Campbell Speaks to Full House

John Campbell closed the USTA Speaker Series with a capacity crowd. He was asked about his induction into the Canadian Sports Hall. “Everything I am is from my parents. My dad taught two people the horse business—me and my brother Jim. Jim was leading trainer and I was leading driver. Pretty good sire percentage.” He admitted his mother was disappointed when he quit school but she was supportive. She thought he should always go where competition the highest. John “hit the lottery” when he met and fell in love with wife, Paula. His schedule takes him all over the place to race every summer for past 25 years. She never complains. “She was the quarterback of family life for all these years.”

When Niatross was in Jug in 1980, it was his first time to Delaware. Ed Lohmeyer, Shelly Goudreau and he were flying in from New Jersey and got messed up with flights. They chartered small plane from Cincinnati just to watch Niatross go. Very special. Next year all 3 of them were in Jug. Eddie and I fell down in first heat, and Shelly fell down in 2^nd heat. Next Jug was Merger, and I owned and trained him. Just getting around the track was special. Certainly Life Sign, phenomenal performance. I was awestruck by his race and the crowd. Everyone knew they saw something special. One of most thrilling moments in my career.

Talked about Showherthemoney. Not surprised she won 2^nd heat after way she won the 1^st. Very unusual for a horse to lose that much ground and still win.

Are you in favor of heat racing: I am here. Gotten away from heat racing. Only couple places for it.. I was in favor of changing the Hambletonian. It’s a different venue. I am in favor of doing it the way they do it here now. That might change in the future if we aren’t drawing top horses. We didn’t last year but did this year. Have to make adjustments if it make a pattern that top horses don’t come. If don’t get top horses for fans to see and be close to, we will lose luster of the event. We have to go for more money here. In any business it all comes down to money. If you put up enough money they will race down Highway 23.

When he was asked how to be successful in business, he advocated working for someone who is successful and seeing how they do things.

To keep horses racing after age 3. He would like that, but recognizes challenge. Somebeachsomewhere and Dewyecheatumnhowe perfect examples. Both worth $8, million-$10 million. Big risk to come back at 4. If not successful, value can plummet in matter of three races. Can’t put enough purse money  up to make it worth coming back.

Problem with our industry is so fragmented. Can’t get jurisdictions to agree on rules. He is in favor of keeping lines in each hand.

First elim is lighter—missed top 2-year-old of year. Won’t be that easy when get out there. Chance to drive Keep It Real first in Mohawk overnight. I didn’t want to be tough on him. Got him in a bad spot. He had a lot of pace. Had to check him 2 or 3 times in stretch. Had a little problem with foot. He was sound and easy to drive. I expect him to do well. Not sure if that’s enough. He is a  gifted and talented horse. Hope he can build on that.

Longshot in 2^nd elim—Born To Rockn Roll. A man’s got to know his limitations—same here. Can’t overdrive this horse., Have to find shortest way around. Hope something up front that’s suicidal. Hope he can pick up pieces. He is owned in Ohio. I know it s dream to have horse in the Jug for these people.

Well Said: class of this division. Post 8 is detriment. Not think he was strong in last win as he was earlier. Great gaited, fine looking. If he gets any break at all going into first turn, he is the one to beat.

Vintage Master gotten better as the year as gone on. I hope they get into an argument on the front.

Favorite horse is Argyle Chester. “Born on John’s 11^th birthday, his grandmother owned him and gave him half. He became an invitational pacer. You can’t image the thrill going to see that horse with my grandmother.

Offset gate: Been discussed. I have mixed feelings. Go back to tradition. I like it the way it is. It helps a horse. Reason people get excited having the rail at Delaware.

Standardbred Retirement Foundation. Very proud of my wife and Judy Bokman for starting it 20 years ago. Sent out 200 horses—found homes. Have 130 on waiting list. We need to address this issue. They should be  funded better by industry. We have to take responsibility.

Favorite track and how many years drive: Meadowlands, hard to argue that. Had a bit of luck there. Love [Delaware] and The Red Mile. I evaluate driving every year. As long as I am getting opportunity to drive a lot of the stakes and I am healthy, I will continue. Schedule not the same in winter. Only drive Friday and Saturday in January, February and March. Keep you sharp.

Murray Brown appointed him commissioner of harness racing. Asked what he would fix. John said he would streamline licensing for owners and make universal rules, for which he received resounding applause. Long laundry list have to address. Have to get people back to tracks, but what would we do with them? Have to address how fans are treated, educated to racing, how information fed to them, food and services. We have driven millions out of Meadowlands with food and service. We want to get them there, but we have figure out first what we will do once we get them there.

Will not retire back to Canada. Daughters and grandchildren in New Jersey and likely Florida in winter.

What’s future of Meadowlands: We will have horses when we open. Comes back to money. We don’t have purse money and that’s why field are short. Even with all its problems, only place can still handle big bettors with large pools. Everyone hoping we get slots in New Jersey. If we don’t, I think New Jersey racing is in serious jeopardy.