Paynter is enjoying the view at the front

At a time when most people his age ponder retirement, harness pony driver Johnny Paynter is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.

Paynter, 65, is enjoying life in the fast lane at Vesey Street where he has already amassed 15 wins this season competing on four different ponies.

The tow- truck driver, whose personal goal is to claim driver of the year honours, attributes his superb early -season form to a dedicated approach to training.

He said: “I get up early mornings to do a lot of training and the wins just come. I’m trying to be the top driver for the year.”

Paynter also intends to help Tanglewood Stables retain the coveted stable trophy.

He added: “If we have the most points that means we will get the stable trophy back this year — and that would be great!”

Paynter is now in his third year of competition in a sport he has long had a passion for.

He said: “I wanted to race at Shelly Bay but I never had the opportunity to do so — my mother just wouldn’t let me go. So I ended up doing this.

“My son (Justin) has a few ponies and I always wanted to race. He got a little heavy and so I just thought I’d take over from him.”

Most of Paynter’s wins this season have come on Leo Simmons’ ponies that are also reaping reward for a hard work ethic.

The former footballer explained: “We started training (pre-season) early and we just keep with it. We have a strategic training schedule that we stick to and we work hard. We are starting to reap the benefits of our hard work.
“It feels great and is nice to know that all of our hard work is beginning to pay off. We are trying to put ourselves in a position to help Tanglewood repeat as stable trophy winners again this year.”         

Paynter was among a trio of double heat winners during the last round of harness racing at Vesey Street, with his wins coming on Simmons’ Ribbons and Pearls in the 1.08/4 and 1.10/4 time bar.

Other double heat winners were Big Red Machine (Colin Mello) and Cherokee Kabitz, driven by American Darrell Miller.

Captain Progress, driven by Jason Lopes, clocked the fastest time of 1.04/4 competing in the 1.05 and 1.06 time bar.