Alex Hopkins, a rising star in greyhound training, announced her departure from the sport last Friday. Her final race saw Imokilly Wildcat, her previous entry, secure second place in an A3 event. Alex began her journey in greyhound racing under her father's tutelage, Craig Hopkins. She officially took over the family's racing licence in January 2018. Her career started strong. Queensland Flyer won an A2 on January 12. That led to a successful first year with 102 graded winners out of 565 runners, a striking 18% success rate. Thornwick Lad and Nowurlaughing, both favourites, won open races. Her early career hinted at a bright future.
The family's first home-bred litter (Top Savings x Prospect Sammie, May 2005) featured a young Alex with her father, Craig.
Externally, Alex seemed set for a long, prosperous career in greyhound racing. He was racking up numerous wins. However, sustaining a successful kennel proved personally and financially taxing. Alex revealed that her father, Craig, had significantly subsidized the kennel. He had support from dedicated owners. Yet, the operational costs often outweighed the earnings from the tracks. She attributes this to broader issues in the sport's financial structure. She observed that substantial money flows into greyhound racing. However, very little money reaches those who love the sport and the dogs. She questions the distribution of funds from media companies and bookmakers.
Alex paraded Kilara Scottie at Newcastle. This was Alex's first Cat One Finalist in the 2023 Northern Puppy Derby.
Though she wasn't training Kilara Lion during her son Niall's early years, Alex still cherished his track successes. Kilara Lion raced under Patrick Janssens and his owners.
After Kilara Lion's 2020 Yarmouth Derby victory, Alex posed with him.
At 31, Alex now faces a career shift, having accepted a position in the fire safety industry, offering a more balanced work schedule. She is passionate about greyhounds. However, she acknowledges that training them as a career is financially impractical. She needs long-term security. She hopes the profession becomes more sustainable for others, potentially allowing her to return.
For now, her father will resume control of the licence. However, the kennels are up for sale. This has led to his eventual retirement. He faced financial challenges due to his commitment to greyhound racing.