To see Jim Douglass in action on a busy night at the trots is a sight to behold. For best effect you need to watch him on those occasions when his boss Ian Wilson has four or five runners engaged. Jim obviously helps to harness the Wilson runners before driving the majority of them in their races, and assists with hosing and scraping duties after horses have raced.
If he happens to have a couple of freelance drives, Jim picks up the pace. It’s not uncommon to see him jogging through the barn at Menangle or Penrith to fulfil a commitment to another trainer. People like Jim Douglass are the reason this sport has been able to remain resilient through all manner of setbacks.
Young Jim was a Year 9 student at Baulkham Hills High School when he stumbled upon the spectacle of harness racing for the first time. One Saturday night he noticed his father Col watching a race in which horses travelling at a strange gait were drawing lightweight sulkies. “I honestly didn’t know the sport existed at that time,” said Jim. “I asked Dad a lot of questions and continued to watch the Sky coverage that night.”
A couple of weeks later Jim and his father were tossing up whether to have a night out at the Parramatta Speedway or the Harold Park trots.
He’d been to the Speedway several times and enjoyed the spectacle a great deal, but curiosity prevailed. He and Col attended a Harold Park meeting and the die was cast. “That was definitely the defining moment,” said Jim. “From the moment I saw the horses in the flesh and heard those hoofbeats drumming on the famous circuit, I was hooked.”
Jim is one of Australia's lightest freelance drivers at 56 kg - Courtesy Trotguide.com.au.
The youngster had to put his new found passion aside for most of Year 10 while he dealt with ongoing knee issues. “I had been suffering from a cartilage deficiency in both knees for quite some time, which caused my knees to lock up without warning,” said Jim. “Not to the extent that I would stumble or fall but it caused me a great deal of grief.”
“I had to undergo three operations over a period of time and actually had one full knee reconstruction. Thankfully the surgery was successful and I’ve been able to function normally ever since. I was very lucky.”
Towards the end of Year 10 Jim’s mother Julie reminded her son that he would shortly be required to spend a week on work experience. “I hadn’t stopped talking about the trots, and it was Mum’s suggestion that I should consider spending the time in a trotting stable,” he said. “She said it was the best way for me to find out whether or not I liked the environment.”
The Fairfield Harness Racing Club Secretary Manager Ross Scherf was able to secure a work experience opportunity for young Douglass with respected trainer Colin Watts who, assisted by son Graeme, was working a team of horses from nearby stables. Not only did Jim enjoy his week of tuition, but you couldn’t keep him away from the Watts establishment on weekends for the next couple of years.
Graeme Watts became Jim’s unofficial tutor and the two became very firm friends. When Graeme Watts elected to move to Queensland for a training stint in 2006 Jim was approached by trainer Ian Wilson who was on the lookout for a “stable apprentice”. Aware that Jim had been thoroughly schooled in all the fundamentals, Wilson offered him the position and so began a career for a young man who had fallen in love with the standardbred horse.
Jim learned about the vagaries of racing at his very first professional appearance in March 2006 when he drove a $94.00 pop called Little Bit Tricky off the second row at Penrith. The gelding galloped when he struck interference soon after the start and finished second last 40 metres from the winner. Jimmy did his best to hide the disappointment.
Only a month later memories of that disastrous debut were cast aside when he led throughout to win a CO/C1 class event on Tickle The Peter for trainer Ross Lloyd at Bulli. He had to wait another six weeks before he was able to register the win he badly wanted - that all important first win for Ian Wilson who’d given him the chance to pursue a dream.
Just two months later Jim and Ian began a happy association with a bonny mare called Flamin Yomax who was destined to race 61 times for 15 wins,18 placings and prize money of $123,000. She was the horse to bring young Jim Douglass under serious notice as an emerging driver at the top level. It’s hard to believe he drove Flamin Yomax in every one of her 61 starts.
With unwavering support from Ian Wilson the young driver’s confidence levels increased and his race driving technique made great advances. Jim and Ian became a very effective combination.
Jim is a regular at Menangle Saturday meetings - Courtesy Trotguide.com.au.
Min Min Lights had won six races from forty seven starts when his owner and trainer, the late Henno Illistom decided to transfer the gelding to the Wilson stable in 2007. He was a horse with little gate speed and a few quirks which suggested he wasn’t a small track performer. “We were doubtful he’d be comfortable around Harold Park, but as it turned out he loved the place,” recalled Jim. “We won another fifteen races with him, eight of them at Harold Park. He’d often be slowly away but we would let him cruise around to the front. Once back on the pegs he was hard to get around. We had a lot of fun with Min Min Lights.”
One of Jim’s all time favourites is Rocket’s Reject who’d won six races for Leeton trainer Walter Kefford before being transferred to Ian Wilson. He went on to win another sixteen races for the Theresa Park combination including the Gr 2 4&5YO Championship at Melton. “He’s the fastest horse I’ve driven,” said Jim. “He drew badly at Melton and settled down well back. I got a three wide cart up for most of the last lap and he just popped out and charged over the top of them. He beat a very smart horse in Captain Joy. Rocket’s Reject was a terrific little horse.”
Only an out and out champion could displace Scandalman as Jimmy’s all time favourite. The colt was sent to Ian Wilson by his New Zealand owners as an unraced two year old in 2010. “It was obvious from the outset he was an absolute natural,” recalls Douglass. “His temperament was perfect, he was beautifully gaited and showed any amount of speed.”
Scandalman made his debut in a Canberra 2YO event in February of 2011. Despite the good reports on offer, punters preferred the Jarrod Alchin trained Light In Every Day who started favourite at $2.50 with Scandalman at a succulent $4.10. Favourite backers were left lamenting when Scandalman jumped straight to the lead and won by a widening ten metres. He went on to win eight of his first ten starts which included the heat and final of the Linden Huntley Little Memorial at Bulli, and the Tatlow Stakes 2YO Final at Melton.
After Scandalman's Linden Huntley Little Final win at Bulli. On Jim's right is Ian Wilson, on his left is HRNSW Chairman Rex Horne - Courtesy Trotguide.com.au.
Jim treasures memories of Scandalman’s performances in the heat and final of the 2012 Victoria Derby. The colt’s run in the qualifying heat was sensational. He settled down towards the rear from a second row draw, but made an early three wide move on the back of Western Rockstar with a lap and a half to go. Scandalman was lucky to escape trouble when Western Rockstar galloped for a few strides, and in the ensuing “jumble up” was left three wide in the breeze. It took the Sydneysider almost to the winning post before he got in outside the favourite Restrepo. Despite a massive workload Scandalman held on for second only five metres away.
“His run was enormous, but Ian and I were concerned it may have taken a bit out of him with the final only a week later,” said Jim. “We needn’t have worried. From barrier 3 he was crossed out of the gate by Waldenburg but cruised to the lead turning into the back straight the first time. He won easily from Ideal Scott in a 1.57.5 mile rate, and it still ranks as my biggest thrill.”
Jim just loved that horse! Scandalman and his greatest fan after one of their many wins together - Courtesy of Trotguide.com.au.
At the request of his owners Scandalman returned to his native New Zealand for a crack at the Derby double. He ran a cracking second to Ideal Scott in the Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park after racing four pegs most of the way and getting clear late. He was charging on the line to miss by half a length with Smolda third.
A couple of weeks later Scandalman was able to find the lead from barrier 3 in the NZ Derby at Addington. He was very game in finishing third only a neck and a head behind Fly Like An Eagle and Smolda in the prestigious race. He was immediately flown back to Sydney where a busy schedule awaited.
He ran second in a 3YO race at Menangle after which he won a heat of the NSW Pacers Derby. He finished a close third to Smolda and Regal Knight in the final and later turned the tables on Smolda in the Newcastle Derby. He did so well after the Newcastle essay that Ian decided to head back to New Zealand for the 3YO Emerald during the Jewels Carnival at Cambridge. He was never in the race from a horror barrier. On returning to Sydney the durable colt was spelled after a distinguished three year old campaign.
Other highlights for Scandalman were a win in the 50th Maitland Inter City Pace Final and a defeat of Washakie in a Carnival of Cups feature at Penrith. Washakie was going so well at the time that he started a $1.60 favourite. Scandalman was retired after 48 starts with a record of 19 wins and 16 placings for just over half a million dollars. “He’s still at Ian Wilson’s property and has actually been bred to a handful of mares. He has three yearlings, a weanling and a foal at foot,” said Jim.
“We’ve broken in a couple of his yearlings and we were delighted with them. He’s got everything you could want in a stallion. Pedigree, performance, temperament and gait. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get something with ability from his few opportunities.”
Jim and Pelosi warm up before winning the Breeders Challenge 3yo Final at Menangle 24/10/2020 - Courtesy of Trotguide.com.au.
Hesa Buzzin’ was another veteran to join the Wilson team late in his career. He was a rising nine year old with a lot of racing under his belt when owner Brian Tuddenham decided on a change of environment. “What a wonderful old horse he was to be around,” said Jim. “We won a string of races with him at Harold Park before taking him back to Melbourne to win a Group 2 at Melton.
“Two of his best runs were in Group 1 races - a third to Mr. Feelgood in the Queensland Pacing Championship and a third to Washakie in a Truer Memorial. I also got to drive him in a Hunter Cup, and throughout the Perth Inter Dominion Championship in 2012. He just missed making the Final but it was a thrill to drive him in the Consolation at Gloucester Park. I’ve got some great memories of old Hesa Buzzin.”
Jim formed a great association with Chariot King late in the gelding’s career. He partnered the genuine little horse in eight wins including a Goulburn Walla Walla Stakes, a Bathurst Mayor’s Cup and the 2015 Kevin Newman Cup at Menangle.
In more recent times the popular lightweight reinsman has added a couple of Breeders Challenge Finals to his impressive CV. In 2016 he won the 2YO fillies final on Shezallapples at odds of $91.00 for his great supporter David Thorn. Jim has actually driven Shezallapples in all of her ten wins which also includes a heat of the Victorian Oaks in 2017.
Jim won 10 races on the talented little filly Shezallapples including a Group 1 Breeders Challenge Final - Courtesy Trotguide.com.au.
As recently as October Jim was selected to pilot the royally bred Pelosi in four Sydney starts for owner Wayne Honan and trainer Anna Woodmansey. After seconds in the heat and semi final, Jim was able to coax the filly home narrowly in the 3YO Challenge Final.
With the majority of trainers also doubling as drivers, opportunities for freelance reinsmen are limited. Jim receives regular support from Ian Wilson and David Thorn while trainers like Joe and Mary Rando, Peter Hansen, Darren McCall, Leon Jurd and Simon Ellul frequently utilise his services. He was getting regular drives from Shane and Lauren Tritton before the husband and wife team made a life changing move to the USA - a move which has brought success beyond their expectations.
Jim’s passion for the industry is reflected in the many hours he devotes to his role as President of the UHRA which campaigns on behalf of the trainers and drivers of NSW. “I couldn’t manage this role without the support and experience of Wally Mann who has devoted years to similar organisations with similar goals.”
In days gone by there was a popular theory that the weight of a trotting driver is of little consequence once the gig is rolling. With all due respect to the subscribers of that theory, many experienced horsemen believe that every ounce counts when a horse is tiring and oxygen is in short supply. One of Jim’s greatest assets is his body weight of just 56kgs. Add to that his ability to think quickly, his obvious affinity with horses and a great understanding of the form - the form of the horses he drives and those around him in a race.
When Jim Douglass sat down with his father all those years ago to witness harness racing for the first time, he could never have imagined that by 2020 he would have 820 winners on the board as a professional race driver. He still pinches himself when he reflects on 106 winners in the 2009/2010 season which saw him finish in fourth place on the NSW premiership. He’s been in the top ten on two subsequent occasions against some pretty ferocious opposition.
At just 34 Jim Douglass is already a veteran of sixteen years in the business. His race driving skills speak for themselves, and it’s obvious he has emerged as a complete all round horseman. According to Ian Wilson he’s no novice when it comes to shoeing a horse.
Perhaps Jimmy has wondered on occasions what the outcome may have been had he gone to the Parramatta Speedway instead of the Harold Park trots that fateful night twenty years ago. Overall he has no regrets about the path he chose to follow. Like most people in a very tough business he’s had to endure the frustration of lost opportunities, and the aches and pains that come with the inevitable race falls.
But when push comes to shove Jim has no doubt he pulled the right rein
(Banner image - Jim after a Harold Park win with Min Min Lights. A proud owner, the late Henno Illistom gives his favourite horse a pat -courtesy of Trotguide.com.au)