Sport
2 January, 2026
Local James Herbertson wins his second Australian Drivers’ Premiership in a row
Lexton local James Herbertson continues to sit atop the pinnacle of the Australian Harness Racing scene, winning his second national Drivers’ Premiership on the trot.
Racking up his staggering 349th victory of the year riding Wicked Mitzi at Charlton on Monday, the 25-year-old finished 83 victories ahead of his closest rival in Queensland’s Nathan Dawson.
His premiership coronation is the exclamation point on Herbertson’s dominance over the past two years, also taking out the honour in 2024.
“It’s probably the highest accolade you can achieve from a driving point of view, numbers-wise, to win the most races in the country,” Herbertson said.
“It’s something that you strive for as a professional reinsman and it’s really humbling to go back-to-back.
“It’s not just me at the end of the day — all credit goes to the people behind me who put me on every week and always back me and trust me with their horses.”
While holding an insurmountable lead for the Drivers’ Premiership, Herbertson recently added to his never-ending list of accomplishments by taking home his second straight Australian Drivers Championship in Hobart on December 21.
Among a star-studded cast of elite drivers, the local product prevailed with 61 points following two race wins and an additional two placings from the six heats.
Herbertson said he was honoured to retain his championship trophy.
“To win that twice is something I never thought I would be able to accomplish,” he said.
“The drivers championship comes down to the horses that you land on the card and whether you’re lucky enough to get the right horses, which I was.
“All of the drivers that are there deserve to be there and they can all make horses go fast, so it comes down to the horse whether they are fast enough.”
Amidst what proved to be a whirlwind 2025, the ever-ambitious Herbertson fulfilled a long-term desire and packed his bags for the United States and Sweden to further refine his skills.
Herbertson planned to stay at the stable of harness racing’s all-time leader in wins and purses, Ron Burke, in America for six weeks before spending two weeks with Jörgen Westholm in Sweden.
“I’ve been aspiring to get overseas and chase what’s possible, but also just sort of hope it keeps on coming,” Herbertson said.
“Going to America and learning one percenters there has definitely changed my style a little for the better. I guess just being more confident in my driving and gradually getting better within myself as a driver.”
However, two weeks into his stay in the United States, Herbertson and the harness racing community were left devastated by the sudden passing of legendary driver Greg Sugars at the age of 40.
After heading back to support Sugars’ wife and close friend, Jess Tubbs, and attending the funeral of his beloved mentor and idol, Herbertson returned overseas, winning three races in the States and another in Sweden.
In November, Herbertson travelled to New Zealand to ride the Tubbs’ trained Tracy The Jet at The Ascent at Addington, worth $500,000.
Whether it was the assistance of his recent trip overseas, or Sugars riding from above, Tracy The Jet cleared the pack to win by three lengths, a victory Herbertson said was one of the proudest of his career.
“He was one of my best mates, so to go over there and win a race for Jess of that calibre was massive. It will be a career highlight that’s for sure.”
Despite not racing in Australia for two months, Herbertson racked up a whopping 1514 starts in 2025, the fourth consecutive year he has competed in over 1500 races.
With an average of over four races a day, Herbertson said his diligence to preparation is the catalyst for staying focused throughout his substantial workload.
“It’s probably the hardest part of the job really, keeping the mental side of it in check, let alone the physical, but I guess you sort of surround yourself with the right people and they help,” he said.
“Getting a little bit of a routine going and sort of getting things down pat that you need to be at your best, whether that be enough sleep or doing your homework on horse and that sort of thing.
“Without all those things working in coherence, you don’t get results. It’s hard to put it down to one thing in terms of keeping the schedule up, but if you’re winning, it definitely makes life a whole lot easier.”
Having conquered virtually every mountain in the Australian Harness Racing ranges, Herbertson said he’s flirting with the possibility of moving abroad with his newfound connections.
Despite that, Herbertson said his focus remains on the season ahead as he looks to raise the bar of his excellence even higher.
“I’ll make my mind up in the next year whether I do move overseas full time, but until then, it will just be trying to break 400 (wins) this year,” he said.