Richlister gains triple crown in sport of kings

Brisbane richlister Kevin Seymour didn’t think he’d ever get to a racetrack again after a heart attack, but has now picked up one of harness racing’s coveted crowns.

Leap To Fame wins the Miracle Mile. Picture: Pacepix/Club Menangle

There were times recently when property developer Kevin Seymour didn’t think he’d ever get to a racetrack again. After a heart attack the 83-year-old laid in hospital with his mind on his boom pacer Leap to Fame and the first leg of harness racing’s triple crown, the Inter Dominion.

Harness racing has been the richlister’s great passion for 55 years, and with wife Kay, finally had a horse capable of winning all three legs of the sport’s biggest prize.

History tells us Leap to Fame went on to win the Inter Dominion and six weeks later the second leg of the triple crown – the $500,000 AG Hunter Cup.

On Saturday the pacing sensation won the third leg, the $1 million Miracle Mile, to etch his name in the history books. In the Miracle Mile, Leap to Fame became the first horse to win the prestigious race from such a wide draw and the second pacer since Preux Chavalier 39 years ago to win the triple crown. Leap to Fame now has 35 wins from 45 starts, and has won $2.76 million in prize money.

Trained and driven by Grant Dixon, the five-year-old standardbred has been touted as the greatest Queensland pacer since the retired champion Blacks A Fake. Many think he’ll become Australia’s greatest. The Miracle Mile was the one race that escaped Seymour and he reckons the win was “icing on the cake” after more than five decades in the game.

Kevin Seymour and wife Kay after Leap To Fame wins the Inter Dominion. Pictuer: Dan Costello

Brain Gain

The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) is partnering with McKinney’s Jewellers to fast-track research into dementia. Margot McKinney, the fourth generation to run Brisbane-based McKinney’s Jewellers, along with her nephew Andrew McKinney-Welch and Pat Goldsworthy from Ray White this week made a $500,000 donation to QBI from proceeds raised from their inaugural Dining for Dementia fundraising dinner.

Both the McKinney and Goldsworthy families have experienced firsthand the devastating effects of the disease on their loved ones. “We joined forces to raise awareness for early detection and raise much needed funds, not only in Queensland but throughout Australia for dementia research” says Andrew McKinney. Margo McKinney, who lost her father to the disease, say that with so many people developing dementia, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and motor neuron disease, there seems to be a growing prevalence of brain disorders. “Initially it was my parents who were attracted to QBI, close to 20 years ago now and we have simply continued the relationship,” says Margo. “We want to keep the tradition and be as involved as we can with QBI to make a difference.”

Australian jewellery designer Margot McKinney

Taking Flight

Queensland continues to be a beacon of light for business travel in Australia

with the latest figures showing the number of international bookings out of Brisbane has risen by over 30 per cent year-on-year – suggesting a return to confidence for corporates travelling further afield. The data from Flight Centre Travel Group’s flagship corporate divisions of FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller also highlighted a 17 per cent rise in the number of people travelling in the same period. The statistics come hot on the heels of Delta Air Lines announcing a direct route between Brisbane and Los Angeles from December 2024 – with Brisbane Airport revealing that seat capacity between Brisbane and North America will jump to 144 per cent of pre-Covid capacity. Flight Centre corporate managing director ANZ. Melissa Elf says the company has long touted Brisbane as a destination of choice for business travellers, but this new data tells it homegrown companies are looking further afield.