Trainer Jake Leamon has been involved in harness racing since he was 17 years old but only in the last five years has he gone out on his own and made a mark in the sport. The 45-year-old New Jersey native has already eclipsed his career-best in stable earnings and is on pace to reach new heights in wins as well. Leamon, who trains a number of nice horses including Mad Max Hanover and recent Empire Breeders Classic winner The Claw, took a few moments out from his day to dicsuss his journey in the sport and the joy his daughter Emily gets from participating as well.     How did you get started in harness racing? I worked at McGuire Air Force Base in the summer of 1993 on the golf course and it was either go back to school or find another job. My uncle [Greg Leamon] asked me if I wanted to come in and do stalls in the winter of that year and I never left. He worked for Kelvin Harrison at the time. Was harness racing always going to be your path in life? At that time I had no direction what to do. It was just a blessing to be able to work outside with the horses. You were second trainer to Steve Elliott for quite some time. What did you learn about training from him? I actually worked for Steve at two different times, before 2002 and again starting in 2007 for like 10 years. We started going down to Florida when I was just a groom then but he didn't have a second trainer. We all did our own sets. When I came back to work for him the second time I became one of the trainers. I learned just about everything from him. He is one of the best horsemen ever in my opinion.  Your colors seem similar to his. Did you get that scheme from Steve? It's funny, my original colors were blue and kelly green and one day he said to me, 'one day I'm going to slow down and retire. You should think about changing your colors so I can leave you stuff and save you from buying all new stuff.' So I changed. You seem to hop in the bike a few times each year. Do you enjoy driving? Yeah, I do, probably a little more when I was younger because I was thinner. I do it every once in a while when I need to. You went out on your own in 2018 but this has been a breakout year for you with a career high in earnings already. Did it just take time to find the right horses? I started a little in the end of 2017 and I had one horse here or there before that. I was very fortunate to start doing good and then people sent me horses. I'm not doing anything different training-wise, just making sure the horses are fit, healthy and sound.  What kind of car do you drive? I have an old beat-up Chevy. Favorite dinner meal? Snack? I like steak but I try to eat it only once per month. I don't really have a favorite snack. Being on the road all the time I try to keep from eating too many snacks. What is your favorite track to race at? Why? Growing up in New Jersey I would have to say The Meadowlands. There are prestigious tracks everywhere but The Meadowlands was always the staple of harness racing. What is your favorite big event in racing? Why? I've never really taken time to think about it. I've always been a hard worker, whether I was grooming, second-training or training. Even when I have people working for me I have a hard time asking people to do stuff because I'm just used to working and doing it myself. I haven't had an opportunity yet so much with the trotters as with the pacers, so I guess I'd have to go with the Meadowlands Pace. I really wanted to win it this year. My horse [Mad Max Hanover] raced tremendous and Timmy [Tetrick] gave him a hell of a steer just to get second from the nine-hole. How often are horses or racing on your mind? 24/7. I've learned that when I leave the barn I have to turn it off a little bit. When I used to walk with my wife in the grocery store I would say, 'you know this horse would really be good if I put this on him' and she would look at me like, 'really, we are in the grocery store.' I would also wake up in the middle of the night and think 'I know how to fix that one.' Now I go home and I've learned to watch a baseball game and not think about the horses for a minute, but it took many years to turn it off. What is your favorite thing to do outside of harness racing? Probably golfing with my 14-year-old daughter, which I haven't had much time to do this year. What is your favorite sport to watch? Team? I watch all four sports from Philly religiously but I'd have to say that I've really enjoyed the hockey over the years. I had season tickets for the Flyers for quite a few years. When the pandemic hit I just stopped going. What is one thing about you most fans/bettors don't know? I eat, sleep and race horses. That's it. What is one word that describes harness racing for you? Everything. It is a lifestyle, not a job. Let's talk about some of your top horses. The Claw just won the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga. How good is he and what does his schedule look like? Unfortunately he wasn't staked to much other than the New York Sire Stakes because he didn't race at 2. Even qualifying the first time this year he was kind of clumsy and really green because he didn't race at 2. He is a little on the lazy side but he's blossomed so fast. I still don't know if he 100% knows what he's doing but he's very talented and in time will make a nice racehorse.  I have to talk with the owners and see how long we'll race him for this year. I'm sure he'll come back at 4 and have the Graduate and stuff like that. Mad Max Hanover has been a contender on the Grand Circuit and very competitive in PA Sire Stakes action. How confident are you with him heading into Saturday's final at The Meadows? We had our choice and skipped the Adios because we were going to have to go to The Meadows for the last leg and the final, we were hoping. We didn't want to go there four times. So we gave him a break and raced him in the Geers and then the Cane before the Sire Stakes. He lacks a little quickness but he can go all day and never gets tired. He loves doing his job. It kind of hurt him in the Max Hempt because they got out of there really fast and then jammed up and Timmy said it was hard to get him back rolling after coming to a stop. On the Sire Stakes, there are good colts in there and you still need racing luck even if you draw good.  [EDITOR'S NOTE: Mad Max Hanover finished seventh in the PA Sire Stakes final.] How many horses do you currently have in your barn and where are you stabled at? I'm at Winners International in Chesterfield New Jersey. I currently have 14 horses. If you had the power to change one thing in the sport, what would it be? You always wish it was like it was back in the day with the crowds they used to have. They are trying with social media to promote the sport. I look back, as a kid once in a while my aunt would take us over the Freehold and there were still pretty big crowds back them. How do you view the future of harness racing? I hope it continues because, especially for the younger generation that is coming up. My daughter [Emily] really loves it. I probably couldn't see her doing anything else, even though you know what you went through and how hard it is to be in this business. She is in the barn every day, all day. She loves jogging and training.  Does your daughter want to drive or train? If she can she'll do it all. There is nothing she doesn't try to do. If you weren't involved in harness racing, what would you be doing? I would imagine that I would work on a golf course. I did it while I was younger and I like being around the golf course. I wish I could do it more but I don't have the time.  Looking up your record it shows only one incident back in 2016 for which you were exonerated. Do you think it is fair that it stays on your record? I'm a little salty but it is what it is. I never look back, really, I just go forward. There is nothing you can do about it now anyway. Time for the stretch drive: Best Horse you ever saw: Working for Steve we had a lot of nice horses. I wasn't around Donato Hanover so much but I was around Doo Wop Hanover, Boston Red Rocks and Well Said. Artistic Fella was a big, strong colt. Rockeyed Optimist was always special to me. I even purchased him from the sale with a couple of his owners and a friend of mine because we loved the horse so much. I'm driving him on Wednesday. He is a great horse to be around. He taught my daughter how to jog and train.  Best driver ever: I like certain drivers for different reasons. I think Ron Pierce had a great feel for horses. Tim Tetrick is a very strategic driver. He gets a horse to go as well but I like his thought process in big races. How do you pick between guys like that or Yannick [Gingras] or David Miller. Lasix -- Yes or No?: I prefer no Lasix but when you have horses who need it you don't have much choice.  Favorite TV Show: I only watch horse racing and sports. Trotters or Pacers: I lean to pacers, not that I mind trotters at all.