning 24 races including the NSW Derby and Fremantle Cup.
It was the beginning of a long career as a trainer and respected breaker, marked by skill, patience, and a determination to understand a horse’s mind.
In more recent years he enjoyed milestone successes with Clarenden Envoy and Cee Cee In America, proudly notching his first-ever training double at his beloved Charlton.
“Those two make up my whole racing team at the moment,” he joked at the time. “And I was rapt.”
Another moment that meant the world to him was the debut win of the young trotter Alrighty – in September of last year – while carrying the famous Healy family colours worn by Sumthingaboutmaori and Maoris Idol.
Joey admitted to nerves that day, but the win, and the emotion it stirred in the Charlton crowd, as he said, in colours that evoked “memories of the caper in its halcyon days”, was one he cherished deeply.
Joey’s greatest influence was possibly beyond his own barn, though, on the community around him and the opportunities he helped provide to young and establishing trainers.
As President of the Charlton Harness Racing Club, he was a visionary, a worker and an advocate – the driving force behind the transformation of the club into one of country Victoria’s most progressive and community-focused hubs.
Under his leadership, the Charlton Harness Racing Training Centre was established against the odds and from an astonishing community fundraising and volunteer effort, blossoming into a thriving home for young trainers and drivers.
Thompson secured major grants, development approvals, equipment upgrades and community partnerships through sheer resourcefulness, goodwill and the loyalty he naturally inspired.
“We’re pretty frugal here,” Joey said at the time. “The little things are the big things.”
His belief that harness racing belonged at the heart of its local community reshaped the club’s culture. He encouraged people to stay for a drink, to make it social, to bring newcomers in, and to rebuild the joy that first draws people to the trots.
In stepping down from the presidency 12 months ago, Joey spoke candidly about his health challenges, but never with self-pity and his trademark humour, humility and positivity never wavered.
Friends describe him as “the bloke you always hoped would be at the track” and his loss will be deeply felt through the Charlton district, north central Victoria and the wider harness racing community.
But Joey’s legacy – as a horseman, leader, mentor, bush philosopher, storyteller and friend – will long outlive him.
Harness Racing Victoria extends its deepest sympathies to Joey’s family, particularly his daughters Sabrina and Phoebe, the team at the Charlton Harness Racing Club and his many friends across the industry.
