by Murray Brown

“There was a time when I felt that harness racing is all about winning races” said driver Jody Jamieson. “Don’t get me wrong. It is still probably the most important thing. But there are other areas of near as much importance. There is nothing like developing a young horse that goes on to win great races. I haven’t done it yet myself, but I’m certain that breeders find great pride in breeding and raising one that goes on to great accomplishments on the race track. I’m now 47 years old; I’ve been very fortunate in this game. I’ve been the recipient of great opportunity, firstly from my dad and then from numerous horsemen who allowed me to drive for them. In doing so, I’ve been fortunate enough to sit behind some of the greatest horses our sport has ever seen.”

Let’s start at the beginning. You were in effect born in a feed bucket. You’ve known and been around horses all of your life. Your dad Carl is a well-known and well-accomplished Hall of Famer. His dad, although more of a horse trader, also trained horses that passed through his hands.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate in having the father that I have. He is first and foremost a great father and now a great grandfather. He is also a great horseman. He not only imparted his great knowledge to me, but he also created great opportunity to my career. He started using me to drive his horses and also encouraged others to take a chance on me as well. As those who know him know that he is an extremely direct person. There is nothing wishy washy about him. What you see is exactly what he is. He can do anything, from fixing a car that won’t start to getting a horse that others may not be able to get going, to becoming a star on the racetrack. I like to think that he has imparted some of his great knowledge and talent to me.”

You’ve been at it for some time. What have been your greatest thrills in the business?

“I suppose you might think that winning great races like the Maple Leaf Trot, the Metro and the Breeders Crown would probably be the answer. Don’t get me wrong, they certainly rank up there. But both my number one and number two thrills of my career in harness racing relate to my dad. Number one was when he won the Gold Cup and Saucer, the number one race in the Maritimes and to me the top race in Canada with Banner Yankee. That’s a race that has thus far escaped me and is number one on my bucket list. I was unable to be there, but John Campbell, Brian Sears, Ronnie Pierce, George Brennan and me were listening to it on my flip top phone. The thrill of his victory was indescribable. I still shed a tear of joy when I think of it.

“Number two was dad’s installation in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. I was so very proud. I thought that all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears were finally being justly rewarded.”

Among your many virtues you are known as being a fan favorite at Mohawk. When you win a major race, you often parade your horse alongside the fence and share high fives with the fans on your way to the winner’s circle.

“That is something that I really enjoy doing. I would like to think that the fans really enjoy it as well. Like most good things in life, I didn’t develop it myself. I learned from someone else. I’m an avid Toronto Maple Leafs’ fan. When I started going to their games they had a player by the name of Ken Klee. After one game as the players were coming off the ice I reached out to Klee. He fist bumped me in return. I thought to myself, ‘That was great. If I ever have the chance to do something similar in harness racing I will.’ That is how the process evolved.

“At last year’s Gold Cup and Saucer Jordan Stratton paraded his winning horse Covered Bridge before just about every fan in the place. It was something that you really had to see to appreciate how great it was.”

You are now training a stable of horses as well as driving regularly at Mohawk.

“Wayne Smith and I have six horses that we will be racing this spring and summer. We have one colt that I think a whole lot about. Dad and Brian Paquet saw this Muscle Mass colt named Dion Seelster at the London Classic yearling sale in 2022. They bought him for $70,000. The truth of the matter is that I didn’t particularly like him. I guess that was mostly because he has four white legs. I hadn’t had much luck previously with horses marked that way, so I decided that I didn’t like him. He trained extremely well down to 2:25 at 2. He then developed a small bump on a tendon. We had him ultra sounded and it was found that he had a three-inch tear on the tendon. Of course he couldn’t race at 2. The diagnosis was that he needed a year off. Dad left him with me this winter and he has now qualified and is in to race. So far, so good, fingers crossed.

“Sadly, his co-owner and our great friend Brian Paquet passed away this year. We changed his name. He is now named Paquet. If he turns out to become as great a horse as his namesake was a man, there is no telling how good he will become.”

(Editor’s note: Paquet made his first official start at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday night and was an easy winner in 1.56.2).

You have been fortunate enough to have driven numerous very good horses and some great ones. What about some?

“If I were categorizing the best ones, the best pacer would undoubtedly be Bulldog Hanover. He was very, very special. A horse that is the fastest ever would have to be, of course. One thing among the many special things about him is that he never got tired.

“The best trotter would be Mister Herbie with whom I won the Maple Leaf Trot. The best pacing mare would be Put On A Show. She was extraordinary. The best trotting mare was probably Frenchfrysnvinegar. We won the Breeders Crown together.”

“I truly believe that Captains Quarters can become the best I’ve ever sat behind. That’s saying something as I’ve driven Warrawee Needy to 1:46:4 life mark and got to sit behind Lather Up in a couple races at Mohawk and drive Bulldog for most of his younger career.”

Let’s talk about the drivers’ colony at Mohawk. It has gradually developed into one of the best ones out there.

“I’m not sure I would use the term ‘one of’ in describing it. Night in and night out it might be the very best one. I know I’ll probably get flak for this. Sure, the colony at The Meadowlands is great, probably the very best from April through November. But it’s seasonal. Here we have a bunch of guys who I have no doubt would acquit themselves well just about anywhere. Most of them are fairly young and are just approaching peak form.

“At the top is James MacDonald, not far behind are Louis-Philippe Roy, Dougie McNair, Sylvain Filion, Bob McClure and Trevor Henry. Those guys could drive and acquit themselves well just about anywhere. There are a few young bucks in the wings like Andrew Sorrie, Tyler Borth, Tyler Jones and Trevor Cullen who don’t need too many lessons on how to drive a horse. I hope I haven’t left anyone off. If I have, I will surely hear of it.”

The other day at Sunshine Meadows I saw a little guy looking anywhere from 8 to 12 years old sitting in the bike behind one of Carl Jamieson’s colts. He looked as though he had been poured into the bike, so perfect was his seat. I asked who that kid was. Ted Smith told me that he is Jett, your son.

“It’s interesting that you mention how good his seat in the bike is. Last summer Mark Steacy said that he had seen Jett behind one of our horses and he said that he appeared to have a perfect seat in the bike. Up until I began driving Bulldog Hanover Jett’s interest in the horses was kind of minimal. He was absorbed with hockey at which he is pretty proficient. He’s a very good hockey player even though it’s his dad saying so, but we do not know how good yet. He is 11 years old and might be too small to reach a higher stage. But he will grow. Time will tell.

“In the years since Bulldog came along he has become similarly interested in the horses and harness racing. Where he goes in the future is up to him. And whatever talent and desire he may possess, whatever road he pursues, I’ll always try to tag along and be available for any help and support I might lend.”

Other than your dad, are there any other people in the business who you think highly of and might place on a pedestal?

“There are many. This sport is loaded with top people. There are three that come immediately to mind. Blair Burgess is a great horseman. He is smart and ultra patient. He has developed numerous champions, many of them from humble beginnings. The jobs he did with Glidemaster and Western Ideal in particular, where he was faced with challenging circumstances were something that few if any other horsemen could have achieved.

“I kind of feel that Mike Lachance was a special influence on my career. I think of him as part of the reason why I won the Jug with Tell All in 2007. I had won the first heat and was as nervous as I ever had been before the final. I kept thinking I was going to screw things up and get beat. Mike walked by and sensed something was wrong. He asked what was bothering me. I told him. He said ‘That’s not a problem. You will drive him the best you can. If he gets beat, he gets beat. What’s the worst outcome? Win or lose you will still be a good young driver with a great future ahead of you.’ That little talk steadied my frayed nerves and we were able to win the race.

“Another that comes to mind is Myron Bell. Opposed to what some people might believe, Myron is a kind, highly intelligent man possessed of as much horse knowledge as anyone I have ever known. He has gone out of his way to give opportunities to young people who he believes to be talented. He possesses two qualities that I greatly admire. He is both loyal and compassionate. As his wife Stephanie is fond of saying about Myron, ‘If you don’t like Myron, then you don’t know him.’”

It’s rumored that in addition to being a better than fair harness driver that you are a much better than average cook.

“Maybe I am, because the two harshest critics I know, my kids, say that I am. The proof is in the eating because they enjoy eating what I cook for them. I first began to cook during COVID when I was looking for things to do. I watched some cooking shows on television. There were some items that interested me, so I cooked them. They usually turned out well and my enjoyment for cooking increased.

“My mom says I make a terrific risotto. I suppose the dish the kids enjoy most is my spaghetti a la carbonara. It’s a rather simple dish made of only five ingredients, pasta, pancetta, eggs, cheese and pepper. I guess the trick to making it taste good is how the ingredients are utilized.”