For someone who drives and trains one of the greatest pacers in the history of the sport, Grant Dixon is almost as understated and low-key as it gets.
It takes a fair bit to get the 52-year-old legendary harness man up and about.
Even now and a few years into Leap To Fame’s dazzling career on the track, Dixon is still relatively softly spoken at the best of times when it comes to his stable megastar.
He let his guard down on one occasion, however.
When his imposing stallion strolled to the 2023 Inter Dominion championship on home soil, he gave a rare salute across the finish line.
As the decider for the 2025 ID series rolls around this week at Albion Park, Dixon has revealed that it was his keen harness-loving son Jai who wanted him to salute the crowd a couple of years ago.
With Queensland’s pin-up harness horse judged a $1.18 shot with the bookmakers to win Saturday’s Group 1 prize, there is every chance young Jai has been in his father’s ear this week, as well.
“I did it more for his sake, not myself, as that is not my go,” he said with a wry smile when asked about the 2023 salute.
“My boys have a bit of lairising in them. I do not know where they get it from because it does not come from their mother, either – I don’t know.
“It was a lifetime dream come true to win one. You sort of pinch yourself that you are in line to maybe win two.
“It would be really great if he could get it done.”
Young Jai’s nudge helped create one of the most iconic images in the history of the sport with Dixon saluting in front of a packed grandstand.
Jai is a keen participant in the mini trotting ranks in the Sunshine State and could well follow his parents into the driving and training ranks in the coming years.
Leap To Fame’s $1.18 quote in the decider will be one of the shortest-priced runners in an ID Grand Final ever.
The great Leap To Fame has gone through the two weeks of ‘ID25’ heats with an unblemished record ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final.
The six-year-old entire has drawn the one alley for the decider, which will be run and won over the lengthy staying journey of 3157 metres.
Saturday night's marathon distance is the longest Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final in modern history.
That is why many pundits and punters believe Leap To Fame has a second ID crown at his mercy as several in Saturday’s field are untested over the trip.
“It is better than barrier eight for him,” Dixon said of drawing the one starting gate while referencing his recent draws in the heats.
“I think the two mile, probably too a degree will stop some from going too hard off the gate because they all need to go that extra lap.
“It will be pretty taxing on all of them.
“He will enjoy the trip and hopefully the draw will not be too big of a hurdle.”
Leap To Fame is already considered one of the greatest performers in the history of the sport with 55 victories and more than $4 million in stakes earnings to his name.
With another $1 million on the line on home soil on Saturday evening, his resume is in the box seat to go to another level once again.
Australia’s premier harness driver James Herbertson will drive Rakero Rebel for trainer Jess Tubbs in Saturday’s showpiece pacing event.
Herbertson partnered with Better Eclipse – also from the Tubbs camp – in last week’s heat at Albion Park.
Rakero Rebel has drawn alongside Leap To Fame in the decider.
The 25-year-old Herbertson is regarded as one of the leading reinsman in the country and he even admits that racing against a standardbred as powerful as Leap To Fame is a privilege.
“We are just trying to keep up, I think that is our best go,” the top young driver said.
“He is a real standout and it is an honour to be in a race with him when he is at his peak.
“Down the track, we will be able to say we raced against Leap To Fame.
“Even in the heat the other night, I was happy to just keep up with him down the back straight and I was pretty pleased with that.
“He is a generational horse and we are really, really lucky to be able to race against him in our lifetime.”
Ahead of Saturday’s showpiece race, as he does, Dixon was not giving away too much when pressed on Leap To Fame’s status this week.
In a remarkable statistic, the champion pacer has not been beaten on his home track since November of 2023 – winning a staggering 20 races in succession at the venue.
“Trista and I are happy with him, he seems well and bright,” the champion trainer said.
“We hope for a good week with him and fingers crossed for Saturday night.
“We have been happy with both runs in the heats; he has got through the line good.
“The main thing is that he has pulled up well from the runs.”
Racing Queensland’s Senior Harness Racing Manager Andrew Clarke has watched Leap To Fame closely in recent years and is blown away by his performances every time he steps on the track.
Clarke also served as a board member and Deputy Chair at the Albion Park Harness Racing Club from June, 2024 until March of this year before starting his new role with RQ.
“He is the best horse that I have ever seen,” Clarke said.
“He epitomizes everything a good harness horse does - he can work, he can sprint – he is just a fantastic animal.
“I think he sits above all the other horses that I have ever seen in my over 40 years watching the sport, in my opinion.”
