The ‘I Love Canadian Harness Racing’ Fan Club would like to congratulate Bob Harvey of Perth, Ont. on winning the ‘Meet Your Favourite Driver’ contest. Harvey’s favourite reinsman is recent National Driving Champion, Jody Jamieson.
Harvey trained and drove horses in the late ‘70s through the late ‘90s. While he was stabled in Everett, Ont. in the ‘80s, he was stabled in a barn next to Carl Jamieson. At the time, Jody was just an impressionable youngster. He never really got to know the family well, but followed Carl’s progress over the years. When Jody started to drive, Harvey became very enthusiastic about following his career.
Bob will meet his favourite driver in early October for lunch and a photo session and is extremely excited about the opportunity.
Bob’s entry appears below.
I would dearly love to have lunch with my favourite driver. My man is none other than Double ‘J’. I have not chosen to submit this based solely on Jody's numerous achievements. His list of awards and driving championships clearly speak to the fact that he is one of the best drivers world wide.
I am a retired police officer who, for 20 plus years, held a trainer / drivers licence with the C.T.A. and then Standardbred Canada. Training and driving was a hobby which I thoroughly enjoyed and allowed me to escape the stress of my job. I well know what a driver experiences. However, my story goes back to the early ‘80s. I was training horses at a barn in Everett, Ontario, near Barrie. The Jamieson family - Carl, wife and children moved from the Maritimes and stabled some horses in a barn next to where I was stabled. I did not get to know any of the Jamiesons well before their return back East. As I moved around I continued to be involved in racing, Religiously, I kept track of driver and trainer stats, and the results at the various race tracks. During this period Father Carl was establishing his place as one of the sport's best trainers.
THEN...Jody started to drive and I became very enthused about following his progress. I was always saying to friends and family, I knew that lad when he was just a snotty nosed kid. Jody became my favourite driver many years ago. I am old enough to be his grandfather and would be proud if that was the case. I have faithfully followed his career and if not able to watch his races, I check the race results hoping to see Double ‘J’ at the top. When he has a bad day or night, I am probably nearly as disappointed as he. As I said in the beginning Double 'J' is the man......Bob Harvey
Great to hear from Bob (RJ)
Great to hear from Bob (RJ) Harvey! He is one of the nicest person and family I have had the honor to know during his stay in Brighton. Very modest in his lifes accomplishments and respected by anyone who knows him, and that would be alot of people!