‘I love my work, it’s so rewarding’: Former young gun driver Josh Aiken harnesses a new calling

Former young gun driver Josh Aiken has gone from nurturing horses to helping young people change their lives. But harness racing will always be part of life for the son of champion horseman David Aiken.

Josh Aiken aboard the brilliant Hectorjayjay. Picture: Suart McCormick

Former young gun driver Josh Aiken has gone from nurturing horses to helping young people change their lives.

But harness racing will always be part of life for the son of champion horseman David Aiken.

Through his early and mid-20s, Aiken was one of Victoria’s top young drivers, notching more than 500 wins, including a remarkable 10 at Group 1 level.

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He drove the brilliant Hectorjayjay to win the 2017 Group 1 Blacks A Fake and finish second in the Perth Inter Dominion final a few months earlier.

These days harness racing is a hobby while Aiken devotes most of his time to a full-time job as a youth worker, with a twist.

That twist is weaving his passion for horses into his job.

A special tribute to retiring star Hectorjayjay ❤️

What's your favourite memory of him?@ghall27pic.twitter.com/IEvW21lVMA

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 27, 2020

“Since Mum (Colleen) and Dad (David) moved to Sydney a while ago, we’ve changed the place (training stables at Avenel, near Shepparton) into a place where some kids can stay as part of my job and have the farm experience,” he said.

“The horses are a big part of it and the best horses for it are standardbreds with their great nature.

“So many of the kids are from the suburbs in the city, so getting out to a farm like this is something really different for them.

“Working with kids runs in the family, Mum and Dad have done it unofficially with people like Ricky Thurlow, David Moran, Ryan Sanderson and Cody Crossland when they were young.

“I love my work, it’s so rewarding.”

Most of the kids wouldn’t know Aiken reached such great heights in harness racing or one of the horses they’re working with is one of Victoria’s best young trotting mares, Maoris Mac.

Maoris Mac has flown home down the outside at long odds to salute in the Haras Des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic three-year-old Trotting Fillies Final for trainer-driver Josh Aiken. pic.twitter.com/lDbyfvaYJu

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) April 20, 2024

“I’m still working a couple of racehorses. It’s a win-win, it’s great when the kids come out and I’ve got a soft spot for John McHugh, who owns the horses I’m training.

“John’s a Victorian and if he didn’t own them, they’d be up at Menangle with all the other horses with Mum and Dad.

“But John’s a legend. He’s been in the game 60 years, as a track assistant at the (Melbourne) Showgrounds, then when the trots moved to Moonee Valley and he even did some time at Melton when they moved there, too.”

Maoris Mac gave McHugh his biggest win and Aiken one of his greatest thrills when won the $75,000 3YO Trotting Fillies’ Nutrien Sales final at Melton this time last year.

“That was really special. For all his time in the game, the biggest race John had won was a $10,000 final,” Aiken said.

Maoris Mac then chased home the unbeaten and freakish Keayang Zahara when fourth, second and third respectively in the three Group 1 finals last season.

A CLASS ABOVE!

The Jason Lee-driven, Margaret Lee-prepared Keayang Zahara has extended her winning streak to eight with a compressive display in the Aldebaran Park Need For Speed Princess Final. pic.twitter.com/ulTt6QKKxo

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 5, 2024

The daughter of Volstead has her second run back from a spell in the Aldebaran Park Trot (race five) at Melton on Saturday night.

“Nothing went right first-up, but she finished the race off well and has worked well since,” Aiken said. “I’m going there with confidence she’ll run a big race this week.”

A big showing on Saturday and again when she backs up the following Saturday at Melton could see Maoris Mac book another clash with Keayang Zahara.

“If we’re happy with the next two runs, we’ll take her up for the (Group 1) Macarthur Mile at Menangle (May 10),” Aiken said.

“She’s a lovely mare and with top mares like Im Ready Jet and Queen Elida getting older and retiring, I’d love to think we can be part of that next batch of mares to compete in all the big races.”

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.

Originally published as ‘I love my work, it’s so rewarding’: Former young gun driver Josh Aiken harnesses a new calling