Eric, 32, has driven 3,306 winners to the tune of $32.8 million to date. In addition, the Dayton, Ohio native has competed in and won some of harness racing's most prestigious events, including the Hambletonian, which he won with Chip Chip Hooray in 2002, and various Breeders Crown events, which he has won when partnered with the top race mare Eternal Camnation.
"Jim has invested a lot of money, not only in the training center, but in the race horses and babies too," Eric added. "We're all working together as a team to build a nationally-competitive stable."
Eric's father, trainer Seldon Ledford, 58, had been training racehorses on the Ohio and Indiana circuit for most of his career. Since he began racing on the Chicago circuit in December 2001, his training statistics have steadily increased annually. In fact, from 1991 to 2001 the elder Ledford's charges earned $974,000.
From late 2001 until the present time, horses Seldon has conditioned have won over $1.8 million. His career statistics now stand at 561 lifetime winners of $2.7 million, with 2003 as his best year ever, as the Manchester, Kentucky native harnessed 87 winners of $740,142.
Jesk currently owns 56 horses, including such standouts as Freshfromthestart, a winner of $431,731 with a mark of 1:50 and Nineteenth Hole, a three-year-old son of Jate Lobell who's earned $166,549 with a freshman record of 1:52.3.
"Nineteenth Hole is one of my favorite horses," Jesk said. "He's staked to all of the big races in North America-like the Berry's Creek. Pass Me Not was the first horse I bought and I made that purchase on my own. He started out racing great and then we found out he had an OCD, and that had to be removed. He's just started back racing now."
Jesk says he doesn't believe that Eric's decision to return to the Windy City circuit will hamper his red-hot career as a nationally sought-after driver.
"I think Eric made the right decision, and I realize it was a big move for him to come back to Chicago on a permanent basis," Jesk said. "But I think he'll still get plenty of opportunities to drive in the biggest stake races in North America. He's extremely talented, and people in this business recognize that."
People, Jesk says, is what he enjoys most about the harness racing business.
"There are a lot of great, honest people in this business," Jesk said. "That's the best part of the business. However, I really don't have much good to say about the political end of the sport. I think we need the slots to come into Illinois in order to help the racing people here.
