Mary Leeson of Cambridge, Ont., has been involved off and on in harness racing throughout her life and managed to capture this striking image featured as the April photo in the I Love Canadian Harness Racing's Fan Club's Heart of Harness Racing Calendar. The photo is of her trotting filly Jayport Rosita as her most recent participation in the sport is as a new owner.
“It’s very easy to take great shots such as this one of Jayport Rosita since the camera seems to love her,” says Leeson. “She was turned out at Neil Gibbons’ farm when I got this particular shot and I called her name and she stopped to "pose" for lack of a better word!”
Leeson recently retired from office work but spent the majority of her younger working years as a Standardbred groom. She worked for multiple Canadian trainers -- the late Bill Wellwood being the first. She spent many years (after learning the trade here in Ontario) working for Clint Galbraith who was based in New York doing the Grand Circuit in the summers and Florida during the winters.
Mary jogging two-year-old Speedy Crown filly Anthem Hill at Ben White Training Center in Orlando when she worked for Clint Galbraith "back in the day"
“It was a lifestyle that gets in your blood and never fades which was why I was so thrilled to get the opportunity to get in on the SBOA’s New Owners Group with Bill O'Donnell as our mentor. Does it get any better than having a dual country Hall of Famer as your mentor? I think not! The group of nine new owners are great and it has been a positive experience all round!”
Leeson has been the photographer for the SBOA group, known as the Magic Man Stable, snapping shots of Jayport Rosita as much as she can. “Unfortunately some of our owners live too far away to come and see 'Rosie" as much as they would like,” she explains, “hopefully my photos help them see her progress even if they cannot be there in person. In the past I have exhibited my photography (not of horses) and have been fortunate enough to have sold my work in local art galleries.”
Left: Mary and Jayport Rosita as a two-year-old at Classy Lane.
Right: Jayport Rosita training at Mohawk with Matt Bax prepping for her qualifier.