Champion pacer Leap To Fame's quest for a second Brisbane Inter Dominion crown has been engulfed by sadness.

Dan Costello, the hugely popular Albion Park photographer who has captured many of Leap To Fame's greatest moments, has revealed he is rapidly losing a battle with advanced cancer.

The 66-year-old was back at the office taking snaps of Leap To Fame's opening round Inter Dominion win last Saturday night, but had to leave soon after.

"They've told me to start planning for palliative care," Costello said. "My main tumour has tripled in size since the last check-up and the cancer has now spread to my spine. They told me it would be two months before I'd really start to feel the full impact, but it's already getting hard now."

Leap To Fame's owner Kevin Seymour learned of Costello's plight and – as he has done for so many – is throwing all his support behind him.

Seymour has connected Costello with a "cancer guru" at Brisbane's Mater Hospital and will pay all his medical bills and any lost income.

"Dan's one of nature's gentlemen. If I was in his position and had done as much for harness racing as he has, I'd like to think someone would do this for me," Seymour said.

"I don't want him working, I want him seeing the best and working out the best way to fight this. We all want Dan at the 2026 and 2027 Inter Dominions here in Brisbane, not this year.

"I've got him to see the best specialist there is in Queensland and we're all hoping there is a treatment plan."

An emotional Costello said he and wife, Gitana, were humbled by Seymour's generosity and support.

"He's given me hope when there was none … all I can ask for is hope," he said.

"Not only is Kevin using his connections big time for me, but this costs a huge amount of money and I just don't have it."

Costello, who has been Albion Park's course photographer for 14 years, was first diagnosed with bladder cancer a week after Leap To Fame won his first Inter Dominion crown at Albion Park in December, 2023.

"My world came crashing down. I was on such a high after what Leap To Fame did in that Inter Dominion. He's the best horse I've photographed and it was such a huge night for Queensland harness racing," he said.

"Then I got that diagnosis, which was really bleak. It was just a few days before Christmas, too.

"I had the tumour removed from my bladder, but they said it had spread and was aggressive. It went to my liver and is now in my spine.

"I'd pretty much run out of options, but now there's hope Kevin's help can at least buy me some more time.

"I've lost a stack of weight and get very tired. Kevin wants me fighting my battle at the moment, not working at the races. Without him I simply wouldn't have the money to do that."

"Dan doesn't know this, but if we win it again, we're giving the winning trophy to Dan," Seymour said.

Leap To Fame won his first round Inter Dominion heat last Saturday night, is favourite his second heat this week and a commanding $1.25 prepost favourite to win the Grand Final on July 19.