Campbell Contemplating Retirement

Published: July 15, 2011 10:38 am EDT

The last decade has seen 'Mr. Harness Racing,' John Campbell, bear the brunt of some serious accidents and bounce back like a true prizefighter. Although the 56-year-old is in the midst of overcoming a litany of serious injuries sustained in his most recent spill, he has gone on the record as saying that he is considering retirement

at this point.

While steering Tritech at Chester Racetrack on May 30, Campbell didn't have time to avoid horses and drivers which had been involved an accident in front of him. The holder of countless records and winner of over 10,000 races became a late party to the accident and was flung overtop of the pileup before hitting the track.

Campbell, who has driven his mounts to a staggering $278.9 million in purse earnings, sustained a broken shoulder, a broken right knee, a broken collarbone and suffered cracked ribs in the accident. An article by The Record explains that Campbell recently graduated from a wheelchair to crutches --- a monumental step given the circumstance --- but the road back to the upper echelon of the harness racing world is a whole different animal, albeit one that Campbell has slain before.

The Record article has quoted Campbell as saying that didn't want to make any decisions regarding his racing future while injured. "A lot of it is going to depend on how badly I really want to go back and that’s certainly a decision to be made when I’m fully 100 per cent healthy," Campbell was quoted as saying. "That’s going to be the biggest factor, how much of an itch I have to go back."

John's brother, trainer Jim Campbell, has been quoted in the article as saying that he just wants John's mind to be at peace when he makes his decision on his future in the bike. "I think it’s too early and I guess I probably wouldn’t comment because it’s not fair to John and what he might be thinking," Jim was quoted as saying. "My personal opinion is that I just hope whatever he does, he’s happy with the decision he makes."

The report also states that John wants to remain active in the industry in some capacity if he is to tuck away his whip permanently.

(With files from The Record)

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