Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

50 Reasons Why...
...John Campbell is Harness Racing's Driving King

By Bob "Hollywood" Heyden

1-The FIRST catch-driver to ever win a million $$ race-1982-Hilarion in the Meadowlands Pace. It was the only time-until 2003-that the winning driver of the Pace did NOT drive the SAME horse in the elims. 2003-Mike Lachance won with All American Theory without having handled him in the prep.

2- TWO-as in 2.1 That was the average amount of wins-per night-for John Campbell in 1990 at the Meadowlands. His 413 wins are a record-and his 2.1 wins per night represent the ONLY time in Meadowlands history that any driver AVERAGED more than two wins per evening for an ENTIRE meet.

3-THREE daughters-Michelle-Lisa and Brittany. John is also the only driver-ever-to win THREE million $$ races in the same season-19995-The first ever for Jim Campbell-his brother-combining to take the Hambletonian with Tagliabue-and the first two ever for Brett Pelling-taking both the Meadowlands Pace and the North America Cup with Davids Pass.

4-FOUR straight Sweethearts in 1984-1987-unprecedented. Armbro Dazzler-1984-Follow My Star-1985-Nadia Lobell-1986-So Cozy-1987. FOUR decades he led at least once in $$ nationally 1979 the first time-2002 the last time- NO other driver has ever done this in more than two different decades.

5-FIVE Hambletonians. The only driver to do so-He won his 5TH in 1998 with Muscles Yankee. He broke a tie at four with Ben White-Billy Haughton and Stanley Dancer.

6-SIX-as in half a dozen-Hambos with Diesel Don in 2005?? John owns and drives the Valley Victory winner-Only one time prior has a Valley Victory winner gone on to take the Hambo the following year-Chip Chip Hooray-2001-2002. Chuck Sylvester trained him, and also conditions Diesel Don.

7-SEVEN straight driving titles at the Meadowlands-1985-1991. Never done prior or since. SEVEN straight winning drives-John is the only driver in the 29 year history of the Meadowlands to have accomplished this 2/3/83.

8-EIGHT wins on one card-John did this at Freehold in October 1986. This made him the first driver to do it-win at least seven on a card-at two tracks in the SAME state. John has 5 times won seven races on a single Meadowlands card. EIGHT $10 million seasons for John-an all-time industsry best.

9-NINE of the ten years from 1986-1995, John led the nation in earnings. This was the single most dominant period for any driver at any time.

10-TEN million $$ wins is the second most of any driver-Mike Lachance-in harness racing history-John Campbell leads the way with 21.

11-John's ELEVENTH $$ title-in 1995-was in large part due to winning the Hambo with his brother Jim-Tagliabue-and taking the Meadowlands Pace with Davids Pass. It should be remembered that Davids Pass only qualified fourth-and had to win a shake with Ca Connection to even get into the race.

12-TWELVE-as in million $-Ron Pierce-in 2004-is the only other driver in history to record a $12 million or better season OTHER THAN JOHN. TWELVE-TO ONE-that is the highest win price of any of Johns 21 million $ winners-1984 Sweetheart-Armbro Dazzler.

13-THIRTEEN-this is the # of driving titles in the 29 year history of the Meadowlands that have NOT gone Johns way.

14-$14 MILLION-That was the single season all-time record-set by John in 2001-that still stands today. This is more than $2 million better than any single season EVER by anyone else in the sports hsitory-$14,184,863.

15-FIFTEENTH $$ title in 2001-John went on until the following year-2002-to record his incredible 24th straight seasons of being either first or second in the year end $$ standings.

16-SIXTEEN Meadowlands titles. SIXTEEN national earnings titles. No one else (not named Billy Haughton-12 earnings titles) is anywhere near these numbers.

17-Johns age when he won his first race at Western Fair Raceway in 1972-Noble Wil-age SEVENTEEN.

18-EIGHTEEN for EIGHTEEN-all with John Campbell driving. That is the Meadowlands record only for Miss Easy racing against the females at the Meadowlands. She was 19-21 overall. (one baby race loss, one break in the Meadowlands Pace elim, then a victory in the 1991 Meadowlands Pace consolation against Cambest)

19-NINETEENTH Million $ win for John came in the 2001 Meadowlands Pace with Real Desire. Real Desire (2001-2002) later joined Matts Scooter (1988-1989) as the only two horses to win the Meadowlands Pace-then be named the Horse Of The Year-the FOLLOWING year.

20-TWENTIETH Century-John is the leading driver ($$) of the 20th century-and the second leading driver of the 21st century (Dave Miller).

21-TWENTY-ONE Million $ victories-the all-time best in the history of the sport. TWENTY-ONE was also Johns age when the Meadowlands opened its doors on 9/1/76.

22-TWENTY-TWO-He won his first Meadowlands race in 1978 at age 22-and for the year 33 wins in 268 drives. Incredibly-of those 33 wins, only five WERE FAVORITES!!

23-TWENTY-THREE years of age when John completed his first Meadowlands season in 1978-John also trained back then, and the majority of horses he shipped in with were $10,000-$15,000 claimers

24-TWENTY-FOUR straight season either first or second nationally in the $$ dept. 1979-2002. By far an alltime industry best. TWENTY-FOUR was also Johns age when he won his very first $100g race. May 24, 1979-Meadowlands. Merry Isle won the Oliver Wendell Holmes for a $108,000 pot. He would win the 1980 NJ Classic the following year, the inaugural, for a $300,000 purse, which was his best up to that time.

25-TWENTY-FIVE straight Meadowlands Pace finals. When they say "GO" for this years Pace-assuming John is driving in it-it'll be #25 in a row. Consider how long ago it was since he was NOT in the Pace-1980-Niatross-the FIRST EVER million $ race-THAT was the last time, and John almost qualified for that one too with a horse called Striking Heir.

26-TWENTY-SIX That was Johns age for his very first Meadowlands Pace drive-1981-with Slapstick, who wound up 4th. Interesting to note that it was Slapstick-with Jack Parker Jr driving the year before, who entered the Wilson-the first $2 million race ever held, undefeated and went off the 4-5 favorite for trainer Lee Broglio. He was impeded early and wound up getting the final check.

27-TWENTY-SEVEN That was Johns age when he won the 1982 Meadowlands Pace with Hilarion-and won his first LIttle Brown Jug with Merger.

28-TWENTY-EIGHT That was how old John was for his first Hambletonian drive-Joie De Vie. It didn't take long as he won an elim with him, then was no match for Duenna in the final. Out with the old, in with the new?? The 1983-symbolically on the final turn-saw Joie De Vie go up to challenge Duenna-John Campbell versus Stanley Dancer. That year was Johns FIRST Hambo heat win, and that year was Stanleys Dancers LAST of four Hambo wins.

29-TWENTY-NINE Johns age when he finished third with Supreme Dynasty (1984 Wilson) in the richest harness race ever held-$2,161,000. Nihilator won the race and Praised Dignity was second. John drove for trainer Ed Lohmeyer, who said before the race, "The best thing about John Campbell driving your horse is that he can't be driving against you."

30-THIRTY-John hit the big 3-0 in 1985, he didn't miss a beat. He became the first driver to win FOUR Breeders Crowns in the same year. Robust Hanover, Express Ride, Prakas and Sandy Bowl.

31-THIRTY-ONE John was 31 when he won 8 races on a single October afternoon at Freehold in 1986.

32-John was THIRTY-TWO when he handled Mack Lobell to his first of FIVE Hambletonian wins, and the first of three in a four year span.

33-John was THIRTY-THREE when he won the Hambo in straight heats in 1988 with Armbro Goal-as a side note that year-Jan Johnson became the last trainer to win both the Hambo and the Hambo Oaks in the same season-Nans Catch.

34-THIRTY-FOUR Johns age when he raced Peace Corps in the 1989 Hambo-the one that wound up in a dead heat. Peace Corps came in with 17 straight wins, and would retire as the richest ever standardbred. But that simply was not her day. Side note-Park Avenue Joe and Probe dead heated-but neither won year end honors in the division. Cheyenne Spur did.

35-THIRTY-FIVE In 1990 John became the youngest Hall Of Fame inductee when at 35 he joined his buddy Bill O'Donnell in the Hall Of Fame.

36-THIRTY-SIX John was 36 when he surpassed $100 million for his career-the first harness driver to do so. the ONLY driver or jockey younger than John to have ever done so? Chris McCarron at 33. John was also 36 when he won his first North America Cup with Precious Bunny in 1991. John would eventually opt off for Artsplace in the Meadowlands Pace and be second to Precious Bunny and Jack Moiseyev.

37-THIRTY-SEVEN John was 37 when he his streak of 7 straight Meadowlands titles came to a half in 1992. The most consecutive titles ever in East Rutherford. He responded by winning the next 4.

38-THIRTY-EIGHT Johns age when Pine Chip won the first of two straight Trotter Of The Year titles. His ONLY two years of racing-1993-1994.

39-John was THIRTY-NINE when he and Cams Card Shark teamed up for a record $$ season in 1994 and a HOY title.

40-FORTY-OH brother! John was FORTY when he and brother Jim teamed together to win the Hambletonian-the 70th edition-with Tagliabue.

41-FORTY-ONE Breeders Crown wins, an all-time best. 41 was also Johns age when he posted his first ever sub 1:50 race win-1996 Delaware-Stand Forever-1:49.2, a world record by 1/5th, just bettering the mark of 1:49.3 set by Jennas Beach Boy the very same week.

42-FORTY-TWO John was 42 and this was the ONLY Hambo he did NOT appear in since 1982. Malabar Man-1997. John had three in the elims but none made it.

43-FORTY-THREE John was 43 when he threw out the first ball at Yankee Stadium on the eve of the Muscles Yankee Hambo win. That win was his record 5th in the sports showcase event. 1998-when John was 43-was also the year that John posted the very first sub 1:50 Breeders Crown mile from a female-1:49.3 from Jays Table.

44-FORTY-FOUR JC was 44 in 1999, when The Panderosa did something NEVER done before or since. He won TWO million $ races, BOTH in under 1:50. North America Cup 1:49.4, Meadowlands Pace-1:49.3.

45-FORTY-FIVE JOHN was 45 when he posted the two fastest miles of his entire career:
1:48 flat P B Bullville Lexington 9/30/00
1:48.1 Armbro Positive Meadowlands 5/27/00

46-FORTY-SIX No one-in the history of the Meadowlands-has ever won a race-at least one-PER NIGHT-for 46 consecutive nights. EXCEPT JOHN, who did it in 1986.

47-FORTY-SEVEN John was 47 when he posted his 24th straight season either first or second in the national $$ standings. MORE THAN HALF HIS LIFE 1-2!!

48-FORTY-EIGHT Age when John became a grandfather for the first time.

49-FORTY-NINE Age when John-in a dead heat win in the Cane Pace with Western Terror, recorded his 29th Triple Crown win-#1 on the all-time list.

50-FIFTY-April 8, 1955. Now-50 years later, John has established himself as the sports all-time leading driver in the Hambletonian, ther Meadowlands Pace, the Breeders Crown and at the Meadowlands.