The Little Man Turns 65

Legendary horseman Ron Waples got an early birthday present on Sunday afternoon at Clinton Raceway with the win aboard homebred Photogenic Filly - a win that pushed his lifetime earnings over $75 million

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Inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1986 and the U.S. Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in 1993, Waples owns one of the most revered harness racing resumes in the history of the standardbred sport.

Waples' major stakes wins include the Little Brown Jug, The Hambletonian, Cane, Messenger, nine Breeders Crown victories, Meadowlands Pace, Maple Leaf Trot, Kentucky Futurity, Jugette, Hambletonian Oaks, Woodrow Wilson, Canadian Pacing Derby, Prix d'Éte and the North America Cup. Horses the likes of Ralph Hanover, No Sex Please, Armbro Dallas, Presidential Ball, Dream Maker, Village Jiffy, Armbro Dallas, Sugarcane Hanover, Park Avenue Joe, Fake Left, Sportsmaster, Oaklea Count, Delphis Lobell and most recently JM Vangogh...just to name a few.

As we say Happy Birthday to Ron, Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden contributed a statistical retrospective of Waples' amazing career.

FIRST driver to win his first TWO million dollar drives - and he did it four DAYS apart in 1983. Shannon Fancy in the Sweetheart and Ralph Hanover in the Meadowlands Pace (Tim Tetrick equaled that in 2007 winning the Rooney and the Pace with Southwind Lynx before ending the streak with Pampered Princess in the Hambletonian).

WON the 1989 Hambletonian in a dead heat with Probe (AWARDED first $ on the basis of summary) - the FIRST time he had driven that colt.

One of four drivers in history to win the Jug, Hambletonian, Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup-along with Ron Pierce, John Campbell and Mike Lachance.

When Ron won the 1992 Little Brown Jug, he picked up the drive on Fake Left just hours before the race due to regular driver Mickey McNichol having a bad back. He then went out and edged out Western Hanover - who was going for the Triple Crown. What was lost in that day was the fact that RON HIMSELF drove the very last Triple Crown winner at that point - Ralph Hanover in 1983!!

Ralph Hanover set a single season earnings record of over $1.7 million in 1983-and is the ONLY horse to win the Triple Crown AND the Meadowlands Pace and NOT be named Horse Of The Year

Ron & Randy Waples are the ONLY father son combo EACH past $75 million in earnings.
Ron won the 1993 NA Cup - subbing for regular driver Jack Moiseyev who had hurt his back and was forced to miss the NJ Classic and the NA Cup with Presidential Ball.

Ron was third in the herculean world record effort of Jennas Beach Boy over Riyadh in 1:47.3 on June 22, 1996. Ron drove Trump Casino.

Ron drove Ellamony to the majority of her 16 straight wins at the Meadowlands - STILL the track standard today. (11-for-11 in 1993, she didn't race here in 1994, 3-for-3 in 1995 and her first two in 1996).

Ron was the FIRST driver to win SIX RACES on a single card at the Meadowlands.