Two of the most successful harness racing figures in the region have displayed their continued success in Leeton, winning the two feature races one week apart.
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On Boxing Day, Blake Jones drove the Michael Hawke trained ‘Im No Trouble’ to win the $30,600 Southern Central Engineering Leeton Breeders Plate for his fourth time.
On New Year's Day, Jackson Painting drove/trained the New Zealand trotter Catchafire to a win the $18,360 Yenda Producers Leeton Pacing Cup and $3000 owner’s certificate bonus.
Jones and Painting, who are cousins, are originally from Coleambally.
Jones has had an outstanding record, driving in the Boxing Day race after previously winning the classic with Mr Bondi in 2023, Business In Motion for local trainer Col Thomas in 2013 and Sugar Apple for Sydney’s Jason Grimson in 2021.
He said his local connection with the race has helped his performances there.
“The Breeders Plate has been going for a long time, I think they said it was the 71st running of it.
“It's one I’ve always tried to drive in.
“It’s the fourth win I’ve had in the Plate, and it is one of the first races I came and saw with my family as a kid.
“It is always a really great race, and we get friends and family to come along and watch, which is also great.”
The two champion racers, and Jones’ wife Ellen, currently train and operate out of Narrandera.
Jones said the rest of January will be a chance to refresh before taking a run at more titles.
“Jack and I both grew up in Coly, then we both moved to be a bit closer to the racing,” Jones said.
“Definitely, we both get plenty of support at Leeton.
“We’re at Narrandera and there is a team of us always working, and we race two or three times a week.
“The next month will be a bit quieter, because we’ve got some new horses to spell, and then we’ll be back into it.
“We will be pretty busy after that.”
Painting has taken over his stable from his uncle, Coleambally’s David Kennedy, and said he was confident that Catchafire would get the win in the New Year's Day Cup.
“It finished off the year well with the cup win, and the owners getting the certificate bonus,” Painting said.
“I was pretty confident. He was racing really well in Sydney, and I thought if we had a bit of luck he’d be a good chance.”
As both a driver and trainer, Painting said he still enjoys competing in harness racing.
“I love it,” he said.
“Last season was pretty good, I had 96 driving wins, which was good but short of my best ever season.”
“Training wise we had 70 wins last season, which was also alright.”
Painting said what he and Jones have been able to achieve has been pretty special.
“It’s the biggest cup and plate at Leeton, so for us to win one of the two features each was good.
“We’ve probably been the leading drivers in the region for the last 10 years or so.
“Off the track we’re great mates, but on the track it is all business.
“We’re doing our best to win, but there is no dirt between us.
“We’re cousins and best mates, so it is really good to see each other succeed.”