Jack Banitt appreciates the small victories

by Chris Lomon

Jack Banitt’s first training win came with a momentary question mark before ending in unforgettable fashion.

Five races into his conditioning career, the young horseman’s starters had hit the top five on occasion, including a third-place effort from the pacer Sullenberger on May 18, 2025, at Running Aces.

One week later at the five-eighths mile track in Columbus, MN, Sullenberger went off as the 2-1 co-choice in the 10th race, a dash that had drawn eight hopefuls.

With driver Brady Jenson in the race bike, the son of Jeremes Jet, also owned by Banitt, blasted off the gate from post 5 and settled into the second spot through a quarter in :27.3 and a half in :57.3.

Two lengths behind the leader after three-quarters in 1:26, Sullenberger was urged on by Jenson as another foe came calling with the finish line drawing nearer.

The pair hit the wire virtually together, leaving everyone, from those on the track to those in the grandstand, wondering whose nose reached the finish line first.

Banitt was convinced it wasn’t his horse.

“I honestly thought he just got beat,” he said. “From where I was, it was so close and I felt he just got beat by the smallest of margins.”

When the infield tote board posted the winner, Banitt saw the No. 5 in the first-place slot.

He had never been happier to be wrong.

“It was a great moment, for sure,” he said. “I had a lot of friends and family with me there that day and it was awesome to share that with them. It’s one of those things you won’t ever forget.”

The victory also represented something even bigger for Banitt.

“It showed me that I could do it,” he said. “It was nice to get the monkey off my back; to finally say you had your first win. It does a lot for your confidence, and it makes you want to work harder.”

Training standardbreds wasn’t Banitt’s first choice.

As a kid, long before he earned his driver’s license, his dream was to become a driver.

Growing up in Cannon Falls, MN, Banitt developed a close connection to harness racing through his father and others on his dad’s side of the family.

It didn’t take much longer than a stretch drive to fall in love with both the horses and the sport.

“Once you get around the horses, you start to become more interested in the sport,” Banitt said. “Pretty much my whole family on my dad’s side has been in racing. When I was around 10, I started helping out my cousin [trainer] Justin Anfinson. I would help him clean stalls and do other things around my great uncle’s farm.

“I got to jog horses when I was pretty young and started going to the racetrack.”

Banitt’s trajectory in the sport went south, literally, a few years ago when he went to Florida to help a trainer with their barn.

In 2025, Banitt went out on his own. In 28 starts, he won three times — all with Sullenberger — and posted 15 top-three finishes, to go along with $63,716 in purse earnings.

Beyond the numbers, lessons learned were the biggest takeaway from his rookie campaign.

“For anyone in this sport, you realize the ups and downs that come with the territory,” he said. “You can have great results one night and the next night, it can be the opposite. You just need to keep your head up in the tough times.”

Although, admittedly, it can often be easier said than done, Banitt has heeded those words as he closes in on 75 career starts.

“I always keep reminding myself to stick with it, to trust my instincts, and my approach with the horses,” he said.

Currently, Banitt has eight horses in his barn, including Wundrfoal.

The bay daughter of Siakam (MN) went 0-3-2 from nine starts last year, the highlight coming when she finished second, at 49-1, in the 2-year-old filly trot on the Night of Champions card at Running Aces.

“She had a good season, but unfortunately, she got hurt and it took her some time to heal up,” Banitt said. “We got her back and then she had that nice second in the final. We were very happy with that result.”

While Wundrfoal has yet to find the winner’s circle in 2026, Banitt remains optimistic after the filly posted consecutive 1:58.4 miles in June.

“When you work with horses, it’s very rewarding when you figure them out and unlock their potential,” he said. “I enjoy that part of my job. Whether you’re jogging them or breaking babies, seeing them progress and develop is something I enjoy a lot.”

Beachys Mistress is another horse that fits that description.

Banitt purchased the pacing daughter of Always B Miki in July and hopes to give the eight-time winner her first Minnesota victory.

“She was off three weeks and she raced in 1:57.2 in her first start back, which was very encouraging,” he said. “I’m very happy with her. It’s the same kind of thing with all my horses, where I want to put the time in to bring out the best in them. You have to put in the work.”

And not just at the racetrack.

“I don’t have any real hobbies or interests outside of racing,” he said. “I work at the farm, which is about an hour away from Running Aces. That takes up a lot of my time. There is always something to do. I enjoy the work and I enjoy working with my cousin. He’s helped me a lot. He’s given me a lot of great advice and answers any questions I have about the horses.”

While he doesn’t have a set timeline to expand his stable — 12 horses is the goal — Banitt does have one item on his racing list that is typically top of mind throughout the racing season.

“I would love to win a final,” he said. “That is something I want to achieve, and it would be great to do it soon.”

And if it happens by the slimmest of margins, Banitt won’t mind waiting through another photo finish.

He’s been there before.