Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Randy Waples Set for Return

December 19, 2006

Randy Waples, who has spent the last number of months recovering from injuries suffered in a racing spill at Mohawk Racetrack earlier this summer, resurfaced this week at Mohawk.

"I actually had no intentions of qualifying anything this morning, it just worked out that way," Waples said. "I've been jogging a few for Fred Hoffman in the morning for the last week, and on my way to the back track this morning Chris Caputo [John Burns' asst. trainer] asked me if I'd mind qualifying one for Burnsie. The Greek [Chris Christoforou] was supposed to be qualifying the horse, but he couldn't make it in today."

Waples, a career winner of 4,258 races and purses in excess of $65 million, is gradually working his way back to life in the racebike - a task that has come with its fair share of pain and aggravation.

"My left wrist isn't healing as fast as it should, but once I don't feel any pain I should be good to go," the blue and gold-clad reinsman said. "The left wrist and the bones I broke in my hand have taken longer to heal than I thought. I'm going to school and maybe qualify some more horses for Fred [Hoffman] and maybe pick up the odd horse for someone else just to try and get my timing back."

"I hope to be back just before or shortly after the New Year," Waples added. "I've promised Frank Salive that I'd make my first start back at Western Fair Raceway. We've got something in the works to raise money for the Chase McEachern Foundation."