Matthew Atkinson and Flying Colours winning at Goulburn.
Five years ago, Matthew Atkinson was only interested in furthering his rugby league career. Despite growing up around standardbreds, back then, he had no real interest in horses.
Instead, the Bungonia born and raised half-back had his sights set on representing the Canberra Raiders, and his local Monaro Colts sides.
He achieved both – representing the Raiders at Under 14 and 15 level, and then the colts at Under 16. That was after he decided to help his father Dean (Atkinson) work horses at their Bungonia stable, some 15 minutes from Goulburn.
“Dad grew up around horses and was a horseman long before I was born. But I’ll never forget the day I first jumped in the bike. I must have been about 12, and I really took to it. I knew I went okay at league, but after a few years I realised I could probably go further in harness racing than footy,” said Atkinson.
“I think I was about 12 or 13 when I told Dad that I wanted make a career out of harness racing. I actually thought horses were quite boring before that. After last Tuesday (September 2). I’m glad I made the change,” Atkinson added.
That was when Atkinson drove his first winner at his 25th start. Driving the Dean Atkinson trained Flying Colours in Race 4, the Day’s Industrial Pace, the pacer swept home to win at the Goulburn Club’s first meeting of 2025-26 season.
“There was no feeling like it. It was right up there with one of the best days in my life, and to do it on one of Dad’s horses was even more special. The horse has a lot of owners (20), and I’m just pleased and grateful that I could bring him home for them,” said Atkinson.
Sister Mackenzie greets Matthew Atkinson & Flying Colours after their Goulburn Paceway win
“Dad has had some great owners over the years. Rick Bayliss has been so supportive of us, and Brian Patrick has helped Dad since the day he got his licence”.
“It wasn’t easy giving up rugby league, because it is still one of my greatest loves, but you can’t beat this winning feeling and sadly you can’t play sport if you want to be a successful horseman. I’ve still got a grin on my face more than a week after we won. I just want to thank Mum (Nicole) and Dad for everything they have done for me. It was their win too. Mum’s Dad, Barry Thornton was also a trainer,” Atkinson added.
“To be honest I was in shock, and my first win didn’t really sink in until after I left the track. It’s a lot harder than winning at the trials!” Atkinson said.
The talented teenager had his first drive at Wagga Wagga on June 20 this year. That was one day after he turned 16.
‘Sweet 16’ was also the age that the now 61-year-old Atkinson Senior trained his first winner. That 61-year-old Group 3 winning trainer has now conditioned more than 300 winners ($1.7m) since the early-1980s.
Father Dean Atkinson with Flying Colours & Matthew Atkinson
For season 2025 Atkinson Senior has trained 18 winners from 87 starters, and placed on 23 occasions, for $156,270 in purses. Stakes-wise it is his third-best ever season.
Now, all three of his children are involved in harness racing. Twenty-five-year-old Mitchell has trained six winners since 2022 (two this year), while 22-year-old daughter Mackenzie took out her licence in May, and has had just the three Riverina Paceway starts with 4-year-old brown Art Major gelding, Major Allegiance.
Atkinson left Mulwaree High School earlier this year to work full-time for his father, who works a team of about 14 on their beautiful 40-acre property which includes barns, water walker, spelling paddocks and day yards, and a 600-metre track.
He said Flying Colours (3 wins and $40,431) would rank about third in potential behind his own pacer, Khulan Kid (10 wins from 81 starts), and Piccadilly Pete (seven wins and $99,616).
“Flying Colours is a 5-year-old son of Vincent, who is better than what his form-line might suggest. He has recorded a 1:53.8-mile rate before,” Atkinson explained.
“He is a quirky, nervy horse who doesn’t like to stand still. He was okay to be around and was just one of our team, but now that I’ve won behind him, he’s my favourite. He got too far back in his last couple of Bathurst sevenths, but despite that I still thought he was one of the better horses in the race.”
“I was happy with the 10-draw, especially after we got the perfect run through the field. He’s got a bit of ability, but just needs to be put in the race,” Atkinson said.
At the finish line Flying Colours had 3.3 metres to spare over second-placed Ideal Andy. He paced the 1,710m mobile in 2:04.5, which equated to a 1:57.2 mile-rate.
The young horseman said he would love to drive 20 winners this season, and long-term, a drive in a New Zealand Junior Drivers race on Cup Day; and a Miracle Mile drive would be a dream come true.
