Legendary reinsman John Campbell joined some of Canada’s most accomplished athletes when he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday night at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel
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Campbell, 54, is harness racing's all-time leading money winner with over $270 million earned and has won over 10,000 races including 42 Breeders Crowns, seven Meadowlands Paces, six Hambletonians, six North America Cups and three Little Brown Jugs, but his accomplishments don’t stop there. At age 35, the third generation horseman became the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Three years prior, he was inducted into the Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame and in 2000 he received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, for his commitment to the sport of harness racing.
“It’s certainly a tremendous honour and thrill to be recognized in the whole spectrum of sports, not just in our world,” Campbell told Trot Magazine earlier this year in anticipation of the official induction ceremony. “There’s a great deal of the population that doesn’t follow harness racing and doesn’t know much about it. To be recognized on a national level like that…it’s quite humbling and it’s certainly a thrill to go in with the class that I’m going in with. There’s no question about that. To be grouped in a category with them is a tremendous honour.”
Campbell was inducted into the Hall this evening along with NHL champion Mark Messier, world champion kayaker Caroline Brunet, basketball coach Ken Shields, female hockey pioneer Angela James, and CFL legends Hugh Campbell and Warren Moon.
I had the opportunity to
I had the opportunity to meet JC briefly inbetween races at Greenwood. He was busy but did take time for a few words and an autograph. That I will never forget. What a true gentleman and a great ambassador both for the sport and our country.
Congratulations JOHN
Congratulations JOHN CAMPBELL, you're the BEST!!
and, I for one am very proud & happy to be the new owner of your autographed Trot Magazine, Gloves, and that signed bottle of wine that you donated to the silent auction for a Sarnia charity event recently! Will be keeping two of these items forever - of course, as you may have suspected, the wine has disappeared, some things just don't last!
Keep up the good work, you are truly an inspiration!
Congratulations John on a
Congratulations John on a well deserved honour . Your greatest asset over the years has been your good name which is so closely associated with all of harness racing .I cannot say enough good things about the Campbells .
Thanks for all the good you do.
After 50 yrs of friendship
After 50 yrs of friendship and horse business with three generations of Campbells (Dunc, Jack and John). I, like so many, am pleased and proud to see John rewarded for his accomplishments and his dreams come true. Talent, integrity and high principles are rare in not only our sport but in life.
I have said for decades now that John is not only our Babe Ruth, but more, he is our Wayne Gretzky. (those who have had the privilege know what I mean)
Congratulation John, Paula, Jack and Florance it has been a family effort and success.
Bob Harris
long time friend and fan
Congrats to a true legend
Congrats to a true legend and ambassador to this industry. This is what harness racing should be selling. A gentleman on and off the track and the most listened to individual in the sport. Anybody thought of hiring him on for that purpose? Don,t gamble...use Campbell!
Junior is one of the real
Junior is one of the real nice guys of the sport and no one deserves it more than him.