After being sidelined with multiple injuries sustained during an accident at Harrah's Chester nearly two months ago, harness racing's all-time leading money-winning driver John Campbell is planning to return to the sulky for Thursday morning's qualifying session at the Meadowlands Racetrack before deciding if he will drive his own horse in the Hambletonian
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According to an article in the New York Post, Campbell will use tomorrow's qualifiers to gauge whether or not he can steer Live Jazz in Saturday night's Hambletonian eliminations. He co-owns the Andover Hall-Limitless Sky colt with Joseph Grano as part of Juniper Li LLC, and trainer Chuck Sylvester, Melvin Hartman, and Neal Goldman.
“Everything is predicated on the qualifiers going well tomorrow," said the 56-year-old reinsman, who suffered a broken right shoulder, right knee, collarbone and cracked ribs in the accident on May 30. "I’ve actually got a training session before the qualifiers, and a couple of qualifiers, but I don’t anticipate any problems. I’ve got no problem with my upper body and my leg feels good.
“I think it’s unfair to the horse just to jump in, but I think once I get a couple of rides it’s going to come back and I’ll be ready to go. There’s a certain timing aspect that you have to regroup. And just to get the feel of race speed, the qualifiers will do that for me and I know what to expect from my horse on Saturday night."
The six-time Hambletonian winner, who has contemplated retirement following the accident, also stated that his return would not be a full-time commitment at this point.
“I certainly haven’t decided what I’m going to do. I’m just coming back because I have a chance to race my own horse in the Hambletonian and I’ll take things as they come from there. But I’m not going back to work full-time right now. This is just a unique opportunity to race my own horse in the Hambletonian."
Historic-Dickerson Cup champion Live Jazz has drawn Post 9 in the second Hambletonian elimination.
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My main man, John Campbell
My main man, John Campbell might drive in the Hambletonian !! The WDC Bus trip will even be more special." All Aboard"! Good Luck tomorrow John. See you next Saturday.