‘Tommy Gun’ Callaghan loving Jimmy’s trackside support

A loud and proud harness racing fan with a painted face and personalised signs is fast becoming a favourite within the driving ranks in the Sunshine State.

The man known as Jimmy has become a regular at Albion Park and Redcliffe over the last year or so.

He is often seen cheering over the fence for his favourite drivers, while the passionate follower of the sport is also right across the statistics and the data when it comes to the drivers’ recent winners.

The man with the painted face has his favourites, which include Pete McMullen, Nathan Dawson and Angus Garrard, but he has a particular soft spot for emerging reinsman Tom Callaghan.

Callaghan is referred to as ‘Tommy Gun’ by Jimmy at the races and the up-and-coming driver is embracing the unexpected trackside support.

The 20-year-old recalled how their connection started.

“I reckon it was a Wednesday night at Redcliffe about six or eight months ago,” Callaghan said.

“He was there one night, I was in the last race and I think Pete was there too.

“He kept telling me I was going to beat Pete and I ended up winning it. Ever since then, he’s been there every meeting, he doesn’t miss a meeting.

“He doesn’t go to Redcliffe as often as Albion Park, but he’ll go every now and then, if he reckons I’ve got a few winners.

“But, initially, he was really keen on Pete, which he still is, he supports Pete a lot, but he started supporting me a bit, and he loves Sally Bigtime, that I train.

“He loves me. He’s pretty loud.”

In recent weeks, Jimmy and Callaghan have been in several winning post-race pictures at Albion Park, while McMullen and his veteran training father John have also been snapped side-by-side with the keen harness man.

McMullen gifted him a stable hat for the Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen team, while he will also regularly wear a shirt sporting his favourite standardbreds, including Gus, The Janitor and of course Sally Bigtime.

While Callaghan is his favourite, he also has plenty of support for the other top reinsmen.

“He’s fair, whenever Nathan wins a race, he’s always over the fence clapping for him,” Callaghan said.

“Angus, he’s got nicknames for everyone, he just loves it.

“The other day when Grant Dixon had a big milestone, he was across that too and celebrating that.

“Everyone enjoys it. No one hates him or thinks he’s an idiot. 

“Everyone’s happy there with him when they’re in the parade ring and he talks to everyone. They all know him now.

“He just loves being there and loves the thrill of it.”

Callaghan, who has been based in the Sunshine State for almost two years, embraces the love from Jimmy and wishes there was more fanfare like it at Redcliffe and Albion Park.

“If there was 50 of them there at a race meeting, the atmosphere would be unreal,” he said.

“There’s obviously not many people out at the track these days because I know a lot of punters and that are at home now betting on their phones. 

“But, if you had 10 or 15 of them there, it’d be great.

“He makes the atmosphere a bit better, anyway. There should be more of it.”

On the track, the move to Queensland has been a masterstroke for Callaghan as he is putting the finishing touches on a career-best campaign in the sulky.

He has 70 winners to his name for the term, which is 10 clear of his previous high mark, and with three months to go in the season, there is every chance he will push for triple figures for the first time.

Callaghan is also in the infancy of his own training tenure and has 13 winners of his own in 2026.

The young driver also works for the McMullen and Turpin team, which has led to the bulk of his success of late.

“It is going good, even on the weekend, I got a couple of nice drives and had two winners,” he said.

“Even their second stringers, they’re all quality horses.

“They’re going along good, the two I train. Obviously, the mare has been really good for me, Sally Bigtime. She got into The Golden Girl over the carnival.

“To do that through my first season with horses, it is pretty cool.

“Obviously, I can’t thank Pete and Chantal enough for that. They help me out with that stuff and teach me things along the way.”

While he is loving driving these days, Callaghan can see a future in the training ranks down the line.

“I’ve always wanted to drive, as well, but I think if I had to choose one, I’d probably train,” he said.

“I’ve always loved just being around horses. It’s something down the track I’ll look into a bit more, I think.”

Callaghan has a book of four drives at Albion Park on Friday, with Jimmy sure to be there to cheer him on.

by Jordan Gerrans, for Racing Queensland