Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for May 2008

John F. Simpson

John F. Simpson was born in 1919 to a harness racing family from Chester, North Carolina and became one of the top trainer-drivers of his day.

Johnny F. Simpson

Simpson garnered his first leading driver title in number of races won (111) in 1950 at age 31. He was born and bred a horseman as both sides of his family had Standardbreds and also operated livery stables and sales stables for selling horses and mules. He acquired much of his knowledge and skill as a pupil of his Uncle Joe Frazer and when he was just 18, had a public stable campaigning horses owned by Frazer and others on the Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia circuit.

Simpson's first good stable included the likes of My Birthday, 2:00 and Gold Bars, 2:06, as he raced horses for Sim McCarran and Richard Coble--before he hit the big time at Roosevelt Raceway, Goshen and the Grand Circuit. He put his harness racing career on hold in 1942 when he went into the Army and was in service for four years.

Upon leaving the Army in 1946 Simpson had a call from W. E. Miller, an owner-driver of Washington, D. C., who was in the hospital and wanted the young veteran to take over his horses. Simpson took over the training and driving of Henry Volo and Mr. Morris Scott, both pacers, and raced them until Miller was able to take them. Simpson then opened a public stable at Roosevelt Raceway, and in 1947 he had a stable of 20 at Harrington, Delaware and the following year at Charlotte, N. C. In 1950 he had 64 horses in training.

Simpson had his first win in the Kentucky Futurity in 1951 with Ford Hanover, owned by Wm. H. Strang, Jr. Other good horses raced by Simpson were Riley Hanover 1:59.4, Quilla Hanover 1:59.4, Ferman Hanover 1:59.2, Miss Excellency 1:59.3, Try Hussey 2:00.2, Honor Bright 2:00.3, Make Way 2:00.3, Duke of Lullwater 2, 2:03.3.

Simpson's prowess with young horses impressed Lawrence B. Sheppard of Hanover Shoe Farm so much that he offered Simpson the job of General Manager and Trainer for Hanover Shoe Farm--then the largest Standardbred breeding facility in the world with over 700 horses at thier Pennsylvania headquarters.

As Manager of Hanover Shoe Farm, Simpson continued to train and drive champions. In 1951 he won more than 100 races and almost $300,000 in purses up to the close of the Lexington Trots on October 6, 1951. This year he had several great youngsters in his stable in addition to Ford Hanover, unbeaten three-year-old trotter. There was Kimberly Mine, champion two-year-old trotting filly; Duke of Lullwater, fastest two-year-old trotter over a mile track and largest money winning two-year-old of all time with earnings of $59,200; Silent Waters, champion two-year-old pacing filly and Ferman Hanover, champion pacing gelding on half mile track.