Will Rixon brushes off internet trolls before a holiday in the U.S.

by Adam Hamilton

After a race Down Under harness racing should have celebrated for weeks, the unfortunate dark side of the game ruined it for one of Australia’s top young drivers.

Amidst the disappointment of Leap To Fame’s luckless yet enormous run, in defeat to wonder mare Captains Mistress, in the Inter Dominion pacing final, an army of punters targeted Will Rixon as the reason Leap To Fame was denied a third successive crown.

Rixon’s night was harrowing and very little of it was his fault.

What the 25-year-old endured in the hours and days after the race was an indictment on those who perpetrated it.

It all stemmed from his luckless drive on remarkable 10-year-old warhorse Max Delight, who boasts over $2.2 million in prize money and was contesting an amazing fourth Inter Dominion final.

Rixon knew he drew an awkward barrier 4 on a horse with his share of early speed, but not enough to lead.

But he had a plan.

Rixon talked us through the incident which had everyone talking.

“Things didn’t go to plan in the first 100 meters because most maps [how people expected horses to settle] had Minos coming out of the gate and finding the fence, but he wasn’t driven that way and stayed in the running line, level with me,” Rixon said.

“I was never concerned that much because I had Dangerous, Minos’ stablemate, outside me around the whole first turn and I was happy to keep working forward [around Minos] to get to the running line [outside the leader, Captains Mistress].

“But once we came into the home straight [the first time], Jye [Coney, driver of Dangerous] really put his foot down. I did my best to go with him, but old ‘Max’ was a bit-flat footed and he got around me.

“Once Jye got to around me, he made it pretty clear he didn’t want to follow me, so my only option unfortunately was to go back [to last], rather than be stuck three-wide the entire race.”

The great Leap To Fame was following Max Delight in his quest to get around the field quickly to pressure the leader and main danger, Captains Mistress.

Rather than hook four-wide, Leap To Fame’s driver Grant Dixon was dragged back to last as Rixon eased Max Delight back.

“I was surprised Grant [Dixon] didn’t go around me [four wide] at that stage,” Rixon said.

“It was a difficult night for me because when you get these opportunities in the biggest races, you hope to give your horse every chance. The build-up was so big to the race and I was disappointed how it all went.”

Not long after Rixon was off the track, the public attacks, largely through social media, started.

They went beyond saying it was a bad drive, with many suggesting Rixon had deliberately got in Leap To Fame’s way.

It was outrageously wrong and unfair.

“Everything that came up afterwards I thought was unfair to be honest,” he said. “I wasn’t overly happy with it and a bit upset to be honest.

“But the days after have shown I’ve got a lot of good people in my corner. Some close friends and family who were so supportive when I needed it.

“The amount of people who got in touch was pretty cool.

“I’ve just got to turn the page and, to be honest, it’s just so unfortunate that was even spoken about after such a great race. It was such a successful night and didn’t deserve that sort of talk.”

It was a big downer on an otherwise phenomenal 2026 for Rixon where he scored the biggest win of his career, ironically on Max Delight, in the $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 17. It was his fourth Group 1 win as he nears 1,000 career wins.

Maybe Rixon will reach the 1,000-win milestone in the U.S.?

The surprisingly tall driver is close mates with former Aussie and now star U.S.-based driver Todd McCarthy and is heading over to stay with him for an extended holiday next week.

Some race driving is on the cards.

“I’ll be taking my driver’s bag, but it’s more about a holiday after a big few years,” Rixon said.

“I want to experience all the great racing over there and I’m excited I’ll be there during Hambo time.

“I’m going to stay with Toddy and travel around a lot with him, so if the opportunity comes up for a few drives while I’m enjoying the break and the great racing, then I’d love to do it.”

Like McCarthy, who was bred into harness racing, Rixon’s pedigree is outstanding.

His grandfather was the late and legendary Bathurst horseman Tony “A.D.” Turnbull, who has had many stars, but he is best known for the champion pacer of the 1970s Hondo Grattan, affectionately known as the “Bathurst Bulldog.”

Hondo Grattan won 58 races, including two Inter Dominion finals (1973 and ’74) and the 1974 Miracle Mile.

Rixon’s mother, Cindy, was an accomplished horseperson herself.

And his father, Peter Rixon, famously trained former brilliant pacer Divisive, one of the best of his era and winner of the 2008 Miracle Mile.

Buoyed by the phenomenal success of Down Under drivers Dexter Dunn and Todd and Andy McCarthy, Will is one of a few Aussies who have expressed interest in one day giving it a crack in the U.S.

“Maybe later, I need a break and this is a holiday for me,” he said with a laugh. “I might take a drive here or there, that’s about it for me.

“Of course, you’re in awe of what Dex, Toddy, and Andy have done and wonder, but for now I just want to go over and experience it all.”