What a family!

The amazing harness racing family that is Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) and Swayzee (Rock N Roll Heaven) continues to grow and get more exciting.

Much has been said and written about the fact the two best pacers in this part of the world are half-brothers and have amassed 73 wins – 15 at Group 1 level – and over $5.1 million in prize money between them.

They pair is to add to that when they clash for the fifth time – Leap To Fame holds a 3-1 lead – in Saturday night’s Group 1 Hunter Cup at Melton.

They are both out of the Art Major mare Lettucereason, Leap To Fame by Bettors Delight and Swayzee by Rock N Roll Heaven.

Amazingly, they are two of only three foals Lettucereason has had to the races. The other, Maximus Red, was no slouch with 47 wins and almost $500,000 in earnings.

Another of her foals, Reason For Fame, didn’t race but obviously has huge value as a broodmare. She is another half-sister, being by Sweet Lou.

Reason For Fame had her first foal, a colt by Bettors Delight on October 1, last year.

In other exciting family news, Lettucereason herself had another foal on September 22. It’s a filly by Bettors Delight, making it a full sister to Leap To Fame.

Both foals are owned by Justin Kahlefeldt, who also bred Leap To Fame and Swayzee.

Lettucereason was a talented performer herself on the track with 51 starts for 17 wins, 17 placings and $180,073.

She ran third in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold final and second in the Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge final as a two-year-old in 2011.

At three she ran fifth in the NSW Oaks and third in the NSW Breeders Challenge final.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia