In a season defined by sheer dominance and tactical genius, Junee reinsman Cameron Hart (pictured) has officially swept the board by winning Metropolitan and Provincial Driver of the Year at this year’s Harness Racing NSW awards.
The 2025 harness racing calendar has been a relentless showcase of speed and strategy, but no driver has shone brighter across both the city and country circuits than the 26-year-old from Junee. By securing the Metropolitan and Provincial Driver of the Year titles, Hart has not just won races, he has cemented his reputation as one of the most versatile drivers in the state.
It is the culmination of a twelve-month period where Hart transformed from a promising talent into the king of New South Wales harness racing.
To win a state driving title is a career highlight for most. To win both the Metropolitan and Provincial titles in the same season is an extraordinary achievement.
The metrics behind Hart’s campaign are staggering. According to official season statistics, Cameron Hart drove an astonishing 1,165 starters throughout the year, resulting in 231 winners. His remarkable tally of 77 metropolitan victories was enough to fend off fierce competition from the city’s elite, proving he is the go-to man under the bright lights of Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Yet, it is his provincial record that perhaps best illustrates his work ethic. Driving away from the headquarters, Hart amassed 154 wins in the country and regional circuits. This dual success highlights a crucial trait: Hart is as comfortable judging the pace on a half-mile country track as he is unleashing a finishing burst on the mile at Menangle.
While statistics quantify his consistency, his wins in the “majors” prove his quality. Hart’s season was punctuated by victories in races that define careers.
The undisputed highlight came aboard the brilliant Bay Of Biscay in the $2.1 million TAB Eureka. Drawing wide on the night, Hart produced a masterclass in aggression and confidence, pushing forward to take the lead before releasing the brakes in the straight to capture the world’s richest harness race. Just weeks earlier, he had guided the same horse to victory in the Chariots of Fire.
Beyond the Eureka, Hart continued to plunder the feature events. He crossed state lines to take the Group 2 Sunshine Sprint in Queensland with the returning Hi Manameisjeff and kept the pressure on in Victoria with perennial favourite Swayzee.
Trainer Jason Grimson, a major supporter of Hart, noted after a six-win haul at Menangle that the driver has an uncanny ability to get the best out of a horse when it matters most.
In an era where drivers often blast out of the gate, Hart’s winning drives such as in the Eureka and the Carousel series heats, showcased patience blended with explosive aggression. He has the rare ability to rate a horse mid-race, allowing his mounts to “swell up” and save energy for an explosive finish.
With the titles secured and the trophies on the mantle, Hart shows no signs of slowing down. As he enters his prime at 26, he has already conquered the local scene; the next step is continued domination.
For now, though, the harness racing community raises their glass to the man from Junee. Cam Hart is the Metropolitan and Provincial Driver of the Year — a dual champion who proves himself over and over again.
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