James Herbertson isn’t sure how to look back on 2025.
Every statistic says it’s been another phenomenal year in the harness racing sulky for one of world heavy racing’s great talents, but off the track it’s been harrowing.
Not a day goes by that Herbertson doesn’t miss his idol, mentor and buddy Greg Sugars, who died in his sleep in April at the age of 40.
As the 25-year-old prepares to represent Victoria in Sunday’s Australian Drivers’ Championship in Hobart, a reflective Herbertson said: “It’s been a year of the biggest lows, but also some highs.”
Despite spending almost two months in the US and Europe, partly on a working holiday, Herbertson will romp home in the Australian Drivers’ Premiership for a second consecutive year. Last year he won with 93 and this year he leads with 340 wins against Queensland’s Nathan Dawson on 259.
“Given the year I’ve had, I don’t think I could have gotten more out of my opportunities,” he said.
“To ride four winners abroad (three in the US and one in Sweden) while I was away meant a lot to me on a personal level.”
But his highlight in 2025 was teaming up with Sugars’ widow, top Victorian trainer Jess Tubbs, to win the $NZ500,000 The Ascent in Christchurch with the exciting three-year-old trotting filly Tracy The Jet.
“That was something big, emotional, for everyone,” he said. “It was incredible to go all the way to New Zealand and win a race like that.”
After winning the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship Brisbane earlier this year, Herbertson can ice 2025 by adding a second Australian Drivers’ Crown in Hobart.
Despite his age, this will be the third time Herbertson has represented Victoria in the series. He won the title in 2022 and finished fourth behind Gary Hall Jr. last year.
“It is always a great thrill and honor to represent your state,” he said.
Herbertson will fly the Victorian flag with Kate Gath, the most successful female Group 1 harness driver in Australian history.
Gath is one of three females in the 12-driver series in Hobart. The others are WA’s Deni Roberts and rising NSW star Ashleigh Delosa.
Roberts is fresh from winning her second successive Group 1 WA Pacing Cup with mighty stayers Minstrel at Gloucester Park last week.
Delosa and Roberts return after finishing second and third respectively behind Hall Jr in last year’s series in Adelaide.
Other drivers flying their state flag in Hobart include: Shannon Suvaljko (WA), Angus Garrard and Nathan Dawson (Qld), Will Rixon (NSW), Ryan Hryhorec and Wayne Hill (SA), along with locals Dylan Ford and Rohan Hillier.
The series consists of six races (races two through seven) on Sunday.
For full race entries, click here.
Through Adam Hamiltonfor Harness Racing Victoria
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