Brighton trainer Eric Jacobson says Fleet Express wasn’t the best horse he trained, but he certainly was the favourite horse he has had in his care.
The gelded son of Silent Spring arrived in his stable in early 2003, after being purchased as an un-raced three-year-old from Victoria as Jacobson recalls.
“Shane Hildebrand was good friends with Noel Alexander, and he had purchased a few horses off Noel in the past, and this horse was for sale as a three-year-old,” said Jacobson.
“Shane got a few people to go in with him, I had enough horses of my own at the time as it was, so I declined to go in the syndicate,” recalls Jacobson.
With a purchase price of $3,000 Fleet Express went on to win 39 races and prizemoney of $347,233, which sees him sit in tenth spot of all-time prize money earners for Tasmanian harness racing.
Jacobson can recall the early months of the pacer in his Brighton stable. 
“He was a nice type, but he took a little while to sort out, he kept going sore all the time as he had soft soles in his feet, so I just used to get some witches hats and cut the rubber off them to put under his feet, and we never looked back,” explained the trainer.
“He used to work alright early on, Rodney Ashwood was helping me back then, we both had a high opinion of him ability wise, but his first few starts Neville Webberley drove him and he said that he might only win a race or two, well he ended up winning 39,” laughed Jacobson.
Fleet Express had his first start on 30 March 2003, and in late April he won his first race in a heat of the Eric Reece before winning the final two weeks later at the Showgrounds in Hobart.
Less than a year after his first win the pacer had risen through the grades to race in free-for-all events, being placed in the 2004 City of Launceston Cup that was held in May.
“He was always competitive in just about every race he ran in, and he was an easy horse to do anything with,” recalled Jacobson.
The pacer had four starts at Moonee Valley in February of 2005, the first of many interstate missions before returning to Tasmania to win his first Easter Cup on 27 March of that year.
“I vaguely remember it as it is a few years ago now, his first Easter Cup Ricky timed his run well to score,” said Jacobson.
“It was a huge thrill to win my first one,” added the trainer.
A bit of water went under the bridge which saw Fleet Express have stints with Graham Lang in Victoria before returning back to Jacobson’s stable before heading back to Victoria to be in the care of John and Maree Caldow in early 2007.
It’s hard to believe in 17 Victorian starts the pacer only won one race.
The pacer could have almost been lost while at the Caldow’s when he was nominated for a claiming race at Geelong in February of 2007.
Fleert Express owners (L-R) Phillip Jones, Tandy Gill and Shane Hildebrand.
“John and Maree Caldow had him at one stage, and they ended up putting him in a claimer, I can’t recall the price. Anyway, he came back here, and I think he ended up winning another $150,000,” said Jacobson.
In April of 2007 Fleet Express was back with Jacobson before he claimed his second Easter Cup in one of the most controversial races on Tasmanian soil in modern times.
“His second Easter Cup win he was third past the post, but the first two placegetters were disqualified,” recalled Jacobson.
“It wasn’t the best of circumstances to win, and I would have much rather win it outright,” said the trainer.
Fleet Express had his last start for Jacobson on 13 September 2009 before the pacer was transferred to the Christian Salter stable for his final seven starts.
His last start was in Hobart on 24 January 2010 as a 10-year-old where he finished last in a field of nine.
Jacobson summed up Fleet Express’ attitude to racing as his most significant asset.
“It was just his will to win. He tried every start,” he said.
Fleet Express enjoying his post-race career.
His best run according to Jacobson was a race he didn’t win, when he ran second to Queen Carey in the first race ever on the Elwick track where they flew around in 1m 56.3s in October 2005.
Jacobson said that Fleet Express was his favourite horse but as for the best he trained, well he nominated three, Atashy Luck, Lucky Atashy and Parawanga.
Fleet Express is now enjoying retirement as a pleasure horse where he enjoys trail riding, pony club, as well as heading to the beach and various shows. He shares a paddock and as you can see he is great with kids.
Fleet Express fact file
Lifetime record; 149 starts, 39 wins and 57 placings.
Prize money; $347,233.
Trainers; Eric Jacobson (37 wins), Christian Salter (2 wins), Graham Lang and Maree Caldow.
Drivers; Ricky Duggan (36 wins), Kerryn Manning (1 win), Rohan Hadley (1 win), Natalee Emery (1 win), Neville Webberley, Rodney Ashwood, Gavin Lang, Tony Pullicino, John Caldow and Greg Sugars.
Owners; Shane Hildebrand, Tandy Gill, Phillip Jones and Glenn Butterworth.
Tasmanian Horse Of The Year: On three occasions.
Feature race wins;
2003
Eric Reece Memorial Royal Showgrounds
Tasmanian St Leger – Launceston
2004
Sir James Plimsoll Free For All – Royal Showgrounds
Elite Free For All – Royal Showgrounds
2005
Heat of the Rising Stars – Moonee Valley
Easter Cup – Launceston