Leap To Fame claims fourth straight Horse of the Year title

Champion pacer Leap To Fame has been anointed the Queensland Harness Horse of the Year for a fourth straight occasion at tonight’s Queensland Harness Awards in Brisbane. 

Another outstanding season saw the now seven-year-old continue to solidify his status as one of the all-time greats of the sport, headlined by two Group 1 victories in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Final and NZ Pacing Free-For-All. 

Additionally, a successful defence of his titles in the Group 2 Newcastle Mile and Cranbourne Cup, on top of placings in Group 1 events the Blacks A Fake, NZ Cup, Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup, ensured the pacer was again the unanimous choice by the judging panel for the state’s top honour. 

From 22 starts in 2025, the Grant Dixon-trained champion claimed a remarkable 16 wins and six placings, along with $1,758,424 in prize money – in a year which also saw him become the highest earning pacer in Australasian history. 

Another record-breaking season also saw him again named the Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year and 2025 APHRC Horse of the Year, while Dixon was crowned Queensland Trainer of the Year for the third straight year.

The Dixon-trained Fate Awaits took out the 3YO Pacer of the Year, after he became the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Rising Sun, adding to his placings in the Group 1 Queensland Derby and Group 3 Redcliffe Derby, as well as competing in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1 million Eureka. 

Capping off the night for the Dixon stable, rising star Fire And Passion was awarded 2YO Pacer of the Year after an incredible debut season that netted eight wins from 10 starts, including the Group 1 QBRED Triad Final for Colts & Geldings and Group 3 Paleface Adios Classic. 

“The 2025 season has been another history-making one for the harness code in Queensland, headlined by the achievements of superstars Leap To Fame and Gus here at home, interstate and overseas,” Racing Minister Tim Mander said. 

“The return of the Inter Dominion Championship to Albion Park along with the new-look summer carnival, the Starlights, and the Ultimate Driver Championship ensured Queensland maintained its status as one of the world’s top destinations for harness racing. 

“I congratulate all of tonight’s deserved winners and look forward to what is already another outstanding season for the code in 2026.” 

Meanwhile, Gus was crowned Trotter of the Year for a second straight season, after claiming five wins and six placings from 13 starts, headlined by wins in the Group 1 NZ Dominion Trot and Group 1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All. 

Nathan Dawon’s outstanding season in the sulky saw him claim the Queensland Driver of the Year crown, racking up 266 wins and 420 placings. 

Young gun Angus Garrard was named the Queensland Concession Driver of the Year for a fifth consecutive season, in which the 22-year-old finished third in the State Drivers Premiership standings with 187 wins – a sixth centurion tally in as many years – alongside his victory in the inaugural Ultimate Driver Championship. 

For her work as part of the Queensland Off-The-Track Program, Giuditta Crisci was crowned the Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year for a successive year. 

Since the inception of the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program in January 2022, Giuditta has successfully retrained and rehomed 40 standardbreds from the industry into a range of rewarding and varied post-racing career pathways. 

Finally, Queensland trotting pioneer Jim McNeil and leading standardbred nursery Egmont Park Stud were unveiled as the latest inductees into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall of Fame. 

“Our participants at the coalface of the sport have been instrumental in driving the many successes we have celebrated here this evening, both on and off the track,” Acting RQ CEO Lachlan Murray said. 

“I want to give a special mention to Leap To Fame for another remarkable season, and it is fitting that our Queensland champion has taken home the top honour for a fourth straight year. 

“There’s no better time to be involved in harness racing in Queensland than now, and we have so much to look forward to for the code in 2026 and beyond, as we look forward to welcoming back the Inter Dominion later this year.” 

In total, close to 30 awards of distinction were presented at this evening’s ceremony.