Our Industry – Jason Woodworth
Jason Woodworth with his runner Hotfoot It NZ and Tiza New Day. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows
This week we take a look at 35-year-old Jason Woodworth, who has a lifetime of memories in harness racing in WA
Born in 1986, Jason Woodworth is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in harness racing in WA. The grandson of Hall of Fame inductee Alan Woodworth, son of Cliff Woodworth and great-grandson of Stan Woodworth, Jason received his reinsman licence in the 2001/2002 at age 16, with his first driving success at Northam on the 29th of September in 2002 on board Gold Bombardier, who was trained by his dad.
It wasn’t until the end of 2010 that Woodworth decided to take up training himself, with his first win with Three Deep Pockets at Gloucester Park on the 1st of August 2011, with Nathan Turvey in the cart. The then five-year-old gelding was starting first up for Woodworth and beginning from barrier five, he settled towards the rear and with 600m to go, tracked the horse in front of him three-wide, going on to win by a neck for the new trainer.
“It was very exciting, I cheered him home from the top of the straight pretty loudly, I was shaking afterwards.”
Since then, Woodworth has had a total of 153 starters for 15 wins and 34 placings, with this latest seasons undeniably one of his most successful ones to date. Earlier in the year he took out the 2021 Busselton Cup with Tiza New Day who he had purchased only seven weeks earlier for just $1000.
On Saturday the 14th of August, Woodworth had just the two runners engaged at Bunbury, with them both lining up in the same race, it was no mean feat that he managed to quinella it with Hotfoot It NZ who appears to have ability and Tiza New Day who was unlucky not to win, paying a generous $21 for a place.
It’s a real family affair for the Woodworth Family, with Cliff still training as well as Luke Woodworth returning to driving in recent years. Jason met his now wife, Kristy in the trots when he was 15 years old, they married in 2009 and in 2011 they welcomed their first child Toby, and then in 2014 their family was complete with the birth of their daughter Ruby, with Woodworth stating that both kids have a love for the horses, despite him not allowing them to get a pony.
“I have always been involved in the industry, but my dad is the main reason we have some success, he has taught me everything I know and is always there to help out,”
“Mum is the rock of the family, she takes care of us and is always there for us and handles all the book work.”
Woodworth’s horse training is a part time endeavour, with him working full time shift work for CBH, there’s no escaping family, with brother Luke working there as well.
“We have just moved to Secret Harbour for Toby to go to Comet Bay High School for their football programme as he’s pretty good. So, we are settled here for a few years, I’m happy to be a hobby trainer with my small stable and hopefully find a champion one day.”
Ashleigh Paikos