Television personality Liz Cantor opens up about life as a horse owner and what she discovered at the track

Television personality Liz Cantor is new to racehorse ownership but she didn’t get into the industry for the prizemoney or the thrill of winning big races. Cantor details what she discovered about thoroughbred welfare after pulling back the curtain on an industry that has been under fire.

THE first time television personality Liz Cantor galloped retired racehorse Latin American at full tilt she could feel him “giggling underneath” her.

“It sounds corny, I know, but he was so happy to be running full tilt again,” Cantor said.

The Gold Coast Channel 7 presenter has had a deep love for horses since childhood but it’s not for the thrill of winning or the prizemoney on offer that has drawn her into thoroughbred ownership.

“It didn’t go unnoticed that there were a lot of animal activists when I would arrive at the tracks,” Cantor said.

Injured jockey Tegan Harrison (right) and Liz Cantor (pink top) with retired race horses Latin American (dark horse on the left) and Catch Jack. Tegan had a fall and Liz has been exercising the horses while Tegan recovers. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“I had to check myself and question whether my attendance and being there was in line with my morals and love of the animals.

The solution? A dabble in ownership, prompted by close friend and Gold Coast jockey Tegan Harrison, 30, that would answer the questions Cantor, 37, had about the industry.

Cantor bought into Lyrical Girl last year and while injury forced it off the track, her second, Dusty Tycoon, won on debut and could be a Magic Millions qualifier.

Injured jockey Tegan Harrison (right) and Liz Cantor (pink top) with a horse, Tegan had a fall and Liz has been exercising the horses while Tegan recovers. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“Ownership was a great way to do it because you are then privy to the trainer reports, veterinary reports and the jockey insights,” the Miami resident said.

Cantor has been exercising the eight retired race horses at Harrison’s Clagiraba property since the jockey suffered the worst injuries of her riding career when she fell during a race at Doomben on October 7.