Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Happy Birthday to John Campbell!

April 8, 2005

For the man who holds nearly every driving record in harness racing history, turning 50 is just another milestone to check off during a long and illustrious career. John Campbell will spend today--his birthday - Friday, April 8, 2005 - driving 10 races at the Meadowlands, his racing home since 1978.

"I really don't feel too much different than I did, say, 10 years ago, except for a few more aches and pains, I guess," Campbell said. "I haven't thought that deep about turning 50. We're having a small gathering on Sunday [to celebrate] with my family, parents and a
niece who's coming down for dinner.

"When it comes to any unfinished business, I've never set goals and I'm not going to start now," Campbell added. "You can only take every race as it comes. So, there's nothing that I'm still itching to do or anything that's bothering me, that's for sure. I'm very content and things are going very well in my life."

Harness racing's all-time leading money winning driver, Campbell has accounted for purse earnings of more than $227 million - drivers typically receive five percent. Through April 7, he has reached the winner's circle 9,458 times. The 16-time leading driver at the Meadowlands, he tops all reinsmen with Hambletonian wins [five] and Meadowlands Pace wins [seven].

"Anybody that competes knows that there's no substituted for winning," he noted. "We sometimes take it for granted when we're at the Meadowlands. If you have a horse that wins there in any class you've accomplished something."

He lost time away from racing in both 2003 and 2004 to allow a broken elbow to heal, the result of a spill on March 23, 2003. That incident raised questions as to how much longer the Ailsa Craig, Ontario, native would continue to compete.

"How long will I continue to drive - it's pretty much a year-by-year thing," he said. "I know I don't have 10 years left. I would imagine it's a two to four-year deal, somewhere in that
neighborhood. The training side has changed so dramatically, and I wouldn't know where to begin. That's not going to happen for me. I haven't enjoyed the winter for a long time. I'm just not a cold weather person. And as long it's not raining, and once the weather breaks, I really still enjoy coming to drive at the Meadowlands.

"Over the years, my family has been very understanding about my schedule," said the father of three daughters and the grandfather of Emma. "There were some things I wish I could've gotten to. Yet, I've been able to attend things during the day, at school for instance, that other fathers can't. My wife, Paula, has been excellent about it all. Dinner
has always been at five o'clock, and you're expected to be there. So, for years we've been able to sit down as a family and chat about the day.

"Every year is different, with different challenges," he noted. "You're dealing with new horses and people, so there's constant change, and it isn't the same old thing all the time. When you're able to be a part of a top horse's success, it makes that season unique. Every time you drive a great horse it means different connections and circumstances. To me, that is what's great about the business. It doesn't get monotonous or tiresome. I've always judged my year by how the stakes season goes. That's what I look forward to, but once it's over I'm looking ahead to the next year. Whether it's good or bad, it's only for a short time. If it's a bad race you want to get it out of your mind. If it's a good one, you can't be reflecting on it too long. You can't relax. You always have to be prepared and focus on the next one. It's important to the connections of that horse."

In 1990, when he was 35, Campbell became the youngest inductee into harness racing's Hall of Fame. He was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in 2000 and was honored by the New Jersey State Legislature in 2004.

"As far as being a role model is concerned, I just try to go out there and conduct my business so that when the day is done I'm able to sleep well at night," he said. "I don't want to be thinking about something I should have done, done differently or shouldn't
have done."

Campbell, tan from a recent golfing trip in Florida, does not dwell on his past accomplishments.

"I don't look back at old races because I've always been focused on looking ahead," he said. "Obviously, I'll take a look back when I get done driving. I can't tell you the last time I've looked at a race tape at home. I just look at replays at the track. Not getting as many drives in overnights doesn't bother me. It's a fact and there's no sense worrying about the way things have gone recently. It's been a combination of things, and mainly not driving a heavy schedule through the week.

"It's a fair statement to say I'm first over a lot," he explained. "I'm not afraid to come first over if I think a horse has a shot, and never have been. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't with the good ones and the lesser horses. I've always thought you can't be second over unless you're prepared to come first over. If you want to be second over, there's always a chance nobody is going to pull for you, so you better be prepared."

Campbell, a third-generation horseman, has witnessed many changes in the sport of harness racing.

"The breed has certainly changed since I started at the Meadowlands," he noted. "The horses can carry their speed deeper into the mile, and you can use them a lot more in the first part now. More recently, the flattening of the last turn makes it tougher to come from
behind. There's no question that's changed the strategy and style of racing. If you have to come wide, it's very difficult to do. They took out the bank for the thoroughbreds about three or four years ago. You're almost better staying in, being locked in and taking a
chance of getting out.

"I'm also an owner now, but how much more I get involved will depend upon how the horses do," he said. "Obviously, if we have more success we'll get more. Diesel Don is an example. How well he does will dictate how many I'll buy next year. He hasn't had any strenuous training at this point, but he's grown up, he's stronger, and he's done everything he's supposed to do to this point."

Campbell is concerned about the future of the industry he loves and shared some insights.

"If I was ever in the position to do it, I would set out racing rules that are uniform throughout North America," he said. "For example, the Meadowlands and Woodbine have different rules for whipping and pylons. It's ludicrous because that concerns the bettor, and that's who we should be thinking about the most.

"Getting the sport on national television is very expensive and right now we just can't afford it," he added. "There are a lot more excess dollars in the thoroughbred industry. The bottom line is we're never as bad off as some people think we are, and we're never going to be what a lot of people want. We've got pockets of enthusiasts such as New Jersey, Ohio and Toronto. People in Dallas, New Mexico and Arizona simply don't know about harness racing."

Campbell always returns to his Hambletonian successes when he is asked about career highlights.

"Winning the Hambletonian with Mack Lobell [in 1987] and Tagliabue [in 1995] are my two biggest thrills and meant the most to me," he said. "I thought so much of Mack Lobell, and I'm very good friends with [his trainer] Chuck Sylvester. That was my first Hambletonian. My brother, Jim trained Tagliabue, and that was a special day."