Will Rixon’s American trip a stepping stone to more success

Leading New South Wales harness racing driver Will Rixon has plenty to tell after his short but successful stint in the USA.

Rixon’s decision to go had been planned in advance.

It was always in the back of my mind. When my good friend Jack Callaghan went the year before I had thought about it then but that was the time I was involved in premierships.

This year I wasn’t as prominent in the premiership race, so after I won the Nullabor, and noted that the Eureka was delayed until late November I saw a window of opportunity to get over there.

Rixon didn’t have high expectations.

I knew it would be possible to drive a bit, as I had seen what Jack had done there. I was happy with that aspect of driving. I wanted a holiday as I had never been to America. So it was a balance of vacation and seeing what the racing was like.

On the training front they don’t work them that hard at all. In fact compared to us in Australia they’re very light on their work. So when the horses are racefit its all about  keeping them fresh. Qualifier trials are a big thing for trainers but once the horses have made it there is more travelling. There are huge distances between tracks.

I was lucky to be there and see the Hambletonian day it was great to watch. It’s their biggest product but the crowd numbers were a bit disappointing. There wasn’t as big an atmosphere.

The sulky size sitting position is quite normal. But the gigs are a bit shorter and wider which have you closer to the horse. I’m a bit tall. Driving one of Todd McCarthy’s horse I needed a bigger gig but it was wider.

Todd said to me that driving tactics are not completely different to ours with the closest resemblance to our big track at Menangle with times and the like.

It’s generally single file in first 400 to 600 metres and  then someone makes a run after that. If you are on a decent horse fellow drivers let you go to front. So once in front with a good horse you could  drive them confidently.

Rixon acknowledged that he had gained a lot of knowledge on his trip.

I learned heaps and I’m glad I went, I would talk with Todd McCarthy and his race strategy. I also spent time with Noel Daley.  Over in the States they have more staff and there’s more money in the bigger stables. Typically they have grooms who are responsible for looking after four horses each.

During his short stay, Rixon had about 19 drives of which 17 were at Meadowlands and two at Chester in Philadelphia. And he went to the Red Mile.

In order to drive I had to register online with USTA membership and to the New Jersey Racing Commission as well. Meadowlands is an unbelievable surface and driving you didn’t feel you were going around the bends.

Rixon indicated that former Australian Jilliby Dynamite was the best horse he drove running third and then winning at his next attempt and in doing so beating a good horse in Ignatius.

Now that he has back focusing on the Australian scene Rixon is looking at some potential features.

Max Delight might go and go tackle another Victoria Cup next month.

The aim for Ark Sea is the Breeders Challenge later next month. Senses may come back next year and if she does she’ll be right up there.

As for the Eureka nothing is locked in and I’m hopeful something will come along. Gunna Reload could be in the picture for a start but we’ll be guided as to how she performs in her coming events.

In addition to driving for his father Peter, Rixon is highly in demand from trainers and he’ll be tallying up a regular amount of winners as the season progresses.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink