Rixon joins the 1,000 club as his best season rolls on

Reaching 1,000 career wins is a significant milestone for any harness racing driver, and New South Wales reinsman Will Rixon is the latest to achieve the feat.

It was fitting that his 1,000th Australian triumph came in the sulky behind the David Aiken-trained Max Delight in the Group 3 The Bidgee at Wagga. Rixon worked forward early to tackle Palladium for the lead. The $2 million earner carved out sharp sectionals over the final 1200m, with quarters of 28.5, 26.7 and 28.0, to defeat Palladium by 4.4m.

At just 25 years of age, Rixon has established himself as one of the sport’s leading young talents. Over the past year he has shown a willingness to travel as he hones his skills, with interstate wins in Queensland and Western Australia, along with international success at The Meadowlands in the United States.

Rixon’s harness racing journey began on January 12, 2017, when he drove Prince Kai into second place at his first career drive. His first win came soon after, on January 28, when he steered Ali Mendes to victory at Newcastle.

Harness racing is firmly entrenched in the Rixon family. Will is the son of respected horseman Peter Rixon, who famously trained and drove Divisive to win the 2008 Miracle Mile, upstaging champion pacer Blacks A Fake at Harold Park.

Peter trained both Prince Kai and Ali Mendes, the horses that started Will’s career, and Ali Mendes also delivered the first driving win for Will’s sister Ellen Rixon. His twin sister Hannah Rixon is also a driver, and both Ellen and Hannah have passed 100 driving wins.

Will’s mother, Cindy Rixon, is an accomplished horsewoman who drove more than 300 winners. His grandfather was the late Tony “A.D.” Turnbull, a true legend of harness racing, best known as the trainer and driver of dual Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile champion Hondo Grattan.

Among Rixon’s 1,000 winners are five at Group 1 level. The first came in 2021, when he drove the Mark Fletcher trained Father Bob to win the TAB Regional Championship Riverina Final at Wagga.

He had to wait patiently until 2025 for his second, saluting aboard the Peter Rixon trained Gunna Reload in the NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO Fillies Final at Menangle. On the same night he drove the Sam Hewitt trained Ark Sea to win the 2YO Fillies Final, although the filly was later disqualified.

2026 has been his best year at the top level. He won the Bathurst Gold Crown Final with the Geoff Webster trained Jacwill Kid, then in April landed the biggest win of his career, driving Max Delight to victory in the $1.25 million The Nullarbor at Gloucester Park. Last Saturday night he gained redemption when Ark Sea captured the NSW Breeders Challenge 3YO Fillies Final at Menangle.

With a proud family legacy behind him and a growing list of feature race wins, Rixon’s first 1,000 winners may be only the beginning.

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From Harnesslink Media