Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

John Campbell Speaks Out

January 15, 2006

When John Campbell thinks about the future, he is picturing himself watching the sport’s major events not from the seat of a sulky, but rather that of an owner’s box in the grandstand. Campbell, 50, has built a career to which few athletes of any sport can lay claim. His title as harness racing’s all-time leading driver is secure with $230 million in earnings. More than half that amount has been earned at the Meadowlands, an unprecedented feat for any horseman–-thoroughbred or standardbred. And while he will not be hanging his helmet and whip up in the immediate future, Campbell is planning for the next phase of his life.

“It is getting close to the end for me,” he said. “There is no question. I don’t have any definitive plans on when to retire, but I am taking it year by year. I am looking at a two to four year plan, depending on health, obviously, and success and enjoying what I do. I am just taking it year-by-year right now, but that is the overall plan.”

A resident of River Vale, New Jersey, Campbell has won 16 driving titles at the Meadowlands and captured virtually every major stakes event the sport has to offer, including a record seven victories in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and five in the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Rather than focusing on what there might still be to accomplish on the track, he is seeking a different type of fulfillment in racing. Although he and his wife, Paula, have sporadically owned horses in the past, they now have several youngsters registered under their noms de racecourse – Juniper Stable and Having Fun Stable. They also owned a share of Diesel Don, who earned $250,000 while racing in 2004 and 2005, despite not panning out as a Hambletonian contender.

“I don’t get too wrapped up in races I haven’t won,” Campbell said. “You are always out there every year trying to win the big races again. There is no question about that. I think if I have goals, I want to be involved in those big races as an owner now. I own more horses then I have in a number of years. We haven’t had any luck the last year or so but that is what we are striving for is to have horses not only to compete in those races but be successful in them.”

While some veteran reinsmen, such as Ted Wing and Bill O’Donnell, have returned to their roots as trainers, Campbell will not.

“Ted is training and is hands on and loves doing that,” he said. “I have no interest in going back into training at this point. Ownership is something we are giving a try and hopefully things will improve.”

While Campbell is preparing mentally and financially for the next phase of his career, physically, he is feeling better than he has in a long time. Campbell suffered the worst injury of his career in 2003 when he fractured his right elbow in a racing accident and was sidelined for three months. Soreness in that elbow forced him to miss another three months of racing in 2004. However, since 2005 he has been driving on a nightly basis without any lingering effects.
“I feel great,” the Hall of Famer said. “I feel good driving horses. I feel good with my golf game. I am very fortunate I recovered as well as I did. It was a severe break and seeing other people with similar injuries, I am very fortunate to be back where I am with it. It is not an issue at all now.”

One of Campbell’s greatest passions outside of racing is hockey. He is looking forward to hosting Hockey Suite Night on Tuesday, February 7 at the Continental Airlines Arena. The Meadowlands’ exclusive promotion awarded three lucky racing fans and their friends the chance to watch a game and talk sports with Campbell in a luxury suite.

“I am looking forward to that,” Campbell said. “I am going to host a party in one of the suites for a [New Jersey] Devils hockey game. The Devils are certainly playing better lately so that adds a little more excitement. It is no fun going when the team is down. They really have been rejuvenated with the return of Patrick Elias. I think you will see them continue to play well. Once a team is on a roll and gets confidence, it the same as horses, they know the difference between winning and losing and success breeds confidence.”