Leap To Fame with Ken Fitzgerald and son Lane
I’m standing at the finish line at the Albion Park , the mecca of Queensland harness racing, on a quiet Saturday night.
Unaware of what’s allowed, I’ve draped myself across the outside rail to catch a better glimpse of another dozen horses straining and thundering down the home straight toward me in a cacophony of noise, sweat, shouts and flying hooves.
An official hurries over to direct me to move back. In a flash the horses have passed me at the finishing post and drivers and horses ease back as they stream around the turn, then quietly trot back, their race run.
The winner heads for the presentation ring, the remainder back to the stables, for a wash and warm down; and the usual post-race contemplation of what was and might have been.
I’m here because of one particular horse. It’s his 26th race tonight. I’ve read that he’s a new prospective champion and have decided to come down from my peaceful retirement abode on Bribie Island to take a look.
As the horses’ names are not posted to identify them, I ask one of the groups, ‘Where’s Leap to Fame?’
Coincidentally, the horse is right behind me, with a young woman in driver’s racing gear confidently watching over him.
With feigned nonchalance I wander over to speak with her and am greeted in the most friendly, informative manner. Yes, this is who I was looking for. Leap to Fame, known as ‘Larry’. I get the chance to say hello.
I confess the reason for my interest, my long absence from the trots; and continue the friendly conversation, not knowing I’m speaking with one of the horse’s closest human companions, his co-trainer Trista Dixon, an experienced driver and all round horse-woman.
Some 60 races later, I’ve come to appreciate that she’s one of four pillars upon which this horse’s phenomenal success has been built.
Trista is the wife of Grant Dixon, one of Queensland's best and most decorated reinsmen. He’s the usual driver for the budding champion and will be taking him out on the track to race again tonight. When asked about the horse’s prospects,
Trista kindly advises that it isn’t likely to be an easy run; as he has a very tough barrier draw. This proves prophetic and for one of the few times in his career he’s trapped on the pegs (the inside running) all the way and never gets a chance to win or place.
Looking back, the run was prophetic for Grant also. I can’t recall him ever allowing this to happen again.
As trust developed between horse and driver, he intuitively realised that Leap to Fame could do what most other horses found so difficult, race in the death (on the outside) and, in most instances, still win. He didn’t have to rest him on the pegs during a race to improve his chances.
Grant is the second pillar underpinning Leap to Fame’s success. It is obvious to all that the driver’s skill is a critical factor in any race. However, not many can match Grant’s experience and record.
How fitting that ‘Larry’ came into his care at the moment he did. By then, Grant had driven in over 35,000 races and had almost 5000 wins to his credit. Such experience helps build an instinctive feel for how a horse is travelling, as well as for unfolding race patterns and conditions.
This is essential to success.
Split second analysis and decision making must be applied in race contexts defined by speed and fraught with physical danger.
Having closely watched all of Leap to Fame’s subsequent races (60 to date) multiple times, suffice it to say I believe that minor driving miscalculations by Grant may have cost him wins on fewer than three to five of these occasions.
Contrast this with the wonderful horse/driver performances, feel and mutual understanding evident in the more than 45 races he has won against top competition over the period involved.
The importance of Grant’s driving excellence to Larry’s overall record is undeniable.
However, this is not where Grant’s contribution ends. As a trainer, he has been around and cared for horses all his life.
He has built and developed associated facilities to match the world’s best. In the footsteps of his father, Bill, he has worked with an untold number of willing, unwilling, great and mediocre horses of all shapes and sizes, for all manner of races, on all manner of tracks. He has learned what works, what matters most; and the formula for success, from hard won, lengthy experience as a trainer.
Taken together, these elements benefit Leap to Fame enormously. While champion horses are born with outstanding potential, Grant’s contribution both on and off the track is an essential feature of Leap to Fame’s success.
The third compelling pillar of success is undoubtedly the contribution made by Larry’s owners, Kevin and Kay Seymour. I was lucky enough to meet them both at Albion Park.
As I turned to leave, they were approaching, venturing down from the members’ area to discuss and observe Larry’s preparation for his race. Trista kindly introduced them to me.
While they appeared rather bemused to find me there, we shook hands and had a few words before I departed. Kay, like Trista, was most open and friendly. Kevin congenial; but a little more circumspect about my unknown origins and presence.
Both have been lifetime supporters of harness racing in Queensland and the owners of numerous standardbred horses over the past 50 years. Now in their later years, they confess to being most grateful to have had the opportunity to own and be so closely involved with a horse capable of achieving so much.
At the same time, Leap to Fame has been equally fortunate to have such owners. Their lengthy involvement in the industry brings with it a wealth of knowledge about every aspect of the sport.
As owners they have followed the fortunes of many previous horses, assessing and learning about the best means to facilitate success, related ownership obligations and responsibilities, training and racing outcomes and the critical importance of animal/horse welfare, care and development.
Their enduring positive partnership with Grant and Trista Dixon has undoubtedly contributed to the making of this champion. It ensured that Leap to Fame’s daily life, routine and environment, as well as his initial training, longer term development, racing program and prowess was optimised from the very start.
Their secure financial background ensured that financial costs and imperatives were no impediment to realisation of his potential.
It would be most remiss not to include Larry himself as the fourth of this remarkable story.
What a horse!
Much has already been written about his athletic equine constitution, exceptional abilities, stamina and will to win. As his performances attest, he may now be rated amongst the best of Australasian pacing champions.
Despite lacking the blistering early and finishing speed of some, he has dominated at all distances amongst the best of his contemporaries.
In a sport where the barrier draw often plays such a significant role in determining race winners, his consistent victories from the most unfavourable barrier positions clearly sets him apart as a champion.
It is increasingly speculated that he may be the best of his time worldwide. With his career yet to conclude, he has time to add to his tally of major victories, adding further weight to arguments supporting his place amongst the greatest ever.
To achieve greatness in any sporting endeavour, many circumstances must coalesce. In Leap to Fame’s case, I believe the four pillars described have almost equal relevance.
To an outside observer, the love and care provided by Trista is evident each time he steps on and off track. Her presence, knowledge and skills as his co-trainer are reflected in his assured, relaxed demeanour immediately she appears in a supportive capacity on race day.
Grant’s exceptional training and racing experience and his partnership with the horse in racing contexts is an equally essential feature of his ongoing success.
Kay and Kevin Seymour, the owners, exhibit a special love for and appreciation of the horse and the industry. Their genuine passion, humility and ability to work effectively with Leap to Fame’s trainers, regarding all aspects of his care and race program are further pre-conditions for success in this most competitive industry.
Together, these three pillars constitute a champion team in waiting. It was a team ready for the champion horse which came their way, at perhaps the most opportune moment in each of their lives.
And that horse, Leap to Fame, a stallion, talented, athletic, smart and proud, approachable and self assured; was the epitome of a champion in the making, absorbing the accumulated knowledge, care and wisdom offered, while giving back in equal measure to those concerned, the industry and an appreciative general public.
PHOTO: Ken Fitzgerald
