Great tribute. John was the most humble man. He would talk to the grooms and anyone who talked to him. He is the greatest overall driver ever. He could drive any type of horse. I could not believe over last couple of years trainers used other drivers and John sat there. He use to drive every race and had his pick of 3 or 4 horses. Do not know why you would not use him he was the greatest. His amazing comebacks after horrible racing accidents were unreal. I think we will see John Campbell drive again.
Was in the air force on leave going home to Boston stop at the Meadowlands in 1984 my one and only time. Saw John Campbell drive and immediately said to myself this guy is special - he sure was.
wow I rember he was up to drive a horse I groomed and everytime he gut on the bike he asked how was the horse doing. I said you talked to the trainer. he said yeah but your in the stall everyday you know more about this horses feel than he does. He always remembered that those of us in that stall were important to the success of that horse.
Met John Campbell in 1961 he lived in Hyattsville Maryland he was the first kid i played with that was born in another country Canada,we played our first year of football together accept he moved to new jersey .John was the quarterback for the team i missed him when he moved from chapman rd he was very talented back then as a kid yes he knew then what he wanted to do in life to be with horses he wore cowboy boots all the time thats what i remember about john very determined person
Awesome job!! A class act all the way. Feel awful I couldn't make it to the track, and was actually kind of stunned he was retiring. The game has changed since I began going to the track, a few years before the Meadowlands opened. I find it sad to watch races and see an empty grandstand. In the old days, a night like his retirement night would have drawn 50,000. John will do well in his new role with the Hambo Society, and I hope something can be done to re-ignite the fire in this great sport. I remember talking with my father in 1979, and him saying "The casinos are going to kill horse racing", and he was right. The fast money, the freebies, the glamor.....things those who don't gamble enjoy.....but not real track people. I hate simulcasting.....I like to relax and handicap and enjoy the night.....not be at the crap game it became....but it is what it is, and I will never stop loving the horses, the competition and all those who help make the sport enjoyable for this fan.
I remember when John came to race at Roosevelt Raceway. He drove Fight The Foe every week to victory. I would go down to rail and yell out "BEAT THE FOE, BEAT THE FOE, BEAT THE FOE !!! Then when John rode by I would yell "John Campbell you are the foe.
You can stir up endless controversy coming up with a top ten list of all time harness drivers but nobody will leave John Campbell out of the number one spot!
Not to mention that he is a great human being.
LEGEND......
Everyone will remember his Breeders Crown race with Artsplace as a two year old winning by ten lengths.
Best in the business!!
Great tribute. John was the most humble man. He would talk to the grooms and anyone who talked to him. He is the greatest overall driver ever. He could drive any type of horse. I could not believe over last couple of years trainers used other drivers and John sat there. He use to drive every race and had his pick of 3 or 4 horses. Do not know why you would not use him he was the greatest. His amazing comebacks after horrible racing accidents were unreal. I think we will see John Campbell drive again.
Was in the air force on leave going home to Boston stop at the Meadowlands in 1984 my one and only time. Saw John Campbell drive and immediately said to myself this guy is special - he sure was.
wow I rember he was up to drive a horse I groomed and everytime he gut on the bike he asked how was the horse doing. I said you talked to the trainer. he said yeah but your in the stall everyday you know more about this horses feel than he does. He always remembered that those of us in that stall were important to the success of that horse.
Met John Campbell in 1961 he lived in Hyattsville Maryland he was the first kid i played with that was born in another country Canada,we played our first year of football together accept he moved to new jersey .John was the quarterback for the team i missed him when he moved from chapman rd he was very talented back then as a kid yes he knew then what he wanted to do in life to be with horses he wore cowboy boots all the time thats what i remember about john very determined person
John Campbell... the best driver of the century!!! JC forever!!!
Ron Waples senior second to none on trotters. No one alive could touch Waples on a trotter.
His lifetime money earnings might never be touched. What a ride
Wow this guys good wish I could meet him
Awesome job!! A class act all the way. Feel awful I couldn't make it to the track, and was actually kind of stunned he was retiring. The game has changed since I began going to the track, a few years before the Meadowlands opened. I find it sad to watch races and see an empty grandstand. In the old days, a night like his retirement night would have drawn 50,000. John will do well in his new role with the Hambo Society, and I hope something can be done to re-ignite the fire in this great sport. I remember talking with my father in 1979, and him saying "The casinos are going to kill horse racing", and he was right. The fast money, the freebies, the glamor.....things those who don't gamble enjoy.....but not real track people. I hate simulcasting.....I like to relax and handicap and enjoy the night.....not be at the crap game it became....but it is what it is, and I will never stop loving the horses, the competition and all those who help make the sport enjoyable for this fan.
Nothing is forever. Great to experience this once great sport in the New York metro area. A life-time of memories.
I remember when John came to race at Roosevelt Raceway. He drove Fight The Foe every week to victory. I would go down to rail and yell out "BEAT THE FOE, BEAT THE FOE, BEAT THE FOE !!! Then when John rode by I would yell "John Campbell you are the foe.
You can stir up endless controversy coming up with a top ten list of all time harness drivers but nobody will leave John Campbell out of the number one spot!
Beautifully done. Got chance to meet him at the final Roosevelt Raceway reunion at the Meadowlands in 2017 with his proud wife
a living legend of the sport!
We love you popop!
Nicely done
Man people forget Lebanon raceway in Lebanon Ohio
Greatest
I think he drove for my uncle